A long lane at night

2.1. SWEET BEGINNINGS

A/N.: Book 2 has fewer chapters than 1, but they're considerably longer. Book 1 was written with an online format in mind, while 2 was written aimed at the print edition. In the end, Book 2 is almost twice as big as 1. Due to limitations on the other platform, the chapters are split into two or three parts for online publication, with one part being updated every week. Until I reach the other platform (between chapters 8 and 10), I'll upload the chapters here as a whole. Once the two plaforms meet, Wattpad will get the same upload in parts. I hope you enjoy it.

*** NATE ***

THIS IS THE STORY OF NATE WYATT. ME, I'M NATE WYATT. This is my story. Allow me to at least start it from an outsider's perspective.

This is not the story of how Nate became an instant celebrity or a sudden millionaire thanks to his latest invention, because those things never happened to Nate and never will. This isn't the story either of how Nate married his high school sweetheart and became an accountant because even though Nate isn't the most interesting man on Earth, he's also not that dull. No, this is the story of how Nate Wyatt is using everything he has, all of his might to finally let go of Jack Altridge-Leech. Sweet old Jack with skin as golden as the sunset and a hug so engulfing and special that you would never expect to come from those toned arms. Nate never thought that he would part from Jack, but even his waiting must come to an end.

Perhaps I should tell you how long, and especially how much, Nate has been waiting for Jack.

The year is whatever number you get when you think about a very long time ago and a four-year-old Nate is playing on the floor of his dad's record shop. After spending a few minutes mesmerised by the colourful big covers, Nate is now sitting on the floor of the main aisle, next to the register. He's playing with two toy cars to see which one is faster while he holds them tightly from up above.

Nate's father pretends to be busy working on his finances when he's in fact enjoying watching his son play. Mr. Wyatt knows perfectly well how much Nate hates being the centre of attention. If young Nate even suspects he's being watched by his father, daresay being completely dumbfoundedly stared at as he's secretly being right now, the boy stops everything he's doing and hides. Mr. Wyatt knows that he eventually will have to work on his son's confidence skills, but right now he's too at peace admiring the boy and savouring all the feelings he's allowed to feel as a proud dad.

Mr. Wyatt's attention is driven to the store door when it opens, making the little bell ring. The sweet sound also makes Nate look up at the door to see who's coming in and he sees the familiar face of Mr. Altridge-Leech, a faithful client of his dad's. Of course, little four-year-old Nate has no idea what 'faithful' means, but he's seen Mr. Altridge-Leech more than enough to not feel the slightest sense of novelty, which makes him go back to his toy cars.

His glance stops on its way down, though, when Nate sees Mr. Altridge-Leech is guiding a boy into the store by the shoulder. He had never seen the boy before, but he looked a bit older than Nate. He had a different look about him, a kind of scared curiosity as if every little thing around him was something new and he wasn't able anymore to process the number of different things he was seeing.

'Ah, Brian!' Mr. Wyatt exclaims with a smile and a clap of his hands. 'So good to see you! How is the adaptation going for our young boy Jack?'

'Hello, Henry. Say hi to Mr. Wyatt, Jack.'

Jack, who was absorbed by the many cover pictures around him, suddenly looks up at his father before opening up a smile and saying in an excited voice:

'Hello, Mr. Wyatt. I'm Jack Altridge-Leech and I'm four years old! Nice to meet you!'