Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
“Not sure yet about the holidays this year…” Dawson replies. “My parents will be skiing in Europe. They invited me along, but I might just stick around here.”
That doesn’t sound very festive. “Because of your shop?”
“Nah, I’ll still close up shop for the week.” He shrugs. “Might have a low-key holiday this time around.”
Just as I’m about to ask about Nathan, he sweeps through the door.
“I see you’re still on time as ever,” Dawson deadpans, and Nathan rolls his eyes.
“Sorry I’m late,” he says, but given his nonchalance, he’s not sorry at all. “My meeting ran over. It was hard to get away.”
“No problem.” Nathan and I definitely share that rat-race mentality. I’m in software sales. A project manager, to be exact, and customer service is top priority, like it is for him in the marketing world. I have no doubt he’s good at his job. He could probably sell water to a drowning man.
As another customer steps up to the counter, we take our drinks to a table by the window, and I’m glad it’s far enough away that Dawson can’t hear our conversation. Although I might chicken out. Nathan intimidates me in a way Dawson doesn’t. My parents always point out that I tend to gravitate toward successful, self-assured businessmen—and that they always end up disappointing me. That I’m in love with the idea of love but never date anyone good enough for me, with the exception of Mark, my first love. But ever since he broke my heart, I’ve had the most horrible track record in choosing men. So this time I plan on proving them wrong. Three months is a milestone for me, and despite Nathan’s self-confidence, he hasn’t treated me unkindly like the others—at least not on purpose.
We talk about work and the mild winter weather until I finally bite the bullet. “Dawson mentioned your parents are spending the holiday in Europe,” I say, not meeting his gaze—and isn’t it strange that I hear this kind of news from Dawson more often than I do from Nathan? It never hit me until this moment.
When he doesn’t answer right away, I get up the nerve to look at him. His nose is buried in his phone. “Uh, sorry, was responding to a customer.”
“You seem pretty distracted lately. Is it all work?”
He looks up at me. “Yeah, just got a lot on my plate. In fact, I wanted to talk to you ab—”
“Will you come home with me for the holiday?” I blurt out, cringing when Nathan only blinks and stares like I’d asked him to elope.
I want a hole in the floor to open up and swallow me and my big mouth. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just…I asked my parents last night, and they would love to meet you.”
“Asked if you could bring me home?” I’ve never heard that pitch of his voice before. “But we’ve, uh, only been dating a couple of months.”
Three months. Well, two months and twenty days, but who’s counting. And now I feel like absolute crap. And given how strange Nathan sounds, he’s probably mortified that I’d asked him at all. I should’ve known better. I always idealize these situations and then end up alone. I want what my parents have, but maybe they’ve set the bar too high.
“No, you’re right, it’s only that…Dawson mentioned your parents won’t be around.”
“Glad my brother tells you all our business.” He throws him a look, even though Dawson isn’t even facing our way.
“He doesn’t. He, uh…” I’m flustered. Why wouldn’t I know his business? We’re dating, for Christ’s sake, and the holidays are approaching. “It was only small talk.”
“Yeah, I know.” Nathan sighs. “Listen, it’s nice of you to ask, but—”
“Sorry if I overstepped. I know we haven’t been dating long, but I thought maybe you could use time away from the city.”
“Actually, I’m the one who should be sorry.” He frowns. “That’s what I wanted to talk about.”
He did start to tell me something before I blurted out my invitation. Leave it to me to jump the gun.
Nathan averts his eyes. “I think we should take a break.”
Oh shit. This is normally how it goes for me, and I should’ve known better. Should’ve read the signs. The tardiness, the cancellations, the lack of enthusiasm for phone calls and the evasiveness when it came to any concrete plans. You’d think I’d finally catch a clue.
He pushes a hand through his hair. “I just wasn’t ready to get so serious, and you asking me to meet your parents tells me we’re not on the same page.”
“No, I…” My shoulders slump. Why even bother denying it? “You’re right. We’re not.”
When our eyes connect, I can see how uncomfortable he is, and his quick glance toward the door tells me he’s hoping to make a quick escape.