Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I’m okay with that. Emma wouldn’t be Emma otherwise.
She plops down beside me and scoots close, dropping her voice. “Now, I know we can’t discuss him, but surely you can show me one itty-bitty picture of this guy. I’m curious about the man who’s made my baby sister fall in love. Andrew said his name is Nathaniel, but he wouldn’t tell me anything else.”
Who am I to deny my sister this? Besides, it’s fun to finally feel this zing of excitement, to have a real crush I can gossip about with her. We’ve never been able to indulge in this way. I’ve never been in love. I grab my phone from the coffee table, and though my hand shakes with nerves, I put Nate’s name into Google Images. Some of the pictures are old, but once I scroll down a bit, I find one that’s recent enough. It’s from a book signing and he’s so unbelievably handsome. In the photo, he sits behind a table wearing a white button-down and a leather watch, an uncapped Sharpie in his hand. His hair is freshly trimmed by a real stylist, not a nervous girl standing between his legs in his kitchen. He’s almost in profile as he smiles at someone just out of frame. Without facial hair, his features are cutting. His sharp cheekbones and strong jaw are beautifully in focus. His dimples pop.
There’s a sudden knock on my door.
The delivery guy arrives with our food just as I turn the phone to my sister. I’m sure he hears her shocked shriek. “OH MY GOD, SUMMER! THAT’S HIM?! Jesus. Can we zoom?!”
EPILOGUE
SUMMER
I’m deep asleep when my phone rings beside my pillow. I have it set to the highest volume and I’ve chosen a ringtone so shrill and high-pitched it could wake the dead, all so there’s never a chance I’ll sleep through Nate’s call.
He calls me at the same time every morning, rousing me from sleep and assuring that we get time to talk before I have to go to work.
I grab my phone and swipe my finger across the screen.
“7:49,” I tease. “One minute early today.”
He chuckles and it sends fire through me. “I couldn’t wait.”
I hear the smile in his voice, and I can’t help but roll over and plunge my face against my pillow, stifling a toe-curling grin of my own. Since leaving England, Nate’s effect on me hasn’t worn off in the least; it’s worse than ever. He’s the best part of my day, every day.
“Are you up yet?” he asks, prodding me.
Nate knows I like to burrow deep in my bed for as long as possible. He also knows I get annoyed if I’m late. It’s a tightrope we walk every morning.
“Fine,” I say, flinging the covers off. “I’m up now and it’s horrible. My apartment is like a freezer.”
I grab my AirPods from my bedside table and switch the call over as I walk into my bathroom. I prefer to shower at night rather than in the morning, which means I have to take a gamble on how my hair will look every morning. It’s always a toss-up between electric shock and semi-decent.
“How is it today?” Nate asks.
“Wild.”
He groans in agony. “Take a picture.”
I snap a photo and text it to him. There’s a lull and I assume he’s looking at it, because a second later, he laughs. “You’re wearing my sweatshirt. I thought it was dirty.”
I grab my toothbrush. “I did a load of laundry last night.”
“You braved the laundromat? Is the one at the end of your block finally open again?”
“No, I trekked to the other one, but I had no choice. I had to. I’d worn your sweatshirt six nights in a row. I couldn’t push it one more day.” I talk while brushing my teeth and am surprised he can even understand me.
“You should have called me. I’d have kept you company while you were there.”
I wanted to. “It was late for you.”
“I would have stayed up.”
I know it’s true, but he needs sleep if he’s ever going to finish his book.
“Where’s my photo?” I demand before rinsing my mouth and walking into my closet. “I want my daily allotment of eye candy.”
“I tried to send it, but it’s not going through.”
It’s silly, but my heart sinks. While dating someone long distance, sometimes you rely on the little things to get through. I love getting a daily selfie of Nate. Occasionally, he’ll include Martin or Cat. I was so envious the day he sent a photo with Dog. Once…okay, more than once we’ve sent each other naughty photos. Those are the absolute best days. Those phone calls usually…devolve quickly. I can’t imagine what my neighbors have heard through the walls. Ugh, I can’t even think about it without blushing.
“What’s the outfit going to be today?” he asks.