Page 82 of Perfect Enough
Nate straightened in his chair and stared at me with his mouth open. “Wait. Are you serious, Josh?”
Nodding, I said, “I am. I’m telling you, Nate, it’s like the first time she sent me a text…not the ones for her dad, but after she found out it was me…I knew deep down in here,” I pointed to my chest, “that Sophia was different. I don’t know how to explain it. Of course, nowshewants to go slow, so I can make sure she’s the one. But, dude, I’m telling you right now…it’s all I can think about.”
“Having sex with her?”
“Not just that; making love to her. I know she’s the one. I just can’ttell youhow I know. But I know. She is absolutely the one.”
He slowly shook his head. “Wow. I have to say, for as much shit as I give you, I’m envious. You had a conviction, and you stuck with it.”
“I haven’t exactly been an angel.”
“No, but you saved that one special thing, and I’m sure it will mean everything to Sophia.”
I glanced at him and couldn’t miss his sad expression. “Did you ever think you bounce from girl to girl because you know theywon’tbe the one?”
“The one?” he asked with a laugh. “I tell everyone I’m just in it for the sex, but truth be told, I haven’t slept with a lot of women.”
“You mean to tell me you’re all talk?” I asked, shocked.
He smiled. “I’m not innocent either, but I have more moments where I think I’m going to sleep with someone and end up leaving than not.”
“Leaving? Why?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes it just feels…wrong.”
“Does it have anything to do with Haven?”
When Nate looked at me, he sighed. “Christ, that woman gets on my last nerve. But…every damn time I see her, this weird feeling hits me in the chest. I find myself pushing her buttonsjust so she’ll keep talking to me. Well, it’s usually arguing more than talking.”
I laughed. “That flutter in your chest means something, Nate.”
He stared at me. “I don’t have no damn flutter in my chest.”
Raising a brow, I said, “Just ask her out.”
“Haven? You want me to askHavenout.”
“Why not? You just admitted you feel something for her.”
“Yeah, but I don’t knowwhatI feel. It could be revulsion. And maybe the same for her, too.”
I rolled my eyes. “I hardly think so. You’re a relatively decent-looking guy. And Haven is pretty.Verypretty.”
He glared at me. “You have a girlfriend, remember?”
“See,” I said, pointing my beer bottle his way. “You just got jealous.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“So, it wouldn’t bother you if I said Haven and Owen went on a date.”
Nate quickly sat up and looked at me. “How do you know that?”
“Avery told me. She and Beck ran into them when they went out to eat the other night. She said Haven was with a co-worker named Owen. It has to be the same guy she hired to help her with the dog-walking business.”
Nate frowned. “Kind of stupid to mix business with pleasure.”
“Maybe. You still have no desire to ask her out?”