Because It's You - English Version

¤ 40 - Hardest Words

Nate, please tell Julian thank you for the book he brought. Sean really liked it and asked me to read it to him every night.

Nate read Annie's message with a frown. A book? She didn't remember Julian ever saying he would send a book to Sean. Nate reread the message. Wait, for the book he brought. Didn't that mean Julian went to give a book to Sean himself? Nate immediately called her sister to ask for an explanation.

"Julian did come to Brighton last week. Didn't you know about that?" Annie asked her back from the other end of the phone.

Nate was dumbfonded. "He did go away on work last week, but he never said he was coming back to the UK, let alone to Mum's house."

"Well, Dad said Julian was just stopping by before going back to Stockholm, as he usually does. I didn't meet Julian in person, but I heard Mum complaining about you to him. She also scolded him for coming alone, instead of sending you home because you were such a nuisance to him while you were there."

Nate massaged her temples. Mum was always like that even though she was the one who made Nate unable to go home.

"Mum was also nervous because Julian said he was the one who asked you to stay," Annie continued. "Didn't you tell Mum that Julian already has a girlfriend there? Then why is he still holding you back?"

"It was just a misunderstanding. Julian already explained it to me. She's not his girlfriend." Nate walked over to the window. He was stunned when he saw Keith walk across the street and into one of the cafes. "Uh... Annie, I have something to tell you. Promise me you won't tell anyone, especially Mum."

"Of course. I'll keep it under my hat."

Nate bit her lower lip. "Listen. Do you remember Keith?"

"Your handsome co-worker you hooked up with?"

"Can you just skip the handsome part? Well, he is more handsome now than the last time I met him." Nate tried to be honest. Keith was indeed handsome from any angle.

"Sorry, sorry. What about him?"

Nate moved away from the window, aware that Keith could see her from outside. "He divorced his wife a long time ago. Now he's here in Stockholm. He wants me back."

There was a pause for a moment. Then Annie let out a muffled squeal. "Wait, I'm with Sean now. I'll move to the kitchen first."

They talked for quite a while. It wasn't the right time to share stories like this, but Annie would be hard to reach at night because she had to be with her husband. Nate told her everything she did with Keith, including all their conversations.

"Okay. I'll give you smy opinion from the perspective of someone who knows you and Julian," said Annie. "I would say, keep your relationship with Julian. You've come this far, and your relationship is much better with him. You just need to wait until his wounds heal, and you two can be happy again. He's the source of your happiness. I can't imagine you breaking up with him again."

"I know. I never had any intention of choosing between Julian and Keith." Nate whispered because she could hear Marco's voice outside the room.

"But," Annie paused on purpose to make it sound dramatic. "From the perspective of someone who doesn't know the three of you, I would suggest you go with Keith. He's obviously coming for you, he obviously loves you, and he obviously wants to have you. I mean, it's better to go with something that is beyond question than to wait for something up in the air."

"You mean, Julian's feelings for me are questionable?" Nate asked in an offended tone.

"I wouldn't have said that years ago, but things are different now, Nate. He's hurt, he's pushed you away. Who's to say he still feels the same way he did? I'm not even sure he knows how he feels now."