The hot water pouring down his skin helped Nathan relax, or rather, helped his body to relax. His mind was another matter. Ever since that article in the paper announcing the former pop star Haley James had found "Happiness and True Love", Nathan had been off.
He couldn't describe it, it felt like he was walking in a dream. All he could think about was HER. How she trashed his apartment with that party and all he could see was the way her hair curled over her bare shoulders as she tried to explain.
It was a few minuets before he realized the dull pounding in his head wasn't actually from him but from someone at the door.
"I'm coming!" he yelled, exiting the shower and pulling on a pair of shorts. He opened the door and had to fight to not slam it in the woman's face.
"Hello Nathan," Haley said, making her tone mocking. Because it turns out that Nathan kept up his physical fitness and he was standing in front of her without a shirt on. He was wearing the same aftershave, making her want to throw herself in his arms.
"Haley?" Nathan asked, having trouble wrapping his mind around the fact that Haley was standing in front of him dressed in a black business suit. Her perfume was the same, making his heart ache, "what are you doing here?"
"You know exactly what I'm doing here," Haley said, "can I come in or do we have to do this with you half naked in the doorway?"
Nathan suppressed a grimace and pushed the door open. He knew why she was here, the papers didn't lie.
"So why are you here?" he asked, faking innocence. Something in him needed to hear her say it, needed to make sure this was real and not some terrible dream.
"Nathan don't do this," Haley said, still not taking off her sunglasses, "you know why I'm here."
"No, I don't. I don't follow your life Haley the same way you don't follow mine."
Both winced at the lie. Haley still checked the minor league basketball scores for both Scott brothers and Nathan kept his eyes on the paper for news of the former pop star. Both knew that Haley had come back to get a divorce, so she could marry the fabulously wealthy Derek Woods.
"You know what? Fine. I'll say it first: I want a divorce. I have the papers right here. All you have to do is sign them and we'll be done with each other like—"
"Like we should have twelve years ago?" Nathan offered.
"We never should have been married in the first place," Haley muttered, trying to convince herself more than him.
Nathan cocked his head. Haley was hiding something, that much he knew. She was shifting her weight from foot to foot, biting her lip slightly and she wasn't taking off those sunglasses. Nathan knew Haley was stubborn, she wouldn't leave until she had those papers signed.
'She won't leave,' he thought, 'she could have sent those papers any time…'
"You know what," Nathan said, "I need to have my lawyer look over these. Why don't you go back to your hotel and I'll call you in the morning."
"Fine!" Haley said, "I'll be back in the morning. I hope your lawyer keeps late hours."
She threw the papers down and walked out furiously. When she was gone, Nathan allowed himself a smile.
There just might be hope yet.
She still had the 23 tattoo.