“But… but that’s a big chunk of your childhood gone,” she says, baffled and still trying to come to terms with it.
“It wasn’t because I had to,” I clarify. “It was because I wanted to. I looked up to my dad a lot. He wasn’t really the type to sit around and play games with me, so after school I’d just go to work with him. Watch what he was doing. Learn.”
I pause, remembering the smell of paperwork in the office, the steady hum of conversation, the way he’d nod when I asked questions like that was enough to keep me coming back every day.
“I just wanted to be like him,” I add. “I’m sure that shaped me in ways I still don’t fully understand. But I learned early how to work hard. That always drew me toward the city.”
She studies me for a moment. “Wow. I don’t even know how to process that. Tell me you at least had some fun as a kid.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” I say with a small laugh. “I had plenty of fun. My parents would probably argue I hadtoomuch fun sometimes. Mostly the mischievous kind.”
She smiles at that, satisfied.
“I just didn’t have older brothers to play with,” I continue. “And I was always more studious anyway.”
“Well,” she says, squeezing my hand lightly, “my inner child is definitely sad for you.”
Maybe that’s part of what draws me to her. A smile is etched on her face permanently. She’s fun, yes—but it’s not shallow. It’s intentional joy. She works hard, she’s ambitious, but she chooses to enjoy andsavorlife.
“Don’t be,” I say, smiling. “I enjoyed it.”
“I loved studying too,” she says. “But fun is something I value. You’ve got one life—you may as well enjoy it.”
“I appreciate that about you.”
“Thank you,” she says, a little sheepishly.
We continue strolling down the street, talking about childhood memories and the things that shaped us. But what I’m most aware of is her hand in mine.
There’s some sort of chemistry between us that can only be described as a scientific visceral reaction to each other. A chemical matchmaker, if you will. Something that’s only natural—an attraction that signals all the different hormones to roar to life within the body.
That happens right away and can build as you get to know another person. It’s just a biological reaction.
We have that—at least Ibelievewe do, from all the different reactions I’ve seen from her already.
What’s more striking is everything underneath that.
The more I get to know her—beyond the surface, beyond the obvious attraction—the more I see qualities that matter. Faith. Confidence. Joy. Depth. Family values. Level-headed. Funny.
And she’s leaving. And I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that.
It feels like something’s going to need to shift.
Something to pray about, I guess.
15
Lizzie
“Are you ready for dinner?” Nate asks.
“Am I ever!” I say, chuckling. I’ve definitely worked up an appetite after this afternoon.
“Great, I’ve got the perfect restaurant for us—I made reservations.”
He gives a small tug to the hand he still hasn’t let go of and leads me in the direction of the beach, like this is the most natural thing in the world. Like we’ve been walking hand in hand for years and not… whatever this is.
A couple of streets down, and I catch sight of it.
