Re: badinage | 7-31-2020 | 9am
“Nachos, Hot Ones, and pizza,” Nathaniel repeated what Eva had said as a list so he could better commit to memory. He assumed there were more food-related celebrations, especially with a family as close as the Silverclouds. But Nathaniel decided he could take these things in stride. Then Eva mentioned Eric, the two-hundred-and-fifty-pound gorilla in the room, and Nathaniel forced his expression to stay neutral. Especially when she said he’d brought her a pizza right before Nathaniel had made her one. Great minds? Then his face turned a bit sour when he learned her brothers had eaten his homemade pizza - but he quickly joined in with her laugh. “Don’t worry, the next one will be even better,” Nathaniel didn’t repeat something unless he improved on it.
Nathaniel listened as Eva continued to explain the situation with Eric. The atmosphere in the outdoor eating area had changed, Eva’s energy had changed, and Nathaniel could feel the shift in her hands. She’d spoken to Eric - yes. Intentions to date Nathaniel - excellent. Also date Eric - hmm. Nathaniel could tell Eva was struggling to read him, to look for signs of how he was handling the news. But Nathaniel’s mind had gone blank for a moment, and he’d become a real-life Gru’s plan meme. As she continued and spoke her truth, Nathaniel’s cold and neutral stare finally cracked and allowed a healthy dose of empathy to shine through. “I love you, Evangeline Silvercloud,” he assured her and pulled his chair closer to hers so that both of his hands could reach Eva. He embraced Eva in a sitting hug and lowered his forward to connect with hers after she was done speaking and her eyes had welled with tears.
Fuck - Nathaniel thought but didn’t verbalize. Eric: the other man, or perhaps Nathaniel was the other man. That was Nate’s problem he didn’t see himself as the interloper - even though Eva had been in a relationship with Eric months before Nathaniel had ever met Eva. What Nathaniel felt for Eva transcended anything in this mortal realm. They were bonded by the soul. Perhaps, they’d been lovers before or maybe their souls were once the same single force of energy - it depended on which creation theory of the human soul you chose to believe. But regardless, and selfishly, given that bond - Nathaniel had just simply hoped Eric would go away. But of course, he didn’t. And not only that, but the big idiot seemed to be important.
“Don’t be scared,” Nathaniel told her while their foreheads were still connected. He brought his head back slightly and broke the contact only so that he could see her eyes again. “I should apologize,” he started and blinked away some moisture from his own eyes. “When I laid on that artificial grass and stared up at the beautiful autumn sky, I knew that we belonged with each other. It wasn’t like meeting a new person, it was like running into a past lover that you always assumed you’d find again,” he explained. “I was so enamored, I didn’t consider how you’d handle your feelings for Eric,” he took in a deep breath and reminded Eva to do the same. “I know how we end,” Nathaniel said, and his hands wrapped around Eva’s, both now in her lap. “We end together, I can feel it,” they’d both felt it every time they’d tapped into their powers together. “But I also know that Eric is an important part of your journey,” a dozen moments since the tree had proven that. “When I walked into your life, you took a chance on me because you felt our connection and now you feel a similar but different link to Eric and I won’t deny you that ability to explore it,” he said.
Nathaniel took another deep breath and used the extra-long sleeves on his sweater to dry Eva’s cheeks. “To buy clothes that fit my torso and they always have very long sleeves,” Nate explained in a moment of silence. “I’m jealous,” he then added as a non sequitur. “I mean I’m very jealous and I need you - all of you and I want you all to myself,” he said, then picked one of her hands up and kissed her hands on the knuckles. “But I know that Eric’s important and if nothing else he’s so important to you. So I…” So he what? Was agreeing to share Eva? That didn’t sound like Nathaniel. “I trust you, Eva, and I love you.”