~~~

My phone's ringtone pierced through my dreams, waking me up. Groaning, I groped for the device and answered without checking the caller ID.

"Hello," I greeted groggily, my voice heavy with sleep.

"Dear customer," the familiar, overly cheerful Glo voice began. "This is Customer Appreciation Week. We thank you for being a part of—"

I sucked my teeth, ended the call, and threw my phone onto the bed. Pressing my face into the pillow, I let out a muffled scream as a headache began to throb at my temples.

Why wouldn’t Glo Network just let me live in peace?

"Rise and shine!" Emma sang from across the room, her tone gratingly chirpy.

I groaned louder, pulling the pillow over my head.

"You’re usually up before now," she teased, her voice laced with mischief. "What kept you up so late?"

I sat up slowly, her words stirring memories of the night before. Nathaniel cooking noodles, Nathaniel and I eating together... Even though I was fascinated by everything he had to say, I noticed he’d barely eaten. He’d only picked at his food, clearly more focused on making sure I didn’t feel awkward eating alone. It was such a thoughtful gesture.

Then there were his words—the ones that lit a fire in me, the ones that made me see him differently. And today...we had plans. My stomach fluttered at the thought.

"What time is it, please?" I asked Emma, trying to sound casual.

She smirked. "It’s past your date, I can tell you that."

I gasped, and she mimicked my expression dramatically. "What? How do you—"

She dropped the blanket she was folding and picked up another. "He stopped by this morning to check on you. Quite romantic, don’t you think?"

My eyes darted to the antique wall clock. 12:23 PM. My heart sank, and panic set in.

"Why didn’t you wake me?" I shrieked, scrambling to untangle myself from the blanket. In my haste, I nearly tripped.

"How was I supposed to know you had a date?" Emma asked, her tone overly innocent.

"It’s not a date!" I snapped, rushing to grab a towel and heading for the bathroom.

Emma cleared her throat dramatically. "Do you honestly think I don’t know everything that happens within these walls?"

I paused, shooting her a glare. "You...you..."

"And," she continued smugly, "I wanted a glass of water last night and saw you two cozying up in the kitchen. Not sure Madam will be thrilled about you two on her counter."

My jaw dropped, and Emma raised an eyebrow. "Pick up your jaw, Sleeping Beauty, and get ready."

She left the room before I could respond, leaving me wishing I could strangle her.

_______

After showering, I inspected my reflection in the mirror. My skincare routine was simple, which made getting ready a breeze. My skin looked smoother and clearer—a rare win. Emma had helped rebraid my hair into intricate cornrows two nights before, and they framed my face perfectly.

I laid my edges with aloe vera-scented edge control, tied them down, and added a touch of lip gloss and mascara. Fifteen minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom feeling presentable.

Emma whistled as she smoothed creases on the bed. "You look sexy."

I rolled my eyes. "Please. I’m wearing old jeans and a top my mom handed down to me. If anything, it’s a testament to how large my boobs are."

Emma chuckled, still focused on the bed. "Big or small, you still look great."

I turned back to the mirror, brushing imaginary lint off my clothes. "I’m seventeen, and my boobs are way too big. I can’t help but wonder what’ll happen to them when I start having kids—if I even have kids." I sighed, grabbing at my ass. "It would’ve been nice if I had an ass to balance it out, but nope. Can’t even grab it without touching my bones—"

"Hello."

The deep voice made me freeze mid-rant. Slowly, I turned, my hands still awkwardly clutching at my butt cheeks. There, standing a few steps inside the door, was Nathaniel.

He looked effortlessly handsome, his crisp white shirt rolled up to his elbows, revealing toned forearms. His dark grey chinos fit him perfectly, and the simple chain around his neck caught the light as he moved. His scent—a mix of leather and cedarwood—wafted toward me, rich and intoxicating.

My hands dropped to my sides as I stared, words failing me.

"Hi," I finally managed to choke out, my voice embarrassingly small.

A pause stretched between us, heavy with awkward silence. My cheeks burned as I replayed everything he must’ve overheard.

"I’m sorry for wasting time," I blurted, desperate to fill the quiet. "I woke up late."

He shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It’s okay. You had a long night."

"Yeah." I nodded, my face heating further.

"And for the record," he added, his voice warm and sincere, "you’re beautiful."

My breath caught.

"Your body included," he continued, his tone softer now.

The words sent a shiver down my spine. No one had ever said that to me before, not like this.

"Thank you," I murmured, fidgeting with my fingers.

"Meet me downstairs?" he asked with a reassuring smile as he turned to leave.

I nodded mutely, watching as he turned and walked out.

As soon as the door shut behind him, I let out a shaky breath. My heart was pounding, my face still flushed.

Emma reappeared, her smirk firmly in place. "Ready for your not-date?"

"It's not a date," I muttered, grabbing my bag and heading for the door.

But as I followed Nathaniel downstairs, I couldn’t help the small, shy smile that crept onto my face.

~~~
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