I Need You Tonight

Chapter 7

Finding Time

Natalie, speechless left Randy after their little kiss, and she knew that there was something definitely between her and Randy. She arrived at her office, and noticed that it was dark in there with a couple candles.

"What's going on?" Natalie said walking up the candle-lit trail.

"Come with me, sweets." Paul's voice filled the air.

He then proceeded to turn the lights on, and it was decorated beautifully.

"You know what today is?" Paul asked her.

"No."

"One year ago we met each other. Happy one year anniversary, baby."

"Oh my gosh, Paul. I completely forgot." Natalie said finally telling the truth.

"That's alright, baby. You just got promoted, meeting new people. Here is a gift."

"Paul, I didn't get you anything."

"You know what you can give me later." Paul smirked.

Natalie opened the Tiffany box and found a beautiful silver chain with a small star on it.

"Paul, it's beautiful." Natalie said taking it out of the box, as Paul proceeded to put it on her. "Thanks for the gift, Paul. You will be getting yours later, promise." Natalie smiled.

"I sure hope, dear. I'll let you get back to work, and I'll meet you right after the show. Love you."

"Love you too, Paul. See You later." He kissed her and then walked out the door.

Fifteen minutes into the show, there was a knock at her door. Luckily it was Missy.

"Hey gurl. Hanging out with the soon-to-be husband tonight?"

"Yup, first year anniversary."

"Hell, you two are engaged and moved in together already."

"Yeah, I know. Great, isn't it?" Natalie said sarcastically.

"Honey, what is wrong with you lately? It seems your mind is just all over the place."

"I know, Mis. I really don't know. This wedding, this promotion, this job is very stressful sometimes. I mean, I forgot today was our anniversary. That's why I was up all night last night. I just don't know anymore. I just want this wedding to be over with."

"Do you even want to get married?"

"Now, yeah. I just want to get this perfect wedding stress done with." Natalie said just making excuses now.

"I know. I just don't understand why Paul and you just don't run off and get married. You two should really discuss your relationship. It seems neither of you communicate with the other. Both of you are just wussies, talk to each other. That's what makes a good marriage."

"Yeah, I know. I'm going to talk to him tonight."

"Good, we better get back to work."

--that night--

"Hey sweets." Paul said seeing Natalie in the parking lot walking over to him.

"Hey, Paul."

"Baby, I really think we need to talk about some shit. Missy and I had a little chat."

"Oh, what about?"

"You, being stressed out. C'mon, get into the car, we'll talk at the hotel."

--at the hotel--

"Tell me what you're thinking, Natalie. All of it. I want you to tell me everything that you're feeling."

"Alright, I am so stressed out, Paul. I love you but I think this relationship moved way too damn fast. I mean, I want to marry you, not in two months though. I really think that we should wait, at least more months, wait til I am a settled down with my job, you never know when I could get promoted again. I'm really sorry but you don't know how good it feels to get this off of me." Natalie said breaking down in tears.

"Baby, why didn't you just tell me?" Paul said hugging her, understandingly.

"Scared, Paul. I mean, I'm just scared to get married and then it's over, when I want to get married, I want to find the right guy, and yeah you are the one for me, but Paul, I am only 22 years old. I am way too young to settle down like this. But you keep pushing this wedding on me, and I'm busy. I'm beat, I'm tired."

"Baby, I'm sorry." Paul held her. "If you want to wait, honey, we'll wait."

"Paul, I am so sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for, I can obviously see you're stressed."

"Thanks Paul. Can we just relax and watch a movie tonight?"

"Sure, honey. Whatever you want." Paul said as he picked her up and took her over to the sofa, and cuddled the two of them together.

"What movie do you want to watch, Natalie?" Paul said going through the different channels.

"Its up to you." Natalie said as she cuddled into Paul's shirt covered chest.

"Fine." Paul then advanced and then chose a movie. About halfway into it, Natalie was peacefully sleeping on Paul's chest. He just let her sleep because he thought she looked like an angel, sleeping. He finished his movie about forty minutes later, and then proceeded to pick her up, not trying to wake her up. Although, he was unsuccessful.

"Where am I?" Natalie asked dizzily.

"Baby, you're with me. Let's go to bed." Paul said as Natalie grabbed a pair of boxer shorts and a wife beater and headed to the bathroom to change. Minutes later, she came out and cuddled with Paul in bed.

"I love you Natalie." Paul whispered.

"Love you too, Paul." Natalie said secretly wishing Paul was Randy.

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the next day

Natalie woke up early and decided to do her early morning-gym workout before Paul woke up, so she quickly scribbled down a note explaining that she would be back before 8:30 a.m., so she quickly changed into a new wife beater and a pair of white Adidas shorts and headed out the door.

Most of the time, no one was there, but Natalie walked in the gym, and didn't hear nothing, until she went to the weight part, and there was the one person she came to think about, Randy.

"Hey." Randy said shirtless covered in sweat. (woah, now that is a great visual)

"I didn't know anyone else worked out at 6 a.m."

"Same here. How was your romantic evening?"

"Tiring. I told him I didn't want to get married."

"Natalie, is it because of me? I want to apologize for that kiss. I seriously didn't mean for it to happen."

"No, Randy it's me. I'm really stressed out anymore- promotion, I'm engaged..all that crappy shit."

"I see what you mean. I don't really know why anyone would want to get married at 22, unless you found the perfect person."

"Yeah, exactly. Its not that Paul isn't great, I mean seriously he's a really great guy, it's just not love for me, yet. I am not ready to fall for him. I mean within like 9 months we were living together and engaged."

"Why didn't you say no?"

"I couldn't, I guess he kind of expected me to say yes. I mean he literally asked both in front of a bunch of people, except for the house."

"How did he propose?"

"At our house-warming party. Not all the romantic shit that every girl dreams of. Anymore questions, Randy?" Natalie asked sarcastically and Randy was a little taken aback.

"I'm sorry, Randy. I'm kidding." Natalie said making Randy smile.

"So what do you work on when you work out?"

"My abs."

"Oh alright. If you do this exercise, it kind of hurts, but it really works them." Randy said showing her the exercise.

"Thanks, Randy."

Randy left about twenty minutes before Natalie did. She headed up to her room and took a shower, and noticed that Paul was still sleeping. She got dressed in a pair of flood pants and a black top. By that time, it was about 10, and Paul finally awake.

"Hey Sleepy!" Natalie said cheerfully.

"Hey honey. Where were you?" Paul asked.

"Gym, as always."

"Awesome, any wrestlers down there?"

"Nah, hon. Just me, myself and I." Another lie, Natalie thought.

"Oh alright. Hey, I think both of us need showers, and then I'm going to take my wonderful fiancee shopping."

"Sounds good to me."