“That was not the plan,” he whispered and I couldn’t help the small laugh that left my lips. “I’ll leave in thirty minutes.”
He slammed his lips back on mine.
CHAPTER 28: 16 DAYS AFTER…. WELL, HIM
I woke up super early because I was so anxious. I wasn’t even this anxious for Couture Week and maybe it was because I didn’t directly have anything to do with it but this show is all me. I was intimately involved with the set up and the design and the dresses. If anything were to go wrong, I would bear the brunt of it. The investors would probably leave with nothing but a scratch while I would have to pick up the pieces.
When I woke up, my first thought was I wished Nathan was here. He left right after dinner and even though I wanted nothing more than to ask him to stay, I knew I couldn’t ask him to give up all his plans for me.
I forced my feet out of bed and that was when I noticed a small wrapped box lying on the table. I walked over to it and lookedfor a note but there was nothing. I sat on the chair and carefully unwrapped the package. Sitting there in my hands was a well used copy of Lord of the Rings.
I opened the first page and saw tabs with little writings in Nathan’s perfect cursive lining the margins. The more I flipped, the more tabs and notes I saw and then when I got to the end, there was a little card.
This was the first book I ever bought with my own money and if I were to pick a favorite book, this would probably be it. I’ve had it for a very long time and I planned to give it to you much later but I figured it would be the perfect starting gift for today.
In it are notes I made while I read and reread the book over the years. I color coded the tabs for moments I thought you would love and moments that I found funny. You’ll figure it out when you read it.
I know you’re probably anxious about the entire show but you have spent months planning and perfecting it. It is going to be perfect and I can’t wait to see your dress.
If you make it through the night, I just might have another gift planned.
Nathan.
A smile tugged at my lips and I took a picture with the book to send to Nathan before gently placing the book in my box so I wouldn’t forget it at all. I actually couldn’t wait to read the book despite how massive it looked. I was more excited to read the tiny scribbles and notes he made. It would feel like being in his head and something about it felt exciting.
I practically floated through the things I had to do. I ate breakfast while texting with Nathan. He assured me that he would be at the show but he might be a little late because he had a meeting to attend to. I didn’t care that he would be late, all I cared was that he was going to be there.
Around two p.m. when I was about to start getting ready, there was a knock on my room door and I pulled it open to see Olivia there with a smile on her face. She was holding a huge shopping bag and I wasted no time in pulling her into a hug. Nathan said she was coming but seeing her still felt so surreal.
“When did you land?” I asked once I had finally pulled back. “Where are you staying? I forgot to ask Nathan and I didn’t book a hotel. I think I can do something last minute if-,”
“Relax,” she laughed as she breezed her way into the hotel room and set the bag on the bed. “I thought you got us a hotel but seeing how confused you are, I am willing to bet that lover boy did it on his own.”
“Why would he-” I trailed off silently and she raised a brow at me. “He actually got you a hotel.”
“Apparently so,” she put her shoes on the bed and I rolled my eyes as I pushed them off. “It’s not too far from here though and it is amazing. I think it is the most expensive place I have ever stayed in my life. Your parents are there right now actually. They wanted to come with me but your mum said that they would psych you out so they’ll meet you at the venue.”
“He got a room for them too,” I said almost dumbly and she nodded.
I reached over to grab my phone and sent Nathan a quick thank you text telling him that Olivia was in my room. His response wasalmost immediate as if he was holding his phone when my message entered.
Nathan: You weren’t supposed to find out.
Me: Thank you, I am so grateful.
Nathan: Don’t worry about it. Focus on your show, we can talk later.
I put my phone away and turned to Olivia who had sat up on the bed and had her chin placed on her open palms. She was wiggling her brows and shot me a knowing look and I threw a pillow in her face just so she would stop staring at me.
“You have a lot to tell me,” she said as she stood to her feet. “You can tell me while we get ready.”
While we waited for the stylists to arrive, I told Olivia everything that had happened and she listened with wide eyes. All she did was squeal and kick her feet while I told her about the book and she made sure to remind me that she had rooted for Nathan from day one while I reminded her that we hadn’t discussed anything yet.
The stylists arrived, cutting our conversation short and she assured me that we would continue later. Even though I should have been focusing on my show, I couldn’t help but think about Nathan the entire time. Even while exchanging pleasantries with my stylists and they told me about the things they had been up to, my mind never drifted away from Nathan.
When I looked at myself in the mirror and saw how the burnt orange jeweled fabric molded to my body like second skin and the feathered train smoothed out behind me, I could only think about Nathan’s reaction to the plunging back and the fact that my tattoo was out in the open. He had already seen it but I doubt he took his time to actually look at it.
“I know that smile,” Olivia teased as she walked up to me in the mirror and I glanced over at her. “What are we thinking about? Is it him?”
