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together and would have gladly shouted from the rooftops that she was dating a wonderful man, but they were trying to keep their fledgling relationship a secret, and it was proving to not be an easy task. Her recent and radical mood change from deep, dark melancholy to bright, shining euphoria was quite obvious to her circle of friends. She knew that she needed to finally tell them something, and saying that she had made a new “friend” in Nate Wilder seemed like a sufficient enough story to her.
     
    “You know I don’t believe you,” Natalie stared at her from across the table. Tessa took a bite of her salad, refusing to budge any further on details, but couldn’t help the slight slip of a smile at the mere mention of Nate’s name.
     
    “Are you really not going to eat, Nat?” Natalie was continuing to stare as her sandwich sat untouched on her plate. Tessa took another bite, hoping Natalie would follow suit. Their lunch break didn’t last all day, after all.
     
    “Not until you admit the truth to me.”
     
    “I don’t have anything to admit.”
     
    “You are so full of it, Tess. Are you sleeping with him or what? Have you at least kissed? Come on! Tell me something that at least resembles the truth. I’m not buying the ‘we’re just friends’ crap. I’ve known you forever, and all the signs are there that you are either getting it on, or you are about to be getting it on, with him.”
     
    Tessa felt her cheeks flush at her friend’s frank words. She didn’t like lying to Natalie, but at the same time, she didn’t want Natalie’s opinion on what was happening with Nate either. “You seriously aren’t going to give up, are you? I can’t believe you won’t just drop it. If there was something to tell you, then I’d tell you.”
     
    “And I would totally believe you if you weren’t acting like a lovesick teenager. I’d also believe you if this could be filed under normal circumstances, but Nate Wilder isn’t normal circumstances. You are holding out on me and I know it. Just admit it – I promise I won’t tell a soul.”
     
    They were at a stalemate. Tessa knew that Natalie was not going to stop pushing the issue, and Tessa wasn’t about to spill the beans. The crazy whirlwind that she had been swept up in over the past few weeks with Nate was new and special, and Tessa thought if she wanted it to stay that way, she wouldn’t be sharing the news with anyone anytime in the near future.
     
    Tessa gave her a wink and pretended to lock her lips with an imaginary key and toss it over her shoulder before rummaging in her purse for her wallet. She figured that the little gesture should at least somewhat satisfy Natalie’s rabid curiosity without Tessa actually having to say anything or go into details.
     
    “I KNEW IT!” Natalie shouted before grabbing her sandwich off of her plate and taking a huge bite.
     
    “You don’t know anything! Hush!” Tessa defended, now regretting her momentary lapse in judgment. She shouldn’t have given away anything.
     
    “Sorry! Not another peep from me until you say something more. But for the record, I. Knew. It. The. End.” Natalie winked at her and proceeded to finish her lunch without mentioning Nate’s name again. Tessa rolled her eyes at her silly friend.
     
    When they had parted ways, hurrying to get back to their respective offices, Tessa couldn’t help but walk a little slower than she should as she passed by the set where Nate’s movie was currently filming. She strained her neck to try and get at least a peek of him somewhere on the town’s square. It was weird being so close to him, but at the same time, a whole world away.
     
    Her phone vibrated in the pocket of her jacket. Pulling it out, she hurriedly read the text message she’d just received from Nate.
     
    “I see you ,” it read. Tessa lifted her head up and looked all around in every direction. Where was he?
     
    “Where are you?” she quickly typed back.
     
    “To