Page 49 of I Could Be Yours (The Toronto Terror #6)

ESSIE

O n Sunday afternoon, my phone pings .

Nate

How’s the thinking going?

Essie

As well as can be expected.

Nate

Is there anything I can do to help?

Essie

Send a selfie.

A picture of Nate with my favorite furrowed brow appears.

Essie

Amending: send a shirtless selfie.

Another picture comes through. This time Nate’s hair is mussed, and he’s standing in front of a full-length mirror in a pair of dress pants.

Nate

Is this helpful?

Essie

Very.

Send a shirtless selfie of you ironing your shirt.

Nate

***

Essie

It helps me think.

It takes a few minutes, but the selfie pops up.

Nate

Is there anything else you need?

Assistance picking an outfit, perhaps?

I’m here to support however I can.

Essie

Thanks. I’ll let you know if I think of something.

Monday evening, my phone pings again.

Nate

How’s the thinking going today?

Essie

Decent.

Nate

This seems like an upgrade. How are the roses holding up?

Essie

Quite well.

I snap a photo of the overflowing vase and send it to him.

Nate

Is that your bedroom? O_o

Where did you put the pillow?

I snap a close-up of the pillow and send it along.

Nate

Catalina!

Tell her I miss her.

I miss you.

My phone rings, and I don’t hesitate to answer. “Hi.”

“Hi. It’s good to hear your voice.” He sighs.

“It’s good to hear yours too.” I flop down on my bed and hug Catalina to my chest. “How’s work?”

“Good. It’s good. It’s been keeping me busy, which I need right now. Flip and Tristan are testing out the prototype with me tomorrow, so that’s exciting.”

“That’s great! This could be your engineering skate-design breakout, and right at the beginning of your career. You should be so proud of yourself, Nate. I know I am.”

“Thanks, Essie. Really the prototype is just step one, and it’ll take a while to get it where it needs to be, but it’s affirming to have a team that supports me. How’s your work?”

“I’m on a fantasy set right now, and one of the senior artists has taken me under her wing. It’s been a challenge, and I love it.”

“That’s great, Ess. I saw one of your posts, but I didn’t comment because I wanted to respect your space. I didn’t want to be a creeper.”

I want to crawl through the phone and hug him. “You’re not a creeper unless you start liking my stuff from five years ago and commenting on all of it.”

“I was only planning to go back three years,” he jokes.

“Totally reasonable and safely outside of creeper territory.” I trade Catalina for the heart pillow he bought me and hug it to my chest. It’s soft and fuzzy and my new favorite. “How’s therapy?”

He exhales a long breath.

“That good, eh?” I laugh, but I’m nervous.

“Half the time it’s as if she can read my mind. Like, how dare she know me so well already, you know? What is she, a witch?” He chuckles. “Mostly it’s good, though, even though it’s hard.”

“What do you talk about?” This is what I want most from him, for him to open up to me, too. To share the parts of himself he’s afraid to share with anyone else.

“The obvious stuff—my mom, what it was like growing up before she left, what it was like after, what my relationships have been like.” His voice drops to a whisper. “I talk about you a lot, too.”

“Oh?” My heart stutters.

“I told her all the reasons I’m in love with you.”

“Do you want to tell me about those?” My heart beats faster. He’s showing me he’s trying in all the ways that count, that he thinks I’m worth the effort.

“You have the most amazing, open heart.”

“Sometimes it gets me into trouble,” I counter.

“I think that’s probably true for all of us,” he replies. “You’re truly sunshine and rainbows. You make people happy just by being you. Talking to you right now is the highlight of my day.”

My heart squeezes. I’ve missed him so much—the banter, planning things with him, spending time with him. So many times he’s affirmed me without even knowing, and maybe this time it’s intentional, but it’s softening my already marshmallow soft heart. “It’s the highlight of mine, too.”

“You’re smart and fun to be around. You’re a caretaker, and you always show up for people when it matters the most.” He clears his throat.

“You have such beautiful faith in the power of love. I was so jaded that I couldn’t understand why you’d welcome the potential for pain. It scared the hell out of me. ”

“Does it still scare you?” My heart hammers in my chest. He’s trying so hard, sharing his vulnerability with me.

“Absolutely. But it’s worth it if it means I get to have a life that’s full and it includes people like you.”

“I’m done thinking,” I blurt. “I’ll go on a date with you.”