Page 10 of London, Love, & A Little Something Irish

And as I head back to the hotel, Nathan’s already slipping from my mind.

My stomach, on the other hand? Completely unforgettable.

5

Nathan

“Irish, what a night, man!” Jerome slaps my back as we walk towards our hotel. Katy and Annie trail behind us, laughing about something I didn’t catch.

“I told you you’d love Dublin,” I grin.

“Temple Bar was sick! I can’t believe we ran into some new friends,” he says, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah, what a coincidence…” I trail off, my thoughts elsewhere.

“You know what I noticed a lot tonight though?” He drops his voice low, so the girls can’t hear us.

I glance over, raising an eyebrow.

“Annie’s clearly into you, bro.” He waggles his eyebrows.

I sigh. “I know, I noticed it. But I’m not interested. She’s just a friend.”

“How come?” he asks, genuinely curious.

“She’s a nice girl, she’s just not what I’m looking for.” I shrug, as an image of Nataly comes into my mind.

My mind quickly scans through the night. When I saw Nataly tonight, I wasn’t even sure it was her. It looked like her, but we were a whole different country away. But I couldn’t risk letting the moment pass without saying something. She looked so confused at first, and when I mentioned Hillsong, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

We ended up hanging out for the rest of the night, and I couldn’t tell if she was with Joel or not. I know him from church, though I wouldn’t call us friends. We’d done a guys’ trip to Barcelona, but that was more of a “we both know the same people” thing. It looked like she was with him, but I wasn’t sure. There were no signs, no public displays of affection. But there was something there, something I couldn’t quite read.

And then there was Annie, sending unmistakable “I like you” vibes. But I wasn’t about to send mixed signals or get caught in a triangle. She’s a good friend—and that’s all it’s ever been.

As the night went on, I started to piece it together. Nataly and Joel—they hadsomething,but I couldn’t tell what. Nataly tried to make conversation, but I kept it short. With Joel hovering nearby, I didn’t want to stir up anything unnecessary. I played it safe. Gave nothing away.

She picked up on it, eventually stopped trying, and I let the moment pass. I didn’t get the green light, so I backed off.

“Alright, Irish, I see you. You’re a man who knows what he wants.” Jerome nods, impressed.

“It’s something I’ve always prayed about—especially with my dad. My job. My wife. It just hasn’t been right yet. But once I find her… I’ll go for it.”

“Wow, man. That’s awesome.” He claps my shoulder again as we veer around to grab our stuff from the car. We’re staying the night and grabbing breakfast before heading back to Belfast.

Back in my room, I set down my clothes and grab my toothbrush, heading for the bathroom.

I should feel good. Settled, even.

But Idon’t. Because tonight, I got a small glimpse of Nataly and it’s enough to know I want more.

I finish brushing my teeth, throw on a t-shirt, and climb into bed.

For now, Nataly’s not mine to pursue. I want to know her—everything that makes her tick, what makes her smile, what makes her come alive. She has this energy that makes me want to lean in. But with Joel in the picture, I’m holding back. I’m not the guy who stirs drama or plays games.

I’ve been praying for my future wife for years. Does she fit what I’ve been praying for?

Well, at first glance she does. She’s beautiful—obviously. But more than that, she lights up a room.There’s something magnetic about her. If she’s the one God has for me, it’ll all fall into place. I trust Him with that.

The fact she and Joel weren’t acting like a couple tells me there’s something off about them, if they really are seeing each other. I’ll be ready to pursue her when the time is right, but right now just doesn’t feel like that time.

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