18
I returned home, yet Peter’s words kept echoing in my mind. My heart raced. I grabbed an ice–cold bottle of water from the refrigerator. The icy liquid, a stark contrast to the autumn chill, failed to soothe my turmoil.
I still couldn’t believe what I’d heard. Peter liked me? I distinctly remembered the gatherings Ethan had dragged me to; Peter had always given me the cold shoulder. Among Ethan’s friends, he was the one who disliked me the
most.
At that time, I assumed he shared the campus’s view that I wasn’t good enough for Ethan. Now, he said he liked
me?
My thoughts were a tangled mess. Feeling agitated, I decided to go to the gym to clear my head. Just as I was about to leave, my phone rang. It was a video call from Summer.
“Natalie, I’m here! It’s freezing! Look, it’s snowing!”
Summer, bundled in a thick down jacket and pink earmuffs, was having a blast in the snow.“Natalie, when are you coming? Let’s go skiing!”
She held up a handful of snow to the camera.
I rarely saw snow. My years abroad had been consumed by work, and I’d never really had the chance to ski. Summer’s invitation was very tempting.
“After this competition,” I said.
Summer’s smile faded.“Natalie, it’s a live–streamed event. The drama with that jerk is still fresh in people’s minds. It could cause you problems.”
I knew that.
My voice was soft but firm.“It’s okay. My work speaks for itself, and I’ve already moved on. I won’t let a past relationship get in the way.”
Summer’s smile returned. “You’re right, Natalie. I support you.”
We chatted for a while longer. Then, Summer noticed my unease.
“Natalie, what’s wrong? Something bothering you? Is it about work?”
I recounted my conversation with Peter. Summer was silent for a few seconds, then exclaimed, “What?! Wait, let me process this.” Her mouth was agape.
“Natalie, you’re saying you had a blind date with your ex–boyfriend’s friend, and he said he liked you? And he’s also your client? You tried to refuse, but he won’t give up?”
Her questions bombarded me.
I lay on the sofa, my voice calm.“Kind of.”
“Natalie, is Peter doing this to avenge Ethan? Ethan’s been looking for you since the breakup; maybe he still resents you.”
That was my first thought, too.
“Peter’s my client. If he wanted to give me a hard time, he wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.” Summer nodded.“True.”
“That leaves only one possibility!”
