Never Enough Time

Chapter Seven: Rika

Chapter Seven: Rika

“You’re every line, you’re every word,

You’re everything...”

− Everything, Michael Buble 

RIKA

            Nathan laughed, and I startled, breaking out of my trance.

            “What?” I asked, blushing again. Had he noticed how bemused I was by his answer?

            “You looked so confused,” he said, grinning. “It was funny.” He chuckled again.

            So he had noticed.

            I groaned and sat up, wrapping my arms around my knees. “I was confused,” I said, feeling my cheeks burn even more.

            Nathan sat up, too. “By what?” he asked. “I only told the truth.”

            “I know,” I answered, sighing. “That’s the confusing part.”

            Now he was the one confused. “How is my thinking about you confusing?” he asked incredulously.

            I did not honestly know the answer to that question; heck, that was the question I had been trying to answer myself.

            “I don’t know,” I said, burying my face in my hands. I almost wished he had lied and said he’d been thinking about something mundane like the weather so I wouldn’t have to deal with this.

            “Rika…” he said tentatively. “I didn’t mean to offend you.” I felt his hand on my arm, comforting and warm.

            I looked up. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “No, you didn’t offend me. It’s just…” I trailed off, not wanting to finish.

            “It’s just what?” he asked gently. “Won’t you tell me?”

            And he looked so patient, so kind, so caring that I couldn’t stand making him unhappy. So, I told him.

            “Do you think about me often?” I asked abruptly. I looked into his clear green eyes, waiting for his answer.

            He looked taken aback. “What kind of a question is that?” he said, his voice kind even now. He took his hand off my arm, and it hurt me more than I think it should.

            “Just answer it. Please,” I said, my voice a whisper. I needed to know. Was he only thinking about me just now?

            Nathan looked conflicted. There seemed to be some kind of battle raging inside of him, and he was on both sides.

            Still, his face was completely serious when he said, “Everyday.”

            I couldn’t believe my ears. “What?” I asked in a whisper.

            “Everyday,” he repeated. “I think about you everyday. Every hour, every minute, every second – it’s always you.” He looked at me with careful eyes, anticipating my reaction.

            When several moments passed and I still said nothing, he asked, concerned, “Does that bother you?”

            I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. Instead, I turned, reached forward, and hugged him. He stiffened, then relaxed and hugged me back.