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Nathan looked up from where he sat on his bed, his finger hovering over the channel-changing button on the remote. He let his head fall back to the headboard as a slow smile split his face. The nicknames were back—something he’d taken for granted before. But she’d bolted out of the room so quickly, he thought maybe her playfulness walked right out that door with her. It warmed him to know it hadn’t.
“Did you get your perk?”
“I did. What did you do while I was gone? You got dressed, by the looks of it.”
“I did,” he said with a nod, waving a hand in front of his blue button-down shirt. “Do you think this is appropriate for tonight? I didn’t pack many options.”
“Absolutely. You look good. I mean, the shirt—it looks good.” She turned her back to him as she looked through the closet. “I still have to figure out what I’m wearing tonight.”
She rifled through the options on hangers, pausing to get a better look at some and quickly passing by the others. Nathan always assumed she had outfits planned days in advance, sinceshe always looked so pulled together. But something had her rattled ever since she walked into the shared room this evening.
“What about that one?” he offered, trying to help. And also, she’d already flipped through her options twice.
Turning slowly, she held up the sleeve of the top he’d recommended. He’d only seen the color of the fabric, a burnt orange with navy stripes he thought looked rather festive. It was only then he noticed it was the shirt that had pieces of hay dangling from the cuff.
“This?” She smiled as she shook her head, her fingers toying with the straw. “You think I should wear this tonight?”
“Well, maybe without the—hay, is it?” He hopped off the bed, making his way to the closet. “Why do your clothes look like they’ve spent too much time at the farm?”
She playfully shoved his chest, and he didn’t hate it. He also didn’t hate the tiny smirk playing at her soft pink lips. “It’s my costume for Boo at the Zoo Thursday night.”
“Ah.” He took a step back. “I didn’t bring a costume.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal. This is just left over from last year.”
Nate tilted his head, remembering very vividly what she’d worn at the town’s Fright Night last Halloween. “You didn’t dress up last year.”
“You’re right.” She nodded once then turned to hang the garment back in the closet. “That was one half of a couple’s costume that didn’t see the light of day.”
“Why not?” He didn’t mean to pry, but it looked like a nice enough getup. He couldn’t imagine why she’d deemed it not good enough for the festivities.
“Bobby didn’t want to.” Her eyes fell to the floor as she shrugged. “He wasn’t the biggest fan of my wild adventures.”
“I wouldn’t really classify wearing a scarecrow costume a wild adventure.”
She busied herself as she looked through her wardrobe a third time. “Well, that wasn’t the only time.” Her hand stilled as soon as the words left her mouth, like she hadn’t meant to blurt them. “I mean, he just…” She grabbed the end of the flannel shirt, watching her fingers toy with the straw. “I think, at the end of the day, I just wanted someone who would…show up for me. I know it’s silly?—”
“It’s not,” he interrupted. “Not at all.” What a small thing to do for someone you supposedly cared about. Though, he got the feeling thatshow up for mewas only a tiny piece of a larger picture. That there was something she wasn’t saying with her words but sure was trying to convey with her hunched posture and bitter smile. “Is that why Lucy is so set on matchmaking you?”
“Probably. She just wants me to be happy. But Iamhappy. For the most part. And I’ll be happy in my own time—when I’m ready. I wish she’d just give me a little room to breathe.”
Nate sighed, suddenly wondering if he was wrong to reject her idea to fake date. If pretending to be her boyfriend would get Lucy and company off her back, that might not be the worst thing. Although, the two of them would have to spend more time together—something he was trying to avoid as much as he could. He’d definitely be playing with fire. But to help Stella, wouldn’t it be worth it?
She peered over his shoulder toward the nightstand, and her eyes bulged. “Gosh, I’ve been yammering too long. I need to get ready.” She grabbed two or three things from the closet and walked to the bathroom.
“Stella,” he said before she closed the door.
“Yeah?”
“I hope you know…” He momentarily lost his words in the two deep pools of blue that pulled him in. “I’m here…if you ever need someone to…yammer to. Okay?”
Her blue eyes shone in the overhead lighting as she nodded. “Okay.”
“Do you want me to wait for you? We could walk down together.”
She paused before shutting the door. “I’d like that.”
He would too.
