Page 44 of I Wish You All the Best

Me: I meant I didn’t have to meet them.

Me: Not that I didn’t want to meet them.

Me: I’ll shut up now

Nathan: lmao I’m dying

He adds a few emojis. The ones that are laughing so hard they’re crying.

Me: ugh, sorry. I’ll go bury myself now

Nathan: Oh come on, don’t do that.

Nathan: Don’t deprive me of that face of yours. It’s my one joy in that miserable place.

I clutch my phone, trying hard not to think about what that’s supposed to mean. But part of me can’t resist wondering what that’s supposed to mean.

Nathan: Hey what’s your address, I’ll pick you up tomorrow.

And now I’ll be in a car, alone with him. Great. I type out the address and hit send.

Nathan: Okay, you aren’t going to believe this shit

Nathan: But we’re neighbors

Me: Really?

Nathan: You’re at 337 Sycamore? I’m 341.

I walk over to my window, pushing the curtains back. I can’t really see his house, but I think it’s the brick one Thomas and I drive past when we’re going to school.

Nathan: Small world.

Yeah. Small world.

Me: Cool. I’m going to go pass out. Should we go for noon tomorrow?

Nathan: Yeah, do you want me to go pick you up?

Me: That’s okay, it won’t even take three minutes

Nathan: I don’t mind…

Me: You’re serious? It’s like two houses away.

Nathan: Alright, but let it never be said that I’m anything short of a gentleman.

Me: Noted. Will you lead the search party if I get lost?

Nathan: Are you kidding? I’ll hang up flyers of that handsome face all over town!

I can almost picture his grin.

Me: Good to know, I’m going to bed now.

Nathan: Sleep tight!

Before I plug my phone in, I scroll back through our conversation. He thinks I’m handsome? No, I don’t need to think about that. He was probably just joking or something. I sigh and reach down to the floor for my charger, crawling under the sheets and trying not to feel nervous about how I’m tutoring Nathan Allan tomorrow.