𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔.
Elizabeth Reid learned, at seventeen, that she was going to die. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, she's faced with a question that no one should have to answer.
How do you leave a mark on a wo...
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I flopped onto my bed, bouncing slightly as Nathan settled next to me. I pulled my laptop closer, balancing it on my knees.
"Ready for the cheesiest romcom ever?" Nathan grinned, reaching for the bowl of popcorn.
"God, I hope it's as bad as you said," I laughed. "I need a good laugh after this yesterday."
The movie started playing, some generic pop song blaring as the opening credits rolled. I tried to focus on the screen but was hyper-aware of Nathan beside me. His arm was just inches from mine, and I could smell his cologne—something woodsy and warm.
"Oh my god, look at her hair!" Nathan snorted, pointing at the screen. "It's like a poodle exploded on her head."
I giggled, grabbing a handful of popcorn. "Hey, don't knock it. That was the height of fashion. What year is this supposed to be set in?"
"Who knows? The 80s? 90s? It's like they threw every decade into a blender."
As the movie progressed, I found myself relaxing. The plot was ridiculous—something about a clumsy bookstore owner and a stuck-up businessman falling in love over increasingly improbable mishaps—but Nathan's running commentary made it hilarious.
"Ten Bucks says she trips and falls into his arms in the next scene," he whispered.
I snorted. "No bet. That's romcom 101."
Sure enough, the heroine stumbled over thin air, careening into the hero's conveniently open arms.
"Called it!" Nathan crowed, pumping his fist in victory.
I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. I shifted slightly, and my arm brushed against Nathan's. A little jolt went through me, and suddenly, I was thinking about last Saturday night again.
We'd spent the day at the dog shelter, walking dogs and playing with them outside. It was hard work, but seeing Nathan cooing over puppies and getting slobbered on by big, goofy mutts made it all worth it.
When it was time to leave, Nathan drove me home.
My heart started beating faster just thinking about it. We'd pulled up outside my house, and I'd turned to thank him for the ride. But instead of the quick goodbye I'd expected, Nathan pulled me into a hug.
It wasn't like our usual quick, casual hugs. This one lingered. I could feel the warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest. His arms tightened around me, and I found myself melting into him, my face buried in the crook of his neck.
We stayed like that for what felt like forever, but it was probably only a minute or two. When we finally pulled apart, there was this charged, electric moment—when we just looked at each other. Nathan's eyes were so warm, so intense. For a second, I thought he might...
But then we pulled apart, and the spell was broken. We'd said awkward goodnights, and I'd stumbled into my house, my heart racing and mind whirling.
"Earth to Beth?" Nathan's voice snapped me back to the present. "You zoned out there for a sec. You okay?"
