Chapter 24 — Without Trying
The second day at the resort felt completely different from the first.
Everyone had settled into the relaxed atmosphere.
There were no plans for the morning.
No competitions.
No arguments over what everyone should do.
People simply moved around the resort at their own pace.
Mia came downstairs after breakfast and found Nathan sitting outside with a cup of coffee.
She walked toward him.
"What are you doing?"
"Enjoying the morning."
Mia looked at the empty chair beside him.
"Can I sit?"
Nathan moved his cup slightly.
"Of course."
Mia sat beside him.
Neither said anything for a while.
It wasn't awkward.
It was comfortable.
Mia looked toward the ocean.
"I could get used to this."
Nathan nodded.
"So could I."
They remained there, watching the waves.
Their families passed by several times.
Nobody interrupted them.
They had begun to notice something.
Mia and Nathan weren't arguing nearly as much anymore.
They still disagreed occasionally.
They still teased each other.
But the constant back-and-forth had faded.
Instead, they seemed to have developed an easy understanding.
---
Later that morning, Mia decided to walk around the resort.
Nathan followed.
"You don't have to follow me."
"I know."
"Then why are you?"
"I wanted to walk."
Mia looked at him suspiciously.
"You're using my excuse now?"
Nathan smiled.
"Apparently."
She laughed.
They continued walking.
They passed a small outdoor café overlooking the sea.
Mia stopped.
"I want something cold."
Nathan looked at the menu.
"What do you want?"
"A fruit drink."
He ordered one for her.
Mia looked at him.
"You remembered."
"Remembered what?"
"That I don't like overly sweet drinks."
Nathan shrugged.
"You've never liked them."
Mia smiled.
"True."
They sat together while they waited.
When the drink arrived, Mia took a sip.
"Perfect."
Nathan smiled.
"I knew it."
She looked at him.
"You really remember everything."
"Not everything."
"Most things."
"Maybe."
Mia smiled and returned to her drink.
Neither of them realized how natural the moment felt.
---
That afternoon, the family decided to have lunch outside.
Everyone sat around a long table beneath a large canopy.
Mia was talking with one of her sisters when Nathan quietly placed a plate of food beside her.
She looked at him.
"I didn't ask for this."
"I know."
"Then why did you bring it?"
"You hadn't taken anything."
Mia glanced at the plate.
Then she smiled.
"Thanks."
Nathan nodded and continued his own meal.
Her sister watched them.
She didn't say anything.
She simply smiled to herself.
---
After lunch, Mia and Nathan helped clean up.
One of Mia's brothers looked at them.
"You two are surprisingly cooperative today."
Mia laughed.
"Don't ruin it."
Nathan added,
"We're trying to enjoy the weekend."
"Fair enough."
The family returned to their activities.
Mia and Nathan stayed behind.
They began carrying things back into the resort house.
Nathan picked up a basket.
Mia reached for it.
"I can carry that."
"I know."
"Then give it to me."
"You already have two things."
"And?"
Nathan shook his head.
"I'll carry it."
Mia stared at him.
"You know, you've become very bossy."
Nathan smiled.
"And you've become very accepting of it."
Mia opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
She realized he was right.
She laughed.
"Don't get too confident."
"I won't."
They continued walking.
There was no argument.
Just laughter.
---
That evening, everyone gathered around the fire again.
Mia sat beside Nathan.
Someone told a funny childhood story about Mia.
Everyone laughed.
Mia covered her face.
"I cannot believe you're telling them that!"
Her brother laughed.
"It's history."
Nathan looked at Mia.
"I remember that day."
"You were there?"
"Of course."
Mia stared at him.
"Why do you remember so much?"
Nathan smiled.
"Because I was there for most of your childhood."
Something about the answer made Mia quiet for a moment.
She looked at him.
Then smiled.
"That's true."
Nathan smiled back.
The moment lasted only a few seconds before someone called Mia's name.
She turned away.
Neither of them thought much about it.
---
Later, when everyone had gone inside, Mia and Nathan remained outside.
The fire had burned low.
The ocean was dark beneath the night sky.
Mia wrapped her arms around herself.
Nathan noticed.
"Cold?"
"A little."
He handed her the light jacket he had been wearing.
She hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Mia took it.
"Thanks."
She put it on.
It smelled faintly like his cologne.
She didn't mention it.
Neither did he.
They sat quietly.
Mia rested her head against the back of the chair.
"I think we've changed."
Nathan looked at her.
"How?"
"We don't fight as much."
He smiled.
"That's probably a good thing."
"Definitely."
She laughed softly.
Nathan looked toward the ocean.
"Maybe we're just getting older."
"Maybe."
Neither of them knew that age wasn't the reason.
Something between them had been changing for weeks.
They were becoming more comfortable.
More considerate.
More connected.
And neither was trying to make it happen.
It was simply happening.
Mia eventually stood.
"Come on. We should go inside."
Nathan stood too.
They walked back toward the house together.
Their shoulders occasionally brushed as they walked.
Neither moved away.
For once, neither felt the need to fill the silence.
They had reached a point where being together was enough.
And although neither Mia nor Nathan would have admitted it, they were beginning to prefer it that way.