I asked him again and the answer was always the same.

"No."

Or the ever popular: "I'll think about it."

It wasn't exactly a brushoff, but it was the same questions and answers we had been batting around for 3 years. I wanted to date, he didn't.

I didn't see what the big deal was, if it worked, great, if it didn't we would go back to being friends because our friendship was strong enough it could withstand something like the breakup, or, at least I hoped he could.

One night we had gone out to the movies just the two of us, not exactly a date but as close to one I was going to get, but tonight I wasn't going to push it. We were watching a Star Wars double feature just-in-time or the next installment coming out in a few years.

We were sitting side by side in a nearly empty theater, but I didn't mind, in fact I preferred it that way. I, unlike most people actually didn't mind watching movies in a nearly empty theater. At least I didn't have yelling and crying kids in the seats behind me. Thank God!

Nathan hadn't said much his eyes were glued to the screen and it wasn't until the usher a broom in hand called for intermission and the lights came up.

"What are you thinking about?" I murmured.

Nathan shrugged.

"What you mean "what am I thinking about?" He asked.

"You just seem very quiet, pensive."

"Then what are you thinking about?" He shot back at me.

I blushed in spite of myself.

"How this is almost a date…?" I ventured cautiously.

Nathan groaned, and I could almost hear his grinding together as his head fell back on the head of the stereotypical cushy movie seats.

"Vivian, I thought we talked about this. No, I know we talked about this!" A wry smile flashed momentarily across his face, "what did I say last time, and the last 3 times after that?"

I didn't answer, it was probably the only thing we argued about.

"But why not?" I demanded. I knew I sounded like a petulant child, but I didn't care. "What's the worst that can happen? If we break up we can go back to being friends."

Nathan sighed.

"Vivian, it's not that simple, and I'm not talking about being bi here."

"Can't we at least try…"

Nathan sighed again as the lights began to dim once more and the opening credits for The Empire Strikes Back began rolling up the screen.

"Maybe," he answered, "I'll think about it, but I will let you know, I promise." He gave me another one of his lopsided smiles, "don't I always?"

After our conversation in the movie theater I didn't push it, but that had been my policy since revealing I had feelings for Nathan. If I pushed it, he pushed back, usually in the negative which didn't help either of us. I figured when Nathan was ready to give me an answer he would give me one and in the meantime I continue to babysitting my writing,. I was currently working on a sequel to my 2013 novel Damage Control, a story I had written after Nathan had come out.

Things didn't get rolling until several months later. It was just on the cusp of summer when the weather was getting distinctly warmer and going out was a common past time for anyone in the Midwest and you could do something without freezing your butt off.

"You want to do something?" Nathan asked. "We could go for a walk in the park."

"Sure." I replied. I was always eager to do something with me whatever that was, even if that just meant talking.

Today was no exception and we just walked on a path in the park in companionable silence.

"So have you thought anymore about what we talked about?" I probed cautiously.

Nathan shrugged.

"A little bit, but I'm taking my time with it. Just don't bother me about it again, I'll tell you my answer when I'm ready."

For now it was the best answer I can get. I enjoyed the rest of the community my mind spinning with answer wondering what Nathan was thinking. Not for the first time I wished I could've read his mind.

Nathan's answer came on a Sunday afternoon a couple weeks later. It came in the form of a small box with a note attached.

It read:

Vivian you wanted an answer, here it is...Open for next clue.

The box was wrapped neatly (although not perfectly) inside the small box was another piece of paper and a map with a marker.

The piece of paper read:

The place where we walk and talk.

That was easy, I thought, the park where we had been the week before. The park had several hiking trails which we walked frequently when we had things to discuss. The map, as I expected had the park marked on it with a pushpin.

Oh he's going to make me work for it, is he? Apparently he was because Nathan never did anything the "usual" way.

Smiling to myself I close my computer and grabbed a totebag and some water. Placing the map in the notes in the totebag I headed out of the house only partially wondering what I was getting myself into.

I knew the path by the back of my hand. Nathan and I had been times since Nathan had developed a love of walking and hiking in his travels. I didn't really blame since most of his time was spent in a chair behind the desk.

I could relate.

The path beyond the tree line was deserted. I didn't think many families would let their small children go beyond there for fear of getting lost. After walking for several minutes I found beginning of the trail that disappeared into the woods, there, pinned to a sign that read "Deerwood" was a note.

Opening it I saw Nathan's cramped handwriting.

Clue Number 2:

drive into town; the places where you go when you're new here.

Below that was another line.

Sorry, I'm not that great at poetry.

I had to laugh at that, but I could see he was trying to make it fun and interesting. At least he knew how to keep me on my toes.

I did as instructed, I knew I was looking for a landmark, but which one? A text answered my next question.

Here is your next clue:

Where you go see your shows.

Grinning, I already knew where to go. There could only be one place anything would send me which would involve one of my hobbies. The most famous music arena in Nashville (other than the Opry of course).

I found the next clue outside Ryman Auditorium, having to awkwardly ask at the box office if Nathan Clarence had left a message for me.

"Are you Vivian Peters?" The woman behind the glass asked.

I nodded.

Several minutes later she returned with an envelope. It was a normal ticket envelope manila brown, which seemed slightly heavier than usual. Eagerly, I opened it.

Inside, along with the Keith Urban tickets I had been wanting for months was another clue.

V, yes before you ask I will go with you even though country music isn't really my thing. Your next clue is: steps toward grandeur where US meets ancient landmark (also famous).

Well that was a detailed clue I thought, which I was still mulling over as I got back into my car shoving the tickets into my purse. Nashville had many ancient landmarks, but which one was Nathan referring to.

I drove around downtown several minutes before I found out where I was going. It turned out to be the Parthenon (a replica of course) which stood proudly and regally as one of Nashville's many landmarks.

The lawn was neat and trim while tourists milled up and down the stairs the pillars, wide enough so for five people could stand comfortably between them. I didn't know what I was going to find; I didn't even know what I was looking for.

Probably another note, I thought.

Sure enough, there was another note by one of the pillars. It was being held by a lady a little older my mom. She was dressed in a sun hat with a flower print blouse. She had a squat, friendly look about her with rosy cheeks and an equally rosy mouth plied with a bright shade of lipstick. Most likely, she or her husband were on vacation or something. She had "tourist" written all over her.

I didn't know whether to laugh or not. I assumed Nathan had picked her out of the crowd at random.

"A nice young man came by while ago and asked me to hold onto this for him, for which said you would be coming by." She smiled, handing me another folded piece of paper

I smiled back, unable to help myself.

The note was about what I expected, Nathan's cramped handwriting and another clue as to my next destination.

Getting close, he wrote, I'll see you soon… I'll be waiting with my final answer at the feet of wisdom.

"Pretty clever, that one." the woman mused as she was still standing there watching me.

I didn't know what to say except I felt like I was being creeped on, so I didn't say anything.

"Feet of wisdom…?" I murmured, "feet of wisdom…"

"Well there's always the statue of Athena." The woman offered. She struck as one of those people who would likely tell me her entire life story whether I wanted to hear it or not. "Nothing wiser than a goddess… Not that I believe that stuff anyway. I'm Catholic." She added.

"Yeah, thanks." I added absently as I hurried off in the direction of the statute, it was better than having to make up an excuse to leave the woman's company. What had Nathan gotten me into?

The statue of Athena wasn't that far away; I didn't even have to get back to my car. My heart was suddenly pounding; I knew Nathan was there and I knew he was waiting for me with an answer, but what that answer would I didn't know.

It seemed all the noise was muted, I could only see the statue, the people looking up at it and taking pictures. There by one of the pedestals was Nathan.

As I got closer I noticed he was holding something and as I approached I finally spoke.

"Hey…" I sounded braver than I felt.

"Hey." He replied his eyes smiled softly, but he didn't say anything else.

Swallowing, I spoke again.

"So… You have an answer for me?"

"Yeah, I do." Nathan replied. Then he handed me what he had been holding, a notebook with writing on the facing page. Looking down, I read what it said.

The short paragraph was written in Nathan's neat handwriting.

I know you been waiting a long time for this, and I know I've taken a long time answering. I don't mean to be that way I just had a lot to think about. I don't want to lose our friendship; that's very important to me. I started asking myself "what if we break up"? Have you even thought about that? The thought my sexuality was what was standing in the way, but that's not true either. I could date anyone (literally) and I do want a relationship… To be married, you know.

So I guess my answer is this: give me 3 months and will see where it goes. In short, yes I will.

I looked up from the paper and slowly a smile spread across my face.

"Really?"

Nathan only nodded. He still wasn't smiling, but his expression had sought looking more thoughtful than tense.

Then I threw my arms around him. I didn't care that they were probably hundreds if not millions of tourists watching. It felt like a humongous plate been lifted off my shoulders I grinned into Nathan's shoulder, and I knew he was smiling too.

Then I pulled back and only looked at him. I knew we were both waiting for something; waiting for someone to make the next move. There was something I had been wanting to do since I was about 12, but I didn't dare.

Nathan was only looking at his eyes soft again and I saw the distinct blue of the irises sparkling from the light streaming in behind us.

I licked my lips.

Very slowly, Nathan leaned down as if he didn't want to break the invisible bubble that seem to form around us. I knew what was happening before it happened and closed my eyes in response. I don't think I was even breathing.

Slowly, gently, his lips touched mine.

They were how I always imagined, soft and warm, like he was. It sounded cliché, but I wished it could have gone on forever. I guess that's what happens when you're kissing someone you really like.

Finally we pulled apart and smiled at each other.

"I think," my voice sounded hoarse from not talking for several minutes, "I finally have a boyfriend."

Nathan chuckled, his eyes still smiling.

"Now who could that be?" Laughing softly, he leaned down to kiss me again.

"So…" Nathan asked several weeks later, "what do you want to do now?"

I gave him a look which transformed itself into a frown.

"What do you mean 'what you want to do now'?"

"Well I thought since we are a couple now maybe we could get away, within reason of course."

I raised my eyebrows at him. He had to be careful with this one.

"Well I would like to see the world," I confessed, "all those places you've talked about."

Nathan grinned.

"I think we can do that… Maybe not all at once, but maybe when I have a business trip or some time off… Or both."

I grinned back. Yes, we can definitely make that work.

We decide to take in several highlights in Europe, one week in Australia and one week in New Zealand. I couldn't have planned it more perfectly.

Several weeks later we are boating along the canals in Venice, a gondola driver singing whimsically in Italian and telling amusing anecdotes in heavily accented English.

After over an hour I began to feel hot and bothered, my mind wandering the place maybe it shouldn't,, but I was too tired and bored to care. Nathan definitely noticed, because after all our years together Nathan noticed everything.

"Something wrong Vivian?" He asked in an undertone out of the side of his mouth.

I blushed.

"Nothing," I muttered, studying my knees, "nothing that can't wait."

I showed Nathan exactly what I meant to him he got back to the hotel. I didn't know how to articulate how much I wanted or what that would translate to. I felt hot, itchy and impatient and I wanted to get our clothes out of the way, but what that would lead to I definitely wasn't ready for.

I trailed a series of kisses down his face and neck. Just as I got past his collarbone I heard him chuckle, the sound vibrating through his skin.

"Where you going Vivian…?" He murmured.

I didn't answer, I didn't have one.

Eventually Nathan's breathing became more ragged but I didn't care. We were spread on the bed, clothes akimbo and I barely restrained the heat that was pooling between my legs.

I moaned, is sound Nathan echoed a few seconds later.

The feeling of our bodies and clothes rubbing together was tantalizing, and I wondered how far I could push Nathan, but there was a fine line between danger and common sense.

Sometime later I finished the job. Afterwards I lay on my bed room looking out the window; the pulse between my legs having finally been sated. We had come close to crossing a line, one way or another, I thought. Sin, from the side at least, had a deceiving face, but that was the nature of the beast.

We were somewhere in New Zealand in a small bed and breakfast. It was definitely the more rural part of New Zealand, a part that definitely invoked a "Middle Earth" feel with the rolling hills and spacious landscapes of every kind.

I didn't know what time it was when I rolled over and fell back to sleep sometime after midnight I imagined. Nathan was sound asleep in the room next to mine (no, we weren't sleeping together. That was the one thing we had agreed on) the hotel room was quiet and cool as I finally once again drifted off to sleep.

It was like a moving slideshow of the last few weeks. In the dream I was reliving my travels with Nathan and even the time before and after we had officially become a couple. Early on, I wasn't sure what the "goal" of the dream was, but I found out soon enough.

The creature, was a Pokémon, (a.k.a. pocket monster, a booming million-dollar franchise in Japan, and more specifically like something that had walked straight out of a videogame or more specific the mobile game Pokémon Go which everyone was obsessed with playing. Even I had been guilty of that) I knew exactly which one it was too a nearly 7 foot tall specimen which looked like something out of a mad scientist lab, which is pretty much was. It was strangely catlike, but not quite, strong and silent with deadly psychic powers.

"Mewtwo…" I murmured. I seem to drift forward. Even in the dream, I knew I wanted to catch it, but wasn't sure quite how.

I grabbed Nathan's hand, pulling him along. We were somewhere in Paris along the Seine River as the elusive creature drifted in and out of my vision. It seemed to move effortlessly for something so big.

Nathan only laughed and shook his head. His eyes were twinkling and I knew he was laughing at me, but there was something in his expression that said, "okay, whatever you want babe" (not that Nathan would ever call me babe).

I ran to keep up the darting, shimmering figure, but the closer I got the further away it seemed to get. Finally, I tracked it (him?) To an open field which seemed to dissolve into a sea of stars. Suddenly there was a Poke Ball in my hand and I threw it without even thinking, it arced gracefully in the space hitting the Pokémon squarely as it vanished inside the ball. The ball seemed to hover in midair for several minutes and shook several times before giving a satisfied click.

"Gotcha!" I whispered.

I hugged Nathan then reached to pick up the ball, which felt strangely heavy in my hand.

As I began to wake up I smiled into my pillow, lost in a world I didn't quite want to wake up from, even though my reality was just as enticing.