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“Alright, enough Nate talk. He’ll be here, live and in person, before you know it. In the meantime, how about we hit the dance floor?” Charlee was already leaving Lucas’s side, but I noticed he grabbed and squeezed her hand first. Smiling at him, she gave her attention to me. “Whaddya say?”
“You know I’m always up for dancing.” I put my drink on the bar just as a lively country western tune began. Lucas, it seemed, would be the drink babysitter.
As Charlee and I made our way through the crowd, I couldn’t help but look at her and Lucas, so in love and such a perfect couple, wondering if maybe. . .
“What’s wrong?” Charlee asked as we found a spot.
“It’s just. . . I really thought Erik was the one. But Nate has me more captivated than any guy before him, including my dipshit ex. So, was I really in love or was I settling? And is Nate ready for more? Do I even want more?”
“Deep breaths,” Charlee said. “One step at a time. Meet him in person. Take it from there. Try not to look so far ahead.”
She was right, of course. There really was no past or future, just the present. A lesson my thick head had a difficult time comprehending. But I would try.
And that started with dancing, enjoying the music, and forgetting, at least for the moment, that in a few weeks my life might be seriously altered. . . forever.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
nate
At first I hadn’t been thrilled it would be weeks after being back in the states before I could see Zoe. But now that I’d finally just begun to reacclimate, I was glad for the timing. After a week at Fort Campbell, I was on my way to Kitchi Falls.
“How you doing?”
The guy next to me was buttoned up. Less blue collar and more the doctor or lawyer type.
Oddly familiar.
“Good,” I said. “You?”
There wasn’t much room to spread out on the small puddle-jumper, and it seemed like I’d be getting to know my companion whether I wanted to or not.
“Glad to be headed home. Coming from a bachelor party in Nashville. You?”
“On my way home,” I said, not wanting to get into it. “So, was the bachelor a friend of yours?”
“Actually, the party was mine.”
“Oh, shit,” I said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Was kind of a last-minute thing. Actually, all of it is pretty last minute. Only started dating my fiancée a little over a month ago.” He added, “But when you know, you know.”
Do you?
I didn’t ask that out loud. I remembered at least a few of my manners. “Yeah?” I said noncommittally instead.
“I think so. I dated a woman for six months and thought for sure we’d get married. She definitely wanted to, but. . .something held me back from asking. Then I started talking to one of the nurses in the hospital where I work and could just tell the difference. I knew this one was for real.”
So, a doctor. Called that one. I stuck out my hand. “Congratulations. Name’s Nate, by the way.”
“Erik. Great to meet you. So, where you headed on the lakes?”
“Kitchi Falls,” I said.
Erik chuckled. “You’ve got to be kidding. Same here. Small world.”
“Small world,” I repeated, my mind drifting back to Africa as it did often. I knew coming home was going to be a mixed bag, but I hadn’t exactly expected to miss the sunrise so much.
“Since I doubt you’re vacationing in Kitchi Falls. . .” He left the question unanswered. I wasn’t inclined to offer any more information, so he added, “Happy to give you a ride into town.”
