Page 59 of Resilient Love

I melt into his embrace, and he pinches my chin between his thumb and forefinger.

“How tired are you?” he asks, gazing into my eyes.

“Not at all. It’s still really early, and I’ve got a lot on my mind to be excited for,” I say, winking before shifting my gaze to his lap, wagging my brows suggestively.

He laughs, leaning over to tug my seatbelt across my chest before clicking it in place. He straightens in his seat, and the engine roars to life as he pulls out onto the small side street.

“Then we’re going on a drive.”

We only make it ten minutes down the road before I realise I’d already forgotten something I promised Chelsea I’d do this morning.

“Can we take a small detour?” I ask.

“Sure. Navigate us there, and I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,peligrosa.”

I’m not surewantis the right word. I dread this appointment, but I have to go.

We arrive outside of the small phlebotomy clinic a few minutes later, the tiny white building taunting me as we pull into a parking space, the lot so packed with cars we almost don’t find a spot.

“You need blood work?” he asks, his voice curious but not judgemental.

“Yeah. I have to check my thyroid every few months because of the lithium, and I’m overdue. I promised Chels I’d get itdone today. It shouldn’t take too long,” I tell him, unclipping my seatbelt. My fingers are on the door handle before he stops me with a hand on my bicep.

“Can I come in with you?”

Warmth tangles in my chest, and I meet his eyes with a small smile. “That’d be really nice. Thank you.”

The appointment takes longer than I’d hoped, waiting in the stuffy lobby for the twenty or more people ahead of me to get jabbed.

The nurse who drew my blood was quick and efficient, so we finished in just a couple of minutes from the time I’d sat down, and this time, I didn’t faint. Small blessings.

On our way out, Rafael stops at a small jar, grabbing something out. He holds the door open for me, leading us to the car.

The engine rumbles to life, and he turns to face me, a glint of mischief swirling in his eyes. “Close your eyes, Elise,” he tells me, and I obey, despite my instincts. “Stick out your hand.”

Again, I listen, and the sound of crinkling plastic tickles my ears in a way I hate.

I feel the rough edges as he presses something into my palm. “Open your eyes.”

Blinking my vision clear, I inspect the item, and in my palm sits a blue razzberry lolly. “You were such a good girl, I figured you deserved a sweet.” He smirks and I roll my eyes, sinking into the seat and tearing the clear plastic off the top, popping the lolly in my mouth. “You suck that so nice. I can’t wait for you to do the same to me later,” he mutters, his deep baritone hoarse.

I wrap my lips around the lolly, hollowing my cheeks, holding his eyes with mine. He groans when I pluck it from my mouth with a luridpop.

“We’re leaving before I can defile you in the parking lot of a blood clinic.”

The next half hour passes with my restlessness growing by the second. “Okay, seriously, where are we going?” I ask for probably the tenth time. He’s driven us so far out of Embershire we’re on a scenic route, passing farms with silos, barns, and cows grazing the lush green land.

It’s beautiful, but I’m confused because this isvastlydifferent from the skyscrapers and bustling city streets of Embershire.

“We aren’t going anywhere if you keep asking that,” he grumbles, and even from the side, I can tell he’s rolling his eyes at me.

Damn, this man has the nicest side profile. A straight nose, full lips, and the lightest dusting of scruff along his chiselled jaw that I’m convinced is capable of cutting through glass.

I love the rare occasions when he doesn’t have a game or practice to attend, like today, because I catch a glimpse of his nose ring and the small gold hoops he wears in either earlobe.

“Someone’s grumpy,” I joke, crossing my arms over my chest.

He just shakes his head, turning the music down. His gaze flickers to mine for a moment before returning to the road ahead.

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