The Best Man novel Chapter 40

"My parents divorced when I was 11 and this was the only place I felt like I was away from everything and everyone that expected me to act like everything was okay. The feeling of being underwater was somehow comforting in a way, almost like I could easily drown away the pain of overlooked just because I was a child and my feelings didn't matter, and so this was the only place I felt like any other normal kid"

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that", I massaged his shoulders and he shrugged his shoulders

"It's okay really, I've leaned to overcome all that throughout the years", he entwined our fingers over his shoulder before pressing his lips on my arm. For me, it was the way he talked, so sincere and matured, I couldn't help but listen when he spoke...also because I was so obsessed with the sound of his voice.

I took my sneakers off, dipping my feet into the cold water and there was quiet silence for a minute before I felt him entwine our hands together again, and I rested my head on his shoulder. We sat in comfortable silence for a little while before I thought of bringing up one question I've been asking myself ever since I knew who he was

"That night when we met, why did you introduce yourself as Anthony and not Nathaniel?"

Nathan's POV

To be honest, I was expecting her to ask me that question sooner or later and she wasn't wrong to want to know. I'm just not sure this is the right time to tell her the whole truth

"Like I said before, I prefer being called Anthony more than Nathaniel and being called Tony by you was like a nice for a change", I lied because I knew that if I introduced myself as Nathaniel, I'll already have a title to my name, and she would just see me as Mellisa's psychologist widowed cousin rather than Nathaniel who wanted to get to know her better

The first time I ever laid my eyes on her was at Tristan's restaurant opening a few months ago. The reason she didn't see me that night was because I didn't stay long enough for the introductions and there were also a lot of people plus I was still new in town and everything. I only realized who she was when Kevin pointed at her in the middle of the crowd and told me about her.

Then at that moment, I must say that she was literally the most beautiful girl I've seen by far, and I was instantly drawn the second her lips turned into an irrestable, dazzling smile that reached her eyes and I felt my whole world slowing a bit, my heart skipped a beat

That night at the club, I saw an opportunity and I took it with both hands when she was dancing carefree to the music like nothing in the world bothered her and I approached her from behind, dancing with her, and she turned to look at me and I got a clear glimpse of her beautiful face again. Her round brown eyes held such intensity, it was undeniably impossible not to be held prisoner by them each time they locked with mine, managing to enhance her natural beauty even more.

"The way both of us were so out of it that night, I thought we wouldn't remember each other the next morning", she laughed while swaying her feet back and forth in the water

"There's no way I wouldn't remember you, Liv", I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You're not like anyone I've met before"

"You're not like anyone I've met before either", she smiled, and I leaned to kiss her on the forehead before standing on my feet

"What are you doing now?", she asked when she saw me strip out of my clothes

"Okay", I smirked mischievously. "In that case, I dare you to jump into this water right now"

"If I say no?", she challenged while raising a brow at me

"Then I won't let you have your way with me, for a very long, long time"

"You're bluffing", she laughed, and I kept a straight face, I saw her face drop from the realization that I was serious

"You wouldn't do that do me"

"Are you sure you want to take that chance with me?", I leaned against the edge of the pool and I saw her hesitate for a minute before her hands started unbuttoning her denim danguree, and she stood up to slowly pushed it down her hips. My lips spread into a grin as I watched her take the rest of her clothes off, leaving only her matching set of undergarments and stood there awkwardly while covering her chest with her hands. I reached out to her and helped slowly helped her into the pool.

"Oh my God, it's so cold", her body started trembling as we resurfaced from the deep end and I swam closer to her to wrap my arms around her as she seemed to be shivering under the water