The love I Never Saw

attan street, the kind with velvet couches and overpriced lattes. I arrived at 1:40, nerves

was

The one I tho

n inflated sense of self. But when Nathan Hale stepped into the

attractive -

ook more like a Columbia TA than a bestselling author. And when he smiled

Cole," he said,

s. Hi. Sorry,

or people worth sho

e, but defin

, Nathan was everything a journalist dreamed of - smart, reflec

e was

k a list of synonyms for the word 'atrocity,'" he said at one point, a

quotable," I mutter

htly. "You're ridiculo

r eyes held for

just an inte

was, but the line had

f us made the first move to leave. Final

ying to sound professio

hands into his coat pockets. "I

pressively," I sai

out a slim notepad from his coat. "I know you're technically w

own, tore the page,

umber. An

bout other people's st

one had said something l

pping the paper into my bag

n about the intervi

how, he

e counter, sleeves rolled up, jaw a little too tight. He didn't say anything

Hale today," he said

startled. "

hoto. Said she was prou

h

nly feeling off-balanc

nreadable. "He's the

of my cheek. "He'

what peo

you sound vaguely

me - really looked. Like he was trying to fin

rds it'll take before you forget wha

anded like

else beneath them. Somet

d. "I know wh

I'd hate to see you lost i

, leaving me with a coffee I suddenly didn't want

ht, Phantom me

de behind charm so no one no

the firs

f the message w

Dar