Recap:
Just then my phone rang and I glanced at the display, it was Stephanie. I stared at
it for a long time then pressed the disconnect button, I would deal with this later I
thought as I glanced at the now sleeping Natasha. She had fallen asleep with her head
on my chest and an arm across my waist. I smiled and rested my chin on top of her
head feeling like she belonged right here.
Jude’s P. O. V
I stared at her sleeping form and thought ‘whoa Jude you’re going to be a married man
in a year!’ I frowned as I realized I was getting cramps in my right hand. That was
the side that Natasha was sleeping on and I didn’t want to wake her up. The poor girl
had been awake all night taking care of me. I felt myself smiling as I thought of all
the time that I had awakened at night and Natasha had always been there.
Ok I seriously couldn’t feel my right arm now. I tried shifting her a little and
after a lot of effort I managed to get my arm free. I sat there flexing it, trying to
get some feeling back in it. All this while Natasha slept soundly, snoring a little.
As soon as I felt the tingling sensation leaving my arm, I got up and took Natasha
gently in my arms. I smiled as murmured in her sleep. ‘I want blue cotton candy!’ I
carried her bridal style towards our room and put her on the bed and lay down next to
her. Soon I felt exhaustion take over me and I fell asleep as well. I woke up to the
shrill ringing of my phone and was dimly aware of Natasha burying her head in her
pillow. I got up and saw it was Stephanie. Sheesh she was persistent.
“Hello?”
“Hey Jude! I have been trying to call you since morning. We were supposed to meet for
lunch what happened?”
“Umm yeah about that, I am really sorry Stephanie but I fell ill last night.”
“What happened?”
“Mild food poisoning”
“uh-oh are you ok? Do you need me to come over?”
“No thanks, Nats is here.”
“What is she doing there?”
“Er she is my fiancée? Why wouldn’t she be here?”
There was silence as Stephanie contemplated it. “Jude I really would love for you to
give us a chance again.”
“I don’t know Stephanie you hurt me the last time.”
“I know- I know that baby but give me a chance to prove myself? Please? I have really
changed!”
“What about Nick?”
“Well what about him?”
“You guys still together?”
“Its complicated”
“This isn’t your facebook relationship status I am asking about? Damn it Steph how do
you want me to take a decision when you haven’t made yours?”
“Lets take it one step at a time? How about we take baby steps? I mean you are
engaged to Natasha! How do you want me to take a decision when you plan on marrying
someone who is so wrong for you!”
“You don’t know here! You’ve got no right to say those things”
“True, so what say? Do we take baby steps?”
“I guess”
“Meet for dinner tonight if you feel up to it?”
I gave it a thought and realized if I went easy on the food I should be alright.
“Alright meet you at 8. 00”
“It’s a date”
I hung up and turned around to check on Natasha. “Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” I yelled
clutching at my chest as I realized she was up and sitting right behind me listening
to me wide eyed.
“What?”
“You scared me!”
“You scare too easily”
“Right. Whatever. I am going out tonight for dinner”
“I heard”
“So what do you plan to do tonight?”
“I dunno maybe catch up with Joey?”
“Ok do you want me to drop you on my way?”
“No its cool I will ask her to pick me up”
“Ok”
I got up and tried to decide what to wear. I decided to wear something casual. I was
not taking her somewhere fancy, this was going to be her first test. I pulled out my
T shirts and threw them on the floor trying to decide which one to wear.
“Jude! What the hell! I had just organized the closet a few days back”
“I can’t decide what to wear”
“So? What does that have to do with you pulling all the clothes out?”
“I can decide better”
“I can’t believe you”
“Whatever”
I rummaged through the pile and as soon as I would select one T shirt I would discard
it. I couldn’t believe it, I was acting like it was my first date!
“I have seen someone act like you” said Natasha coming in with a glass of juice.
“Oh yeah who?”
“ummmmm oh! It was my teenage neighbour on her first date. She did exactly what you
are doing” said Natasha smiling sweetly. I froze as I realized that’s exactly how I
had been behaving. I picked up a white T shirt and a pair of light blue jeans. I
decided to shave while Natasha sat on the bed rolling her eyes at me.
“You do realise when you get back you have to fold your clothes and keep them back as
they were kept before?”
I groaned and said, “Natasha give me a break!”
“Nope. It takes hard work to organize a closet and I am not doing that for you all
over again.”
“Ok ok just get off my back”
She made a face at me and started singing.
“You make me feel like I’m living the teenage dream”
“The way you turn me on, I can’t sleep”
“Nats shut up! For the last time I am not acting like a lovesick teenager!”
It didn’t help one bit she just started singing louder. I shut the bathroom door and
put the shower on; this drowned her voice out a little.”
I changed and I got out and picked out a pair of shoes to wear. I decided to go with
my blue Nike keds. While Natasha was sitting just where I had left her but thankfully
wasn’t singing anymore. If anything she looked a little thoughtful.
“What’s up with you?”
“Nothing”
“No seriously why do you sound so low?”
“Nothing”
“Nats! What’s wrong?”
“Nothing”
Ok, I had been in enough relationships to know that when a woman said nothing she
meant you are in a lot of trouble. But for the life of me I couldn’t understand what
I had done wrong.
“Are you sure?”
“Yep”
“ok” I tried styling my hair but just couldn’t get them to set the way I wanted it.
“Damn it!” I said throwing away my brush. Natasha got up and picked up the brush. She
made me sit in a chair in front of the mirror.
“What are you doing?”
“I am trying to style your hair. I think I know what you want.”
“Yeah but its of no use. I am having a bad hair day.”
“Just wait and watch.”
Natasha took some styling gel and I don’t know what she did but she had my hair
looking just the way I wanted it to look. I got up and hugged her tight.
“Natasha you’re a genius!” I gave a her a quick kiss on her forehead and went to wear
my shoes.
“Lock up behind you and give me a call so that I know where to pick you from.”
“That’s ok Joey could drop me back.”
“Nope it will probably be late so I’d feel better if I picked you up”
“Chauvinist”
“No, its just that while you are with me you are my responsibility”
“I am not a child!”
“Quit arguing Nats! God! What would it take for you to listen to me for once without
arguing?”
“Ok”
“Ok?”
“Ok I will call you and then you can come pick me”
“Now that’s my girl!”
At that Natasha turned away and started picking up my clothes and throwing them in a
corner.
“Hey I am leaving”
“Ok you have a nice evening”
“Thanks and you too” I don’t know why I was hovering, “Ok then bye!” I got out of the
room and was about to open the front door when Natasha yelled, “Jude!”
I turned quickly, “Yeah?”
“Um please take care, I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I am doing” with that I ruffled her hair and walked out.
Natasha’s P. O. V
I watched him leave with a sinking feeling. I quickly blinked away the unshed tears
and went to pick my phone up. Why the hell am I worried for that idiot? He could do
what the hell he liked, I mean its not like I was responsible for him. I am done
babysitting, yep I am past that aged where I had to baby sit.
I punched the keys on the mobile a little harder than necessary, I waited for Joey to
answer. I was getting ready to hang up when she answered.
“Hey!”
“Hey Joey want to hang out tonight?”
“I am so sorry baby girl, I have a bitch of a headache, I think I have the migraine.
I wouldn’t be too much of a company tonight. Where is that gorgeous husband of
yours?”
“He’s out with his friends so I thought I’d hangout with mine”
“Oh! I am so sorry Natasha but I could come over if you want me to”
“No, you should rest I will call you tomorrow ok?”
“Sure thing, you take care”
“You too”
I hung up and sighed. I looked around and decided I could not sit here by myself. I
kept expecting Jude to suddenly pop up from somewhere. I scrolled down my contacts
and smiled wheni saw a name and this time I dialed a little gently, feeling better
already.
“Hullo?”
“Wade, its me Natasha”
“Hi! What’s up?”
“I was wondering whether umm whether you want to catch up maybe?”
“Sure do you want me to come there? You, Jude and I could have dinner together.”
“um about Jude, he’s not home”
“Oh, where is he?”
“Er Wade can you pick me up really quickly?” I asked my voice breaking a little.
“Sure I will be there soon”