39 | Candlelit Conversations

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Even though I lied to Nathan when I said I needed a shower, I got one anyway after deciding that standing under the spray of the steaming water would somehow calm me down. And, for the ten minutes I was incased in the glass doors of my shower, I did feel a little better. 

But all of my newfound serenity was thrown out the window the moment I stepped into my closet and thought about what I was going to wear. I mean, what do you wear to this kind of thing? It wasn't a date, but it wasn't like we were already out and decided to stop and get something to eat. 

Like I always do whenever I encounter a confusing boy situation, I grab my phone and dial Stephanie's number. I balance my phone between my shoulder and ear as I towel dry my hair and survey the mass amounts of clothes that Steph filled my closet with just a few months ago. 

Finally, I hear Stephanie's mildly nervous voice answer, "Hey mom."

"Mom?" My brows furrow in confusion. "It's Lauren."

She forces a fake laugh. "Yes, mom, I'm still in my Sociology class, but my professor let me answer the phone in case it was an emergency. Is there something wrong?"

My lips curl into an amused smile as I try stifle my laughter to no avail. After a second, I preface, "I'll try to make this quick." And then I let out a deep breath, letting my smile drop as well. "I'm going out to dinner with Nathan but it's not a date so I don't know what to wear."

"You got in a car accident? Are you okay?" Stephanie asks quickly, and then I hear a muffled: "Mr. Stetson, I'm going to need to take this in the hall, if that's okay."

And then a muffled, "Of course, Stephanie."

I laughed to myself and, when I hear a door shut through the phone, Stephanie begins gushing. "Nathan invited you to dinner? That's so cute! I can't believe he finally manned up and did it."

"It's not a date," I repeat warily, though I still feel myself getting excited over it. 

"Of course it's a date," I can practically picture Steph rolling her eyes. "I would wear the light blue and white floral dress with those silver gladiator sandals I gave you for your birthday."

I was mildly impressed with how specifically she could recall my wardrobe but instead asked hesitantly, "A dress?"

"You would rather be overdressed than underdressed," Stephanie reminds me in a tone that suggests I should've already known this. "Have fun tonight but I have to go. Text me the details later, okay?"

"Thanks Steph," I feel a mild sense of relief wash over me. "I will."

Before I can hang up the phone, I hear the sound of a door opening and Stephanie's muffled voice explain, "It was just a fender bender," to her teacher. 

I hung up and began laughing at Stephanie's wild excuses before I face my closet once more. I scavenge through the dresses until I find the one Stephanie was talking about: it was a casual summer dress that actually fit me nicely. Next, I found the shoes, and slid into them. 

I worked quickly with the mascara wand through my eyelashes and decided that was all I was going to do with my makeup. When I hear my phone vibrate on my bed, my heart stammers in my chest at the realization that it was probably Nathan. 

As I'm brushing out my hair, I grab my phone and my suspicions are confirmed when I see his name sprawled across the screen. My heart was beating quickly in sheer anticipation as I swiped to open my phone and scan his message. 

Nathan: Hey are you almost ready?

With shaking fingers, I typed a response. 

Lauren: Ready when you are 

My phone buzzed to signal another message and he confirmed that he would be here in ten minutes. I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror for a long moment to make sure that I looked okay. 

My natural blonde hair fell over my shoulders in waves, the sandals complimented my dress nicely, and I looked presentable for whatever it was Nathan and I were about to do. When I decide that I'm ready, I head downstairs and toward the front door. 

On my way to the door, I poke my head in the kitchen, and see Luke sitting at the counter eating cereal. I had barely had a meaningful conversation with Luke since he dropped the "I've been talking to dad and I'm going to visit him" bomb on me. 

We were both acutely aware of the fact there was a big elephant in the room but neither one of us wanted to poke it. 

"You look nice," Luke acknowledged suspiciously and points his spoon at me. "Where are you going?"

Calmly, I tell him, "To Angelo's."

I didn't even mention Nathan's name and I see a small smirk rest on his lips that tells me he's already caught me out. "And who are you going with?"

I narrow my eyes a little and, because I don't want to give him the satisfaction, I answer evasively, "A friend."

"Nathan?" Luke guesses easily.

"Yeah, so?" I practically snap without meaning to. 

His smirk widens immediately and he leans back while shooting me an innocent look. "I didn't say anything. Why are you getting so defensive, Lauren?"

"I'm not," I defend fiercely and then pull back. "But if I was, it would be because I know what you're doing, and your smirk is stupid."

Luke bursts out into laughter, and I let out an immature "humph" and crossed my arms. I lean against the doorframe and glare at him, annoyed that he was laughing at my expense. Eventually, he sobers up enough to give me some more shit about Nathan.

"So is this your first date?" Luke presses, another smirk on his lips.

I sigh and don't answer him, deciding that maybe the silent treatment would work, and he would shut up.

"Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend yet? You have to tell me immediately," He adds.

"What, to help you win your bet with mom?" I mutter, breaking my silence, but I couldn't help myself.

Luke chuckles and I feel a cross of relief and nervousness slice through me when a knock interrupts Luke's banter. I make eye contact with him and know what he's going to do when I see the mischievous glint in his eyes but before I tell him not to, he's running for the front door. 

When I scramble to turn around and get to the door first, Luke pushes me with ease. I almost topple onto the ground but save myself by grabbing the edge of the counter. I huff in annoyance and stand up straight to see Luke greeting Nathan at the door with a big fat smirk on his face. 

My annoyance with Luke suddenly took precedent over my previous nerves about dinner, so I stomped up to the front door and hit Luke on the arm as hard as I could (which, apparently, wasn't that hard, considering he didn't even flinch).

"What's wrong with you?" I hiss at him. "I almost fell over!"

His big fat smirk shows me that he doesn't care  that I'm yelling at him or even that I hit him, just that he's pleased with himself. Luke gives me no answer, so I continue to glare at him heatedly.

"I'm going to get you back for that when you least expect it. Sleep with one eye open." I threaten dramatically.

A deep chuckle coming from the doorway reminded me that Nathan was standing right there, which I hadn't really acknowledged in the heat of the moment. Luke must see the recognition on my face because his smirk widens even more if possible, the smug idiot.

"Nathan, he pushed-" I started complaining to Nathan as I turned, but when I caught sight of him, I faltered. "Uh, he pushed me over," I finish lamely.

I faltered because when I saw Nathan, my jaw almost dropped. He was wearing khaki pants and black button down; nothing too fancy, but it looked so good on him. His hair seemed somewhat tamed versus his usual messy mop, his skin looked tanned and soft, and his eyes were a shining blue. Nathan, like always, looked hot, but right now he looked mouth wateringly attractive.

I watched with fascinated eyes as Nathan reaches out and hits Luke on the arm. Unlike when I hit him, Luke groans and grabs his arm, shooting a glare at Nathan. A smile stretches on my lips as I realize why Nathan did that, and I glance at him to see him grinning at me. I almost got lost in how gorgeous Nathan's smile was, but I blinked a few times and then focused on his amazing blue eyes.

"Thank you," I chirp happily, trying to at least pretend that I wasn't fawning over his looks.

His eyes are alight with the playfulness I love. "You're welcome. Shall we, then?"

I nod, my own smile stretching across my lips, just because his was so infectious. "We shall." And then I turn to glare at Luke one last time. "Watch your back."

Luke just chuckled, and I turned back to Nathan and met him outside. Before the front door shut behind us, I heard Luke's obnoxious voice call, "Don't stay out too late! Have fun, kids! Use protection!"

I sigh heavily at the last one, mumbling to myself, "He's such an idiot."

The front door slams shut and I hear Nathan laugh at my comment. "Yeah, but he's lovable, isn't he?"

"Sometimes," I mutter halfheartedly.

We continue walking down the path to his car, and when we reach it, Nathan opens the door for me. I look up at him and smile and he smiles more brilliantly, as usual. "You look really beautiful, by the way."

His smile alone sent tingles racing up my arms, but the words enhanced the sensation tenfold. Just when I think I'm unable to form a coherent sentence, I somehow manage to reply, "You too."

But that's not a coherent sentence. I just called Nathan pretty.

I begin laughing at myself out of nerves and my face warms up. Still standing at the passenger side door, I tell myself to fix my faux pas before I die of embarrassment. "I mean, you look good too, but not beautiful. Well, I'm not saying you're not beautiful, but guys don't want to be called that, right? I just meant you look nice as well."

Too late. I was already dying a slow, painful, embarrassing death.

Nathan began chuckling, his assuring half smiles resting on his lips as he jokes, "You mean you don't think I'm beautiful?"

Flustered, I mutter, "I'm just going to get into the car now."

Nathan's laughter is the last thing I hear as he closes my door for me, like a gentleman, and then rounds the car to get in the drivers seat. My face is on fire and I work very intensely on taking slow, even breaths in the hopes it will help calm my nerves. When Nathan gets in the car and turns it on, I hear a familiar tune.

It was Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. I smiled when the guitar began and shut my eyes momentarily, memories of listening to this album with my parents washing over me like a tidal wave, ridding me of embarrassment in the process. I opened my eyes with a wider smile on my lips, and I'm surprised to see Nathan looking at me with a small smile already.

"I remember you saying how much you liked this song, so I grabbed the CD from work," Nathan explains hesitantly.

I have an overwhelming urge to kiss Nathan right then, and it took way too much willpower to stay rooted in my seat. I just smiled wider at him, unable to believe he was so sweet and thoughtful.

"Thank you, Nathan," I say instead of kissing him senseless. "It's really sweet you remembered."

I hope he can hear the sincerity in my voice when I say this, and I think he does, because I swear his eyes brighten as does his smile. Nathan finally looks away and begins driving us, and I'm too happy to notice that we're going the opposite way from Angelo's.

It takes me about five minutes into the drive when I realize we're driving away from the city. I perk up a little and watch the city landscape slowly transition into rural Pennsylvania, and I finally turn to him to find out where our new destination was.

"Where are we going?" I ask, curiosity lacing my voice, but then again, when didn't it?

Nathan glances at me quickly before looking back at the road. "It's called Rosie's. Have you ever been?"

Rosie's? What about Angelo's? "No, I haven't."

"You'll like it," he assures me casually, shooting me a smile. "It's not that well known, but the food is amazing."

His smile is enough to send me into a nodding daze, so I look away to watch the landscape change from the passenger seat of his car. A few minutes later, we reach a building not much taller than a house with the wood painted a light yellow color, illuminated by two tall lampposts standing by the entrance. 

A light blue sign hung above the porch that read Rosie's in cursive. There was something familiar about Rosie's- something homey and comfortable- and suddenly I was no longer nervous that it wasn't Angelo's. After marveling at the building, I climb out of the car and meet Nathan outside. 

He glances at me before we start moving, hesitating for a beat as he decides whether or not to do something, and then in one swift motion he takes my hand in his with a warm smile on his lips. I swoon at the sight and feeling of his rough hand in mine as I give him a wide smile that I can't help but wear. 

He opens the front door for me and ushers me in as he follows close behind. My eyes survey the inside of the restaurant and I'm pleased to see that the inside is just as homey as the outside. The wooden walls reminded me of the cabin that my family used to stay in during the Winter and there were globe string lights along the ceiling. 

"Nathan, is that you?" An unrecognizable voice asks behind us excitedly. "You didn't tell me you were coming!"

I tear my gaze away from studying the restaurant and turn around to see an elderly woman smiling brightly at Nathan. The wrinkle lines around her mouth were deep set and, somehow, made her look like a warm presence. Her excited brown eyes dart from Nathan to me and, if possible, her smile widens. 

"And you brought a girl?" The woman continues mischievously, looking back at Nathan. "She's beautiful!"

I blush and look at Nathan for some kind of support, but when he spares me a long glance, there sincerity of his smile knocks the breath out of me. "Yeah, she is." My heart stammers helplessly in my chest as Nathan grins wider upon seeing my face turn completely red. "Esther, this is Lauren. Lauren, this is Esther. I've known her since I was little."

Esther is quick to correct him. "I've known you since you were born, sweetie. I still remember the days you were in diapers."

"Don't get nostalgic on me already," Nathan warns her, but theres a warmth behind his smile that suggests he was very fond of this woman. And even though we had just met, I was, too. "Are there any tables for two available?"

I glance back at the strings of tables and see them all filled, but when I look back at Esther, she hardly looks worried. "For you? Always. Come right this way, you two."

Esther guides us through the full tables and toward a line of sliding doors that leads us to the back porch area and, once we step through the threshold, my jaw drops. White Christmas lights strung through the ceiling of the porch and the opposite wall had been completely replaced with windows so you could see the beautifully managed garden outside. 

There was classic rock playing softly from a speaker in the corner of the ceiling and it smelled like the freshness of the outdoors. There were only four or five tables out here to fit the space but Nathan and I were the only ones being seated here. The only lights were the Christmas lights from above and a candle in the middle of the table.

"This is perfect," Nathan says thoughtfully and smiles warmly at Esther. "Thank you, Esther."

I had managed to float toward the windows when we first walked in, and turned around to walk back toward our table. Nathan's gaze slides over Esther's shoulder to connect with mine and his smile made my heart stop momentarily. And then he does something that I never imagined Nathan Rhodes would do: he pulls my chair out for me. 

I cannot even begin to hide my wide smile as I sit down and he pushes my chair in, beyond impressed by his gentleman like skills. Esther is smiling just as widely as I am as she watches Nathan do this, and I have a feeling that she's as proud as a mother would be seeing her son be such a gentleman.

"Here are your menus," Esther hands us each a menu when Nathan is situated. "I'll bring out some water."

"Thank you," I say genuinely.

She smiles warmly at me and then shoots Nathan a quick glance before walking off, presumably to get us water. Before even glancing at the menu, I look up at Nathan, taken aback by how attractive he looked by candlelight. 

"How do you know about this place?" I ask lightly, hoping to sound more conversational than nervous.

A nostalgic look crosses his face, along with a faraway smile. "My parents used to bring me and Ty here every Sunday morning for breakfast."

The mention of his parents shakes me a little, and I think about how I'm going to approach the subject without upsetting him. He still has a faraway look in his eye, as if remembering those Sunday mornings, and I pray that I don't make him upset before I dare to speak.

"That sounds nice," I say, my voice light and gentle. "I bet you were an adorable kid."

Thankfully, Nathan chuckles a little. "I was. My mom used to tell me I would grow up to be a heartbreaker," He laughs again. "Like my dad."

There's a sad kind of fondness swimming in Nathan's ocean blue eyes that I've never seen before. It was like his nostalgia calmed him and pained him at the same time, and yet the pleasure was much greater than the pain. 

I tear my calculating gaze off of Nathan's eyes when Esther returns with our waters and sets them in front of us. Nathan blinks and all traces of his last comment are gone and he's back here with me instead of being dragged through his memories. 

Esther takes out her notepad and pen and smiles warmly at me once more. "Are you ready to order?" 

I had been so enticed by my conversation with Nathan that I forgot to look at the menu, so when my gaze darts down and lands on the first thing that makes my stomach rumble, I order it. "I'll have the barbecue burger done medium, please."

For some reason, my order elicits a knowing smirk as she scribbles it down. "Of course," She takes my menu and glances at Nathan expectantly. "The usual for you?"

Nathan is sporting the same kind of smirk as he glances from me to Esther. "Yes, please."

When Esther collects our menus and walks away from the table, however, I'm too preoccupied about where our conversation left off. Of course, I wanted to know more about his parents and perhaps find out the reason behind the longing fondness in his eyes, but I didn't want to push him. 

But when his blue gaze meets mine, I know that I'm an open book. There is clear recognition in his eyes as he looks at me with hesitance written all over his expression. His eyes scan my face slowly and he leans back in his seat a little so he can eye me from a safe distance away. 

"You want to know about my parents," Nathan reads my mind as he looks at me steadily. 

I bite my lip instead of answering because usually whenever we came anywhere near the topic of Nathan's parents, it was a danger zone. But something about right now felt different. He looked more nervous as he sat across from me at our candlelit dinner table instead of angry. 

I decide to trust my instincts that tell me Nathan won't get upset if I confirm his suspicions and nod once.

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