Chapter 33
Giving speeches had never been Nate’s jam. As he stood and made his way to the lectern, looking out at the guests clustered around more tables than he could count, his palms sweated and his pulse spiked.
But he would do it. For Charlie and Sera, and Eloise.
Actions, not words,he reminded himself.
He’d try not to mention that she’d committed the worst of all wedding faux pas because, holy shit, Eloise had absolutely upstaged the bride. Her hair was twisted up elegantly, and jewels hung from her ears, shimmering when they caught the light. God, he wanted to dance with her, hold her close. There hadn’t been any real time to talk to her after the ceremony or during the pictures. Not for the kind of conversation they needed to have.
Teddy, who had somehow managed to wrangle being the MC, introduced Nate and polite applause rippled through the cavernous room. From the corner of his eye, Nate noticed a few people nudge each other and hold their phones up ready to record his speech.
He took a deep breath, relaxing when he spotted his parents, Raff, Owen and Alice sitting at a table in the middle of the room. In a flash, it was like he was back in the tunnel waiting to run out onto the field, remembering to ignore the crowd and focus on what was important. Back then, it had been football, but today, it was showing up for the people he loved and for himself. Nate went through the motions, complimenting the bridesmaids, explaining how long he’d known Charlie and told a few anecdotes about some of the mischief they’d got into as teens and younger men. His voice faltered when he shared how much it meant to be standing next to his best friend on such a wonderful occasion.
The next bit was the hardest. But he’d made a promise to himself to be brave.
“I thought a lot about what I wanted to say today. About Charlie and Sera as a couple but there’s only one thing that matters. Every day they wake up and choose each other. That’s it. It doesn’t matter what life throws at them because they’ve got someone to celebrate all their wins with but, more importantly, someone to stay by their side when things are tough or maybe it’s time to try something new or even when they get a little bit lost.” Nate took a deep breath. “Today they’ve promised to always fight for each other and their shared and individual dreams. I think that’s the bravest thing a person could ever do.”
Nate raised his glass and asked everyone to stand. “To Charlie and Sera.” He looked at Eloise. “May we all be as brave as they are. Cheers.”
He took a long sip of his champagne and returned to his seat.
* * *
Nate was sittingwith Raff when Eloise finally made her way over to him. Her dress was a little creased and her skin was flushed. Wisps of hair had escaped her fancy hairstyle, and they fluttered around her face as she walked.
Jesus Christ, she was gorgeous.
“Hey,” she said, and the word flowed over his skin like molten chocolate, all warm and velvety smooth.
Raff stood and buttoned his suit jacket. “If you’ll excuse me, there’s someone I’d like to talk to,” he said.
Nate shook his head. “That was subtle.”
Eloise drew her bottom lip into her mouth, sinking her top teeth into it, and Nate wanted to use his thumb to pull it free. Press his lips against hers. But he was back to doing his damnedest to earn her kisses. He’d spend the rest of his life doing that if she’d let him.
“He gets it from your mum.”
A chuckle escaped Nate, and he gestured to the empty seat next to him.
But Eloise shook her head and remained standing. “I finished your book,” she said.
He swallowed and stood up, facing Eloise. This would either go one of two ways. She might be creeped out and decide it was fucking weird to write what was basically a choose-your-own-adventure story of how he wanted his life to look. Or, hopefully, she’d see it for what it was. A clumsy attempt to work through everything that had held him back. And, more importantly, what he now realised was actually possible. What he’d never stop fighting for. “And?” he asked.
Eloise’s eyes darkened as she stepped closer to him. Without speaking, she lifted her hand to Nate’s and linked their fingers together. Holy shit, it was good to touch her again.
“I loved it.”
His shoulders drooped, and he yanked her closer until she was in his arms. “Yeah?” he whispered against her vanilla-scented hair.
Eloise pulled back to look at him. “I really loved it, but I have a few questions. Why isn’t there an ending?”
Jemima Jenkins had asked Nate that as well, but he’d lied and said he just hadn’t written it yet. If it was possible, he’d never write it. “Because if this is our story, then we need to write it together. And I don’t want it to ever end. With your help, I’d like to keep adding chapters and adventures to it forever.”
It had been a long time since Nate had told anyone that he wasn’t related to that he loved them. And it was scary but the fear that he’d fuck it all up or she’d change her mind wasn’t enough to stop him from going after what he wanted. Not anymore. And he wanted Eloise. Today, tomorrow and forever. There was no one else he wanted to ride the rollercoaster of life with. And grow and change and do all the things that would come when he shared his life with her. But before he could speak, Eloise cut him off, her finger pressed to his lips.
“I’m not done.” She gestured to the chair he’d been sitting on. “Can we sit still together?”
He sat and pulled the chair next to him closer, but Eloise surprised him, sitting on his lap. His big hands rested on her hips; her arms were around his neck.
Now he was finally home.
“I know we agreed to not have labels before, but I really liked those labels in your book.”
Joy flowed throughout his chest, spreading through his limbs like warm honey.
“Because, Nate, sweetheart, I want it all. The good, the bad and the in-between.” Her gaze never left his, and Nate reached up to brush a lock of hair out of her eyes.
“What you said about kids yesterday—” She paused, and Nate forgot to breathe for a second. “I do want them. Not any time soon but eventually. And that’s something we’ll need to talk about, but after reading your book, I think you do, too.”
Admitting that Eloise was right was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do, and words were still too hard, the pain too raw, so all-encompassing that he had to suck in several deep breaths before he could move his head and nod.
“Then we’ll find a way. We will always find a way. Adoption, IVF, fostering … I don’t care, Nate. Whatever the road to parenthood is, we’ll walk it together when we’re ready. We just have to make a promise to stay still together when things are tough. To talk and not shut down because I can’t do another week like this one. Thinking I’d lost you …”
Nate leant back just far enough so Eloise could see his face. All the sounds in the busy ballroom faded away. “I promise not to run ever again or be scared to tell you and the world how much I love you. Because I do, you know. Love you. So much,” he said.
“I know.” Eloise smiled. “I love you, too, obviously. I think we should make a deal.”
Nate nudged her nose with his, and Eloise shifted on his lap, her breath sliding across his neck. “A deal, huh?”
“No more secrets. Lots of talking. Being on the same team.”
“I promise. I just didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Eloise pulled his lips to hers, whispering against Nate’s mouth, “You could never disappoint me.”
“Can I kiss—” Nate didn’t get to finish his question before Eloise kissed him.
It held the same heat as always, and Nate’s insides twisted deliciously like they did each time she touched him, but this kiss was different. It was full of promise. Tough times would come, but they’d get through them. Eloise opened her mouth, urging Nate to deepen the kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth, pushing in to tangle with hers. They kissed until they were breathless, bodies pressed against each other with the promise of something else. Everywhere she touched, Nate felt like a brand.
“I thought I’d ruined it all. When I left the other day. I let my fear make decisions when I should’ve just spoken to you. I’m so sorry.”
“I know.” Eloise’s lips brushed across his cheek, her whisper leaving a trail of heat behind it. “But you need to know I’m not going anywhere.”
“Wait.” Nate jerked backwards. They didn’t go through all this shit for her to give up on her dream at the last minute. “Tiger, you have to go to America.”
Eloise flushed at his growl, squirming on his lap. They both groaned when his hardness pressed up against Eloise.
“Soon,” he promised with a quick kiss.
“And that right there is why you’re the words person, not me. I meant I’m not going anywhere right now. I am going to America, but maybe you’d like to come? For part of it? Or all of it? We can figure it out together.”
“I’m there. You think I’m going to miss out on even a second of time with you? And I’ve got a few meetings coming up in New York soon. Jemima Jenkins wants me to write her a romance.”
“I love that idea.” Eloise cupped Nate’s cheek, her lips curling when he turned his face and kissed her palm.
“Me too,” he said. “Even if it’s different and not what people expect from me. It’s time to try something new.”
The pride in Eloise’s eyes made all the mess he’d had to fight through to get here worth it.
“One question,” Eloise said, pulling him closer so his chest pressed against hers. “How did Jemima Jenkins know you were thinking about writing romance?”
“Uhhh.” Nate scratched his neck. Time to fess up. “I accidentally sent her a copy of The Story of Us.”
Eloise’s eyes grew wide, and he bit his lip. Said a prayer that she wouldn’t be too mad.
“Oh my God, so she knows about the rabbit?” Eloise groaned. Nate dropped his head to her shoulder, his laughter increasing. She sighed loudly. “It’s not funny.”
“Said it was her favourite part.”
Eloise buried her head in her hands, rolling her eyes when Nate gently prised them away from her face.
“Don’t worry, I told her it wasn’t for sale. That’s just for us.”
“What do you say we get out of here? I think we’ve done our duty,” Eloise said, and Nate’s heart swelled with joy. Huh. He’d always thought that expression was super cheesy, but now he could see how it would work perfectly in a romance.
“Lead the way, Tiger. We’ve got an ending to write together.”
THE END.