Prudence: I’m convinced you’re some kind of wizard.
Prudence: And I’m… Really confused.
Nate: What’s confusing you?
Prudence: It feels like it’s… Going too fast? But it still feels natural at the same time.
Nate: Well, I’ve been thinking about this for nearly ten years, so I might be a few steps ahead of you.
Nate: But I understand. If I made you uncomfortable this afternoon or if I overstepped, I’m sorry.
Prudence: That’s the thing. You didn’t.
Prudence: I was perfectly comfortable.
Prudence: It felt… Easy.
Nate: Let’s not talk about all this by text, because there’s so much I want to say and ask, and I want to look at your face when I do.
Nate: But hold all those thoughts, and go on a date with me.
Nate: Tuesday night? I have a consult at the precinct, we can go from there.
NATE
“If you look one more time at your phone, I’m going to start believing I’m annoying you,” Jack mumbles from the armchair facing mine, lifting his beer bottle to his mouth.
I stash my phone in my pocket with a grunt. “Sorry. I’m just—waiting for a text. It’s rude, I’m… sorry.”
His face softens then, and the annoyed look in his eyes is replaced by concern.Great. Should have kept my mouth shut.
“Something wrong?”
“No, no. It’s… Good, I think. Complicated. But, forget about it. We’re here to talk aboutyourissues.”
“No issues,” he says with a shrug and soft smile. “Ikram and I actually got to talk a lot at the beach. I’m… I think I’m going to spend a couple of nights at his place next week.”
My eyes widen in surprise.
“That’s a… Big step.”
“It is. But it feels right, you know?Hefeels right.”
Oh yeah, I know. If I wasn’t so scared to spook Prudence, I’d take her away for a few days too. Because I know, deep in my bones, that she’s the one for me.
But she’s not ready. Not yet. So I’ll take her on a date. At least, if sheactually answers my text about said date…
“I told him my concerns about… Sex,” He continues a little hesitantly. “And, that it might not go as wanted or just be difficult.”
“I’m pretty sure Ikram told you exactly how it doesn’t matter to him.”
“In a way, yes,” Jack concedes. “He said there’s always a way. If something doesn’t work how we want it too, then we’ll try something else. And if nothing does, then we’ll just—”
“See how it goes?”
“Yeah. He told me what happened to him in high school. Said you knew about it too.”
I give him a terse nod. “I do. And that’s why I’m pretty confident he’ll never get upset or pressure you about it.”
