Page 23 of Forgetting Rafe Thomas
“Luna, hey,” he says and waves.
“Hi, Hay. Congratulations on scoring the best girl in the world,” I say.
Hayden smiles and kisses Alex’s forehead. “Question is,” he asks, “are you and Rafe going to get wise and realize you two were the dream couple that gave the rest of us hope?”
Alex nudges him. “Hay, don’t be pushy.”
“Listen, these two knuckleheads need a push in the right direction. Get off this chat with us and go spend time with Rafe. Don’t call me back until you’re a couple again or I’ll fly to Ireland and be your personal relationship therapist.”
I can’t help but smile. “And what exactly do you think you’ll do when you get here?”
“I’m not sure, but it’ll be bad, so don’t tempt me.” Hayden wags his finger at me, then says, “I’m stealing my girl. Have a lovely trip and come back home engaged, okay?”
Before I have a chance to retort that it is highly unlikely we will return home with a promise of marriage between us, Hayden ends the video chat. “Why that little—ugh, what a doofus.” Hayden has always been a little…dramatic? I can’t decide if that’s the right thing to call him, but it doesn’t matter. Alex was right. I should make a list of things we can try do while in Ireland, see if Rafe is interested, and really give this thinga fair chance at working. If I don’t treat it like a committed relationship, then it won’t be.
I heave myself off the sofa and head into the kitchenette. Surely, there is a pad of paper and a pen somewhere in there. I find one in a small drawer near the entrance and settle back in to make the list. At first, I can’t think of a single thing to do in this country besides stare at how beautiful it is, but soon the ideas start coming. I add things like learn to weave, go horseback riding, take a sunset walk, pet sheep, and others to the list. I’m not so sure Rafe is going to want to do most of these, but at least there’s variety, so we can agree on something.
Initially, I figured I’d wait until morning to present the list to Rafe face to face, but the scared little girl inside of me chickens out and I send him a text message now instead.
Hey, I thought I’d make some suggestions of things we can do in case you haven’t planned everything. How do you feel about horseback riding, weaving, sheep herding, romantic sunset walks…
After a minute or so, he responds.
Rafe
I’d love to do all those things with you on one condition.
I bite my lip, only slightly worried about what those conditions might be.
Okay, hit me. What conditions?
Rafe
Only one…every night before we part, we need to tell each other one thing we liked and one thing we disliked about the day. I want to build trust betweenus again, and honesty is a huge part of that. We can’t work things out and address issues if we don’t know they exist.
I ponder his condition for a while and realize it’s not a difficult ask. We should be able to tell each other those basic things, and if we can’t, then we have no business trying to work anything out.
It’s a deal. Pick me up in the morning?
Rafe
Sure. Why don’t you cancel the rental car and we can just use mine? There’s really no sense in you paying for one. Unless, of course, you want a way to escape me.
Over text message, it’s difficult to say if he’s joking or serious about that last part, but I decide to take it at face value. It’s an offer, and it’s up to me to decide. Besides, I didn’t ever schedule a car to begin with.
I have nowhere to go without you, and I wouldn’t want to anyway.
I see the dots bouncing on my phone and wait for him to respond, but it takes so long I decide to change into my pajamas and brush my teeth. When I’m done, a message awaits.
Rafe
I don’t want to go anywhere without you either. Let’s start with the hike tomorrow. I’ll get you bright and early. I love you, Luna. Sleep well.
Chapter Ten
Rafe
“I think it’s agreat start. Just go with it,” Silas says. When I called Maverick, he wouldn’t answer his phone at what is an ungodly hour for them. Silas has always been a night owl, so I tried him and woke him. Still, he was more than happy to pry into my love life. Truth be told, he might be the only one who knows how desperate a man can get when the love of his life is barely in his grasp. After all, Ella was madder at him that Luna has ever been with me.
