Drawn to You

Chapter 7

“‘You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, but you do have some say in who hurts you.’ That’s my favorite line from the book.” Nathan blurts behind me.

It took me immediately to register what he has said. I smile and glance at him over my shoulder. He flashes me back a smile (for the first time) and occupies the empty seat beside me.

“You’re alone?” He asks after he has made himself comfortable. I respond with a nod as I find myself puzzled. I can’t believe he actually started a conversation with me. Obviously, this is surprisingly new.

“I see…” He nods at a snail's pace as he gingerly slips the book I was holding away from under my hands. “The Fault in Our Stars,” he read the title aloud.

I raise an eyebrow at him. I try my best not to smile, but the corner of my lips threaten to curl upwards.

“What?” he laughs embarrassed.

“Nothing,” I grin and look away. Gosh, I never knew a laugh that sexy could even exist.

“Suuure,” he says sarcastically. I catch him roll his eyes playfully from the corner of my eyes. I smirk and roll my eyes back at him.

“What brought you here anyway?” I finally ask.

“I don’t know,” Nathan shrugs casually. “I had a book to return so I went here. Then, after I had my library card back from the librarian, I saw you here. Alone, but surrounded by bookshelves.”

“Oh…” Sadly, it was the only response I could give. He nods and I awkwardly smile at him. “So,” I try to prolong the conversation, “what book did you return?”

“A book that’s not as entertaining as this [The Fault in Our Stars].” He smirks as he returns my book. I laugh at him and say, “Thank you.”

He beams at me and I notice that he has perfect white teeth. Gosh, he’s cute when he smiles. He should always smile. Like, always.

“Did you like it?” He asks. “The book, I mean. Did you like it? Or was it not your kind of book?”

“It’s more of that I loved it,” I beam. “It’s definitely my kind of book.”

“I’m glad.”

“Thank you, by the way.” I tell him. “I would’ve not read this if it weren’t for you. You have good taste in books.”

“Thank you?” He chuckles. “You know it’s the first time I got a compliment for having ‘good taste’ in books. Not that I have anything against it of course!”

“Lies,” I tease him. “You hold everything against it. I take it back.”

Nathan rolls his eyes at me playfully. “You know more than anything that you’re not taking it back. What’s said can never be taken back.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Yes! It’s true.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Seriously?” He laughs. “Come on, what’s said can never be taken back. Even if you say that you ‘take it back’, whatever you said has already made an impact to whomever you were talking to.”

“Uh-huh.”

"Seriously?"

"Uh-huh."

"Are we really doing this?"

"Uh-huh."

"Fine."

"Uh-huh."

“You’re beautiful.”