Page 46 of Best I Never Had

“So I have a confession to make,” she says, a smile spreading across her face. “I called for another reason.”

“So you weren’t lonely?”

She tucks her chin down. “Not exactly.” She rummages into her coat, reaching into the deep pockets before retracting her hand, her grip on something small and rectangular. “I was at the bookstore, and I found this. It made me think of you.”

When her hands open between us, I see a fresh copy ofThe Perks of Being a Wallflowersitting in front of me. The fuzzy warmth that spreads through my chest reduces my heart to a gooey puddle. I take the book from her outstretched hand, turning it over as I let the memories wash over me.

“Do you remember?” she asks, her small voice so eager and endearing.

I nod, my throat tight, at a complete loss for words. “I can’t believe you found this,” I say hoarsely.

“Consider it a thank you. For the lemon tarts. And that rat dish. And apple picking.”

“Thank you,” I say a little breathlessly. My fingers run over the glossy surface, and a small huff of laughter slips through my lips, still surprised by this small gesture.

When I finally tear my eyes away from the book, I look at Natalia. She smiles shyly, tucking her chin toward her chest before she turns to walk up the stairs.

“Good night, Hayden,” she calls softly.

A sudden panic sets in me. Not the desperate, hysteric kind but more of an urgent kind. I need to see Natalia again. Not because I’m lonely but because I want to. I want to spend my time with her, laughing and joking and reminiscing.

Grasping at whatever excuse I can find to spend more time with her, I finally find one: Ashton’s wedding. It’s the perfect excuse, along with a legitimate reason to spend time with her. Aside from the fact that I desperately need a date, we would have fun together. Making each other laugh with no awkward lulls in our conversation, no unnecessarily filling the silence with talks about the weather or pop culture trivia. In fact, none of our conversations have been unnecessary or stiff, veering more toward personalized and comforting instead.

“Hey,” I call, forcing her to turn around. “I had a small favor to ask.”

“Sure,” she answers as she walks down the two steps she already took. She answers calmly before knowing what my favor is, naturally making me smile in response.

“I have this wedding to go to next Saturday, and I was wondering if you would be willing to go with me.”

“Like a date?” she asks warily.

I tilt my head. “Like a friend accompanying another friend to a social event.”

“Uh, yeah. Sure, I don’t have any plans.”

I sigh, relief plied into my breath, realizing how worried I’ve been about going to this wedding solo. “Thanks.”

She nods, turning toward her building. “I’ll see you later, Marshall.”

I do a half salute that turns into an awkward bow. “Marquez,” I answer before turning around. The last thing I hear before my trek to the subway station is the sound of Natalia’s light giggle and the door closing behind her.

18

Natalia

senior year

“Marquez.”

Hayden greets me as his index and middle fingers come up to his forehead in a small salute. I dangle the small souvenir I brought all the way from New York City on my fingers in front of him.

“What’s this?” he asks.

“A little gift from the Big Apple,” I say as he takes the keychain with the shiny I Love NY written in the middle encased in cheap plastic. “Per your request.”

He turns it over, examining the gift in his large hands with an appreciative smile.

“You got this for me?” he asks, looking at me with bright eyes.

---