The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 35

There was just one problem—she had no way to shower.

She had taken every last piece of her clothing when she moved out. The walk-in closet was completely bare except for Hassan's things.

When Hassan stepped out of the bathroom after his shower, he noticed she was still fully dressed, makeup untouched, sitting at the vanity staring at her phone.

He walked into the closet, grabbed one of his own dress shirts, and tossed it at her.

It landed squarely over her head. For a second, Natalie was completely disoriented. Pulling the soft fabric away, the faint, familiar scent of cedar hit her. She immediately understood what he was implying—he expected her to wear his shirt after she showered.

Expressionless, Natalie tossed it right back. "No thanks. I'll just sit here for a bit. Once Cecily falls asleep, I'll go sleep in the guest room."

Hassan stared at her, his voice devoid of emotion. "She had the housekeeper lock all the guest rooms."

Natalie took a deep breath. Clearly, Cecily had sensed the tension between them and deliberately trapped them in the same room.

But when it came to sharing a bed, two people who wanted each other would cross oceans to make it happen. Two people who didn't would feel nothing but nausea even if they were pressed skin-to-skin.

Right now, her feelings toward Hassan fell strictly into the latter category.

She turned on her heel and walked into the bathroom.

When she emerged, she was wearing his shirt after all. The oversized fit draped down to her upper thighs, highlighting her slender, toned legs. Years of dancing had given her a graceful, athletic silhouette. With her luminous skin and long, elegant neck, she radiated a natural, effortless beauty without even trying.

She walked to the edge of the bed, pulled back the covers, and slipped in, keeping as much distance between them as the mattress allowed.

Since the guest room was locked, she had to make do. She wasn't worried about Hassan trying anything, anyway.

Aside from the one time Cecily had slipped something into their drinks, Natalie had been the one to initiate every single physical encounter they ever had.

If she didn't pursue him, Hassan showed zero interest in her.

She turned her back to him and scrolled through her phone.

He reached over and turned off the lamp, his voice flat. "Staring at your phone in the dark is bad for your eyes."

She found it absolutely laughable. Was this supposed to be him caring about her? Or was he just trying to annoy her?

Did he honestly not realize that her grandfather slipping into a coma had destroyed her in ways that looking at a screen in the dark never could?

He knew. He just didn't care. And this trivial comment was nothing more than an empty, throwaway line.

Natalie didn't answer.

Eventually, she heard the rustle of the sheets as he lay back down, deciding to drop the subject.

She finished the article, jotted down a few key notes, and finally turned her phone off to sleep.

When she woke up the next morning, her side of the bed was already empty. He had gotten up early.

After getting ready, she walked out and saw Hassan at the dining table, keeping Cecily company for breakfast.

"My troupe needs me. I've got to head out," she said, grabbing her things to leave.

Cecily looked at her in surprise. "Why haven't you changed? Isn't that the exact same outfit you had on yesterday? Am I misremembering?"

Natalie hesitated for a fraction of a second before smoothly replying, "No, I changed. I just loved this outfit so much that I bought a duplicate."

Cecily stared her down. "You have never bought duplicates of anything in your life."

Natalie let out a light laugh. "People change, don't they?"