Page 89 of Heartstruck at Dawn
“It’s a two-year contract renewal for your security detail. Since you’re turning twenty-one in a few months, you’re now obligated to sign these contracts. It’s pretty standard,” Nathan replied with his Britishly crisp accent and a businesslike lawyerly tone.
“Pretty standard? So, I overpaid for your services?” I teased.
“I’m afraid so.” He laughed and sat next to me. “You need to sign here, here—and here.” He gave me the pen, and I signed those contracts away. “Nice doing business with you.” He winked and placed the paperwork back in the folder.
Nathan opened his nightstand drawer and pulled out an envelope. “Christmas present.”
I opened it, and there was a handwritten note inside.
Valid for acrylic print with my portrait.You get to choose the size.
Happy Christmas,love.
“Thank you!” I gave him a quick kiss. “Your portrait will look amazing on my empty gallery wall.” I needed to hang something there. The empty wall reminded me of Thomas. It’s as if I could still see his portrait on the wall. And what better way to replace that feeling than having Nathan’s face there instead?
“I loved your portrait so much I thought you might want to have mine too. You would have to take my picture, of course, but I’ll have it printed out for you.”
That right there was the actual gift—having him sit for the portrait. I was going to enjoy shooting him so much. I usually always carried a camera with me everywhere we went. I had snapped more than a few candid shots of Nathan. But not a portrait like the ones I loved shooting. I was excited about it.
I stood up and got dressed.
“Let’s do it next week when you come back from London,” I suggested. “And this is for you.” I grabbed an envelope out of my purse and handed it to him.
He opened it and took two tickets out.
“No, no, no. Nofuckingway!” Nathan shouted when he saw what it was. “Are these for real?” He carried me. My feet left the floor, and I locked my legs around his waist as he kissed me.
“Of course they are,” I replied as he dropped me back on my feet and tossed the envelope on the bed. He then placed his hands firmly around my waist. “I’m sure this counts as Joel’s Christmas present too. You’ll probably want to take him because I’m obviouslynotallowed to go,” I said, caressing his neatly kept stubble with my fingers.
“I love you.” He kissed me over and over again. “This is the best gift ever.”
“Hey! I thought my portrait was the best gift ever.” I joked. “I love you too.”
He laughed. “You know how utterlyobsessedI am with The Who. I need to let Joel know we’re going to the Super Bowl.” He took his phone out of his pocket and sent the text.
“I hope Lily doesn’t get mad at me for sending you two to Miami alone for the weekend,” I said, taking a seat on the bed.
“Of course not. She knows we want to go. And we’ll behave, of course.” He grinned.
I knew they would. He didn’t even have to tell me.
“William, the bastard, has four tickets, and Joel insisted on me using the fourth since Eric’s not going. But there’s no wayin hellI’d take anything from him. I mean, I’m sure we’re all going to hang out in Miami, and I can’t be arsed by that, but I wanted to have my own ticket. And since I’d just asked my boss for help to take you to the opera, it just felt too soon to ask him about the Super Bowl.”
I still felt awful about the surprise being ruined.
After the operamix-updrama, I could totally understand Nathan’s posture. William had crossed a line, and Nathan’s pride would never allow him to accept anything from William. Even if that meant he had to miss seeing his favorite band performing live at the Super Bowl.
They both had powerful personalities. And every day that went by, I understood more and more why they could never get along. They were two very alpha males.
“How did you get the tickets?” Nathan asked, throwing a few more things into his suitcase.
“Was it your father?”
I nodded. “Consider it a gift from him as well.”
“I’ll have to call him and thank him for this later today.”
“I’m happy you’re happy.” I smiled. He stared at me for a few seconds without saying a word. “Is everything okay?”
