Chapter 18

• On the final day of her weekend, Nathalie decided to visit Anna for a cup of tea, thinking it would be nice to get to know her neighbor better. With flowers in hand, she was welcomed with a warm smile. They talked about the weather, their jobs, and the neighborhood—nothing too personal, yet it was enough to sense that Anna was a kind-hearted person.
• Despite getting along well, the age difference was apparent. Anna didn't watch the same shows or listen to the same music as Nathalie, and she seemed more traditional, especially concerning relationships and other aspects of life. Nathalie kept reminding herself that such differences were normal; after all, Anna was 38. However, it unnerved Nathalie that she fixated on the age gap, especially since Ethan was three years older than Anna, and she hadn't given it a second thought when they were together.
• She definitely needed to stop thinking about him. Ethan hadn't reached out since she sent that embarrassing drunk text, and she lacked the courage to message him again. Her encounter with Shon was not her proudest moment. He had called to apologize, and she admitted to overreacting, so they were on amicable terms again. It might still be awkward when they saw each other next, but it wouldn't be as bad as it could have been.