Page 21 of Away With You
I stare up at him through my lashes. “That’s just it, Nathan. We’re not guaranteed time. I know I should get out there and see the world…”
“What’s stopping you?”
I shrug. “Everything. Money. Fear of going alone. Fear in general. My life is small, manageable, and I like it that way.”
He watches me, his expression unreadable, and I gulp. I can’t believe I admitted that out loud. To him. He’s the bravest person in the world, or at least the bravest person I know in real life, and I just told him that goingout therescares me.
“When you’re ready, the world will be waiting for you, Kitty Kat.”
I allow his words to settle me, moving away from his warm comfort and finishing the cheese.How did we get from Christmas trees to snow globes to my existential fear of life in general, and how do we go back?
Within two strides, he’s back by my side, sitting next to me on the couch, his thigh flush against mine. It does not feel like it belongs there.
It really doesn’t.
“If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?”
I lean my head back and shut my eyes. In my mind, I see my mum scouring travel magazines and websites, bookmarking places and things she wants to see. Her face, so much like my own, glowing with anticipation.
“Australia,” I say with certainty. It was the number one most coveted place my mum wanted to see. “I want to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. I want to climb the Harbour Bridge and take a tram through the streets of Melbourne. I want to do it all…at the same time, I fear it all. But one day, I know I’ll do it. I’ll see it for the both of us. And I’ll add to her snow globe collection.”
He nudges me with his shoulder, rubbing his hand along my arm. “I know you will, Kitty Kat. And take it from someone who’s been almost everywhere; you’ve picked the best place to start. When you get to Aus, Katherine Winslow, it will be worth every bit of fear you have to get over. It will be worth the wait.”
My spine tingles at his words, and I roll my head to look at him. His blue eyes are closer than they’ve ever been, and I allow myself to sink into them for just a small moment. Being with Nathan is bringing me the sort of peace I’ve struggled to find since being left alone in this world, and even though I know this—spending time with him—won’t last forever, it still feels likeit is worth it. Like spending time with this man and feeling all these feelings? It is all worth the wait.
MONDAY
NATHAN
Good morning, Kitty Kat.
How’s our tree doing?
KATIE
Survived the night.
Pretty impressive, given the weight of all those decorations…
and my expectations…
NATHAN
Good to hear it.
What are you doing today?
KATIE
A little thing called work…
The thing I do every day to receive what some laughingly call a salary.
NATHAN
Science stuff?
KATIE
