Chapter 46 Why Are You Not Running Anymore
Nathaniel’s brow furrowed slightly as he applied the last Band-Aid to Christina’s scraped knee. His touch was tender, deliberate, but his eyes never left her face. There was something in his gaze—concern, mixed with a touch of frustration.
“You didn’t show up,” he said softly, his voice low. “I waited for you. You were supposed to meet me at eight.”
Christina felt a sudden pang of guilt. She had completely forgotten about dinner. The evening had spiraled out of her control—losing her phone, rushing to the restaurant, and then being left alone in that romantic setting, only to fall asleep waiting for Nathaniel. By the time she woke up, it was already too late.
“I’m sorry, I… lost my phone. I didn’t even realize you’d been trying to reach me,” Christina explained, her voice a little shaky as she looked up at him.
Nathaniel’s expression softened just a fraction, but the tension in his body remained. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “It’s alright. You’re safe now.”
His eyes lingered on her face, the traces of worry still evident. But now, there was also something else—something deeper. It was as if the weight of the night had shifted between them, and he could no longer hold back the emotions that had been simmering beneath the surface.
Christina met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat as she felt the sudden shift in the air around them. It was hard to ignore the tension that had been building between them for so long—this magnetic pull that neither of them could deny.
As if sensing the change in her, Nathaniel’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You shouldn’t be walking home alone so late, Christina. Especially not after what happened tonight.”
Christina nodded, grateful for his concern but still embarrassed by the whole situation. “I never thought something like this could happen. It’s just… I wasn’t expecting it.”
Nathaniel’s gaze hardened as he reached out to help her off the bed, his fingers brushing against hers. “That’s the problem. You never expect danger, but it’s always lurking around the corner. You don’t need to be out here on your own.”
Christina’s chest tightened as she realized how deeply Nathaniel felt for her. There was a protectiveness in his actions, something that made her feel both safe and vulnerable at the same time.
“I’ll take you home,” he said firmly, as if there were no other option.
She didn’t argue. Instead, she allowed him to lead her to the car, the silence between them carrying a weight that neither of them was willing to break. As Nathaniel started the engine and drove them through the quiet streets, the tension between them only grew stronger. Neither of them spoke, but the air felt charged with unspoken thoughts and feelings.
As they approached her building, Nathaniel slowed the car, but before Christina could reach for the door handle, he turned to her. “You’re not going anywhere alone tonight.”
Christina stared at him, surprised by the sudden intensity in his voice. “What do you mean?”
His eyes met hers, unyielding. “Stay with me tonight. I’m not letting you go back there alone.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest as his words sank in. The idea of staying with him, even for just a night, made her both nervous and excited. But there was something else—something in Nathaniel’s eyes that made her feel like he needed this, too.
“I don’t know…” she started, but her words trailed off. What else could she say? It wasn’t just about safety anymore. There was something more between them, something that neither of them had dared to address before.
Nathaniel waited for her answer, his hand resting on the steering wheel as he stared at her with a mixture of patience and determination.
Finally, with a soft sigh, Christina gave him a small nod. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
As she got out of the car and followed him into his building, the night felt different—charged with a new sense of possibility. There was a shift in their dynamic, and for the first time in a long while, Christina allowed herself to consider what could come next.
For Nathaniel, it felt like a quiet victory—like he had finally reached her, in a way that words alone never could.