4. Sightseeing with A Stranger

"Nathaniel..."

"Nate, just call me Nate. So let's order first okay. We can talk while we eat." He interrupted my opening conversation.

We sat on the window booth with the beautiful sea view in front of us. "So, you don't talk and look like the locals. You're here on vacation?" I decided to open the conversation before he asks me further questions.

"You're trying to avoid my questions Marissa, smart girl. No, I'm not a local. I'm here on a whim trying to avoid my own problems. I'm staying at my brother's place." He told me casually, while he calls the waiter and orders us some food, he asked what I want, but I just told him that I have the same as him. I was not really in the mood to think, not even to choose my meals.

The waiter flirted shamelessly towards him, but he easily turned her down with his charming good looks. She was smiling back at him longingly, and sway her hips as she went back to her station. But he ignored her soonest she turned her back away from him.

Wow...he's

really

good

at

this.

"So, you mentioned earlier about working for Archie in the book shop? I assume you're staying here? Did you just get here?" He passed my orange juice to my front, as the waiter came back with our drinks.

"Yeah, I just got here yesterday. I've been in contact with Archie weeks before. It's a long story Nate, but to summarize I have a job at the bookstore and I'm staying at Barnaby's cottage and I'm not suicidal. At least I didn't think I was until this morning when the dad thing happened. I'm still having mixed feelings about you saving me though. So I'm not thanking you just yet." I sipped my juice and sighed as the bittersweet taste woke my senses.

Then our meals came, I didn't realize that I was hungry until my stomach decided to greet the food with a growl. I instantly blushed at him, making him laughed.

He

has

a nice

smile, he's

even

more

handsome

as

he

smiles. Mm...wait...
I'm not supposed

to

have

these

thoughts.

I need to focus on my life, or maybe not, I did try to kill myself just earlier this morning. He passed my burger and fries, then start eating his.

"Eat now, give your belly some happiness. After all that canned soup, I think it needs a reward." He grinned at me while munching his fries, making me laughed a little.

Damn,

he

looks

good

just by stuffing

his

mouth

with

those

greasy

fries.

Girl! Cross

your

legs, and

put

the

fire

out. You

need

to

refocus!

I decided to eat my fries and burger as he kept on looking at me, making sure I didn't stop eating my lunch. We finished twenty minutes later, then he ordered us both coffee.

"So, what's your plan for today? I need to make sure you're staying away from the shore." He looked at me seriously. Then the coffee came, I added milk and sugar to mine, lots of sugar making him winced at the sight of it.

"What? I have a sweet tooth. I like my sweets extra sweet." I smiled at him sickeningly sweet just like my love for all the sugary goodness in the world. He was looking at me a bit funny, but I just shrugged it off. Then I continued on telling him about my plan for today.

"Archie told me yesterday, I could go to the book shop to look around before starting my job tomorrow. And he also told me to check out the town today, so I'm planning on wandering around town aimlessly."

"Right then, since I basically don't have anything better to do, I'll tag along with you. Not that I'm waiting for your approval. But I will tell Archie about this morning incident if you don't let me tag along with you today." He smiled cheekily at me.

Damn

him! There

goes

my

peace

and quiet reading

time.

He got up and pay for our meals. "You don't have to pay for my share you know. I have the money." I looked at him seriously.

"It's my apology for the soup? Look don't worry about the little things too much. You have bigger problems. Like me tagging along with you for the whole day on your suicidal patrol." He winked at me playfully, trying to cheer up my mood.

I just shrugged at him and said my thank you for the meal. He laughed and pat my shoulder. "Come little one, let's go to the book shop."

We got there ten minutes later. Archie greeted us with a smile as he opens the door. "Ah...Marissa, I thought you had decided that the quiet life was not for you and left town already. Hey Nate, I see that you've met Marissa already. She's staying next to you at the Barnaby's."

I was surprised that Nate knows Archie already, I didn't peg him as the reading type.

"Yeah, I've met her this morning. She said that she's coming here so I decided to tag along." Nate laughed and smile at him. Archie ushered him to the seating area.

"Marissa, just take a look around okay, I'm just going to have a chat with Nate here. There's some tea in the back room if you want. Do you want some tea, Nate?"

"Nope, I'm good Archie, we just had coffee at the dinner...." They continue with their conversation. I decided not to eavesdrop, and take a look around the shop.

I love the smell of old books, he had racks of special hardcover bound books, I looked at the titles. I tried to figure out how he arranges the books accordingly.

Then I found my favorite corner, the romance section. I am a hopeless romantic, I grew up watching mom and dad live madly love with each other. Then my eyes started to water as I remind myself of them. I quickly wiped it away, but evidently, it wasn't soon enough as Nate was by my side looking worried again.

"So, are you finished here? Why don't I show you what's fun to do here in this small little town that you're claiming to be your new home? Let's go." He wiped my tears and rubbed my arm in a friendly manner.

We said goodbye to Archie, he didn't see me cry, thanks to Nate. We walk around town aimlessly, he showed me all the shops, the movie theater, the park, and eventually rest our feet at a small cake shop owned by a lovely little old lady. I was loving the shop name already. "Sweets." I smiled widely at Nate making him laughed.

"You're so going to be a diabetic with your sweets craving. Come let's see what will tickle your senses here. My brother said they have the best cake and the lady can make really realistic looking ones." He took my hand as we walk to the counter to pick a cake.

My eyes went wild as I saw the little old lady was putting on the icing on several penis shape cupcakes. I could feel my face was getting hot as it turned into the deepest shade of red.

What

the fuck? What

kind

of

cake shop

is

this?

I could hear Nate chuckled beside me. "Oh... my sorry dear, but I ran out of space in the back to decorate. I need to finish these for a bachelorette party this evening." The lady behind the counter look at my red face and quickly ushered me to the other side of the counter.

Nate was holding his laughter as we picked a cake and bring it to the outside seating area. He finally let out his laughter when she left to get our afternoon coffee.

"Oh Marissa, your face was priceless! It's just penises, but Alex was right they were damn realistic ones. She had definitely seen some in her life." I was probably turning into a tomato, which made him laugh harder.

We ate our cake and enjoy our coffee in the afternoon seaside air. We finally walked back to my place as the sun started to set. "So, thank you for today Nate. And also for saving me this morning." I decided that I need to thank him for saving my suicidal self.

"Hey, it's all good Marissa. Just don't do it again okay? I'm not going to lecture you on life. Because I'm still trying to figure out mine. Just try to live it day by day yeah? And you can always find your comfort back at "Sweets" with your sugar addiction." He winked at me knowingly, then he took my hand and hold it in his.

We continue enjoying the sunset view. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder when he saw me shivered as the cold air hit my body. I felt so comfortable with him, I rest my head on his shoulder while we walked back to my place.