He offered me the smile one might offer a little kid who was word vomiting, and said, “That so?”
“Very so,” I assured.
A hint of ink peeking out of his grey long sleeve marked him as the second guy in the trio of tattoo sleeves. In the handful of times I’ve seen him around campus, he barely opened his mouth. Nathaniel seemed perfectly content in the silence. Not interested in the slightest in bragging about his talent and victories.
Unsure of what to say next, I fell back on what was most comfortable:
“I’m the president of a student org.” I dug into my bag, looking for the business cards Haven insisted were a waste of money. But nothing said you meant business like a glossy logo. “I would love to connect and talk about potential collaboration opportunities.”
“Yara,” a warning voice appeared from the doorway behind Nathaniel. “Don’t work my teammates.”
“What? We’re just talking.” I shrugged.
“I didn’t invite you to pressure people into extracurricular activities.” David began helping his friend move the plants from one end of the room to the other. “Don’t worry about her. She’ll talk your ear off if you let her. Don’t let her.”
Nathaniel chuckled and came over to grab the business card from me. It’s then that I realize how much taller he was than me. Shoulders broad, jawline sharp, wide nose stunning. “It’s cool. I like talkers.”
My cheeks burned at his genuine smile and the kind tone of his voice. I gave David a look that said, ‘See, some people appreciate me.’
“I’ll have my people contact your people,” Nathaniel said.
I nodded, still feeling a bit lightheaded at his full attention. He had this way about him that I’m sure could only becaptured on some genius’s canvas or a poet’s prized notebook. “I’m my people.”
“Me too.” His laugh was deep and soothing. Now I’m the shy one, too stunned to speak.
“I need to grab a couple more pots from my car,” he said to David before giving me a polite nod and smiling goodbye. “It was nice meeting you.”
I watched him leave, only to be pulled back down to earth when David cleared his throat.
“Sorry.” I blinked and shook my head. “He’s just…wow. And…wow.”
“Tell me about it.” David nodded, reminding me we had similar tastes in men. “But I need you to leave the networking alone. I was trying to be nice, inviting you here, but if you keep trying to broker deals, I’m going to have to see you out.”
“I’m just starting a conversation. I can’t help it if it naturally flows into things like events. Events are my thing.”
David stood at the sink, scrubbing his hands. There were clouds of steam from how hot the water was, but it didn’t seem to bother him.
“Nothing naturally flows with you,” he said, still scrubbing. I could see his blurry reflection in the window over the sink. The ghost of a smile lingered on his lips.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re in a good mood,” I teased. “Thanks to my arrival, right?”
He scoffed and glanced over his shoulder for a second. “Yeah, I’m so thrilled to see you for the fifth time this week.”
“Who wouldn’t be?” I smiled. “What’s with all the foliage?”
“Nat’s moving in for the semester. These are his children,” he said.
“Moving in?” I looked up at the chandelier. “A college athlete can afford this kind of rent? I knew I should have kept running.”
“This is Weston’s family’s house… one of four.” He finally stopped washing his hands, grabbed a napkin to dry them, and paid careful attention to the space between his fingers. “They only use this one every other summer. Six beds, four baths, a sauna, and a mini golf course in the back—because the community one wasn’t enough.”
I laughed. “Wait, so, you’re friends with this guy but give me the side-eye because I’m used to getting my clothes dry-cleaned and spent a few summers in the Maldives?”
He gave me a half-shoulder shrug. “I gave Weston shit for it at first, too.”
“At first?” I noted. “So, why exactly have I not transitioned into reverent respect?”
“Who says I don’t reverently respect you?”
