Page 26 of Forgetting Rafe Thomas
Luna reaches her arms around my neck and pulls me into a hug. “It means a lot to me that you would buy it for me. I’m starting to see everything I was so blind to before.”
My heart pinches, knowing that, for who knows how long, she thought differently about my intentions. I thought she knew how much I loved her, that I would pack up everything I owned and move to Chatswain with her if that’s what she had wanted.
She didn’t seem to want me to. So I didn’t offer.
And I didn’t ask.
Her hug lessens and she releases my neck, but slides her hands down my arms to take mine. “Ready to go for a walk?”
I smile and chuckle. “You said hike, which implies some degree of difficulty over mere walking.”
“I’m not sure I have the emotional stability to handle a full-on hike with you. I remember those, and if I’m honest, I might have been a little overzealous with my list. Let’s settle for a nice walk on the shore like you said.”
“Your wish is my command,” I say and start to lead her toward the door. “Might want to bring an umbrella just in—”
“Rafe?” she interrupts.
I look down at her, our hands still clasped together. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for this. Thank you for pushing us into the future with this gesture. For bringing me here where we can reconnect and figure out what to do next without our everyday lives putting pressure on us.”
I wiggle one hand free, brush a stray tear from her cheek that she missed, and tuck her hair behind her ear, cupping her face. “Luna, I love you. I’ve loved you since high school. I never loved a girl before you, and I’m never going to love anyone else. I’m not good at showing it, but there has never been a time that I wouldn’t die for you, lay down everything I have for you, just to be near you.”
She squeezes her eyes shut again and leans her forehead against my chest. I slip my hand around to the back of her head and keep her close to me. My heart pounds. Could this be the moment she finally realizes the truth? Should I tell her about the house and the ring and my plan for our future? No, not yet. I have to let her feel confident inusagain before throwing all of that on her.
“You’re nervous,” she whispers and presses her palm to my chest, just over my heart.
“My whole world is here in my arms, and I’m afraid I’ll lose it forever if I don’t hold on tight enough. I’m scared, Luna,” I admit. “I say the wrong thing a lot. I’m afraid I’ll ruin this and never see you again once we leave this island.”
Luna breathes me in, long and deep, before looking up at me again. I know that look. It’s the one she gets when she’s decided something and there isnochanging her mind. It’s pure, untethered determination, and when the woman puts her focus on something, she doesn’t let go until she’s accomplished whatever she’s put her mind to. It’s the look she gave me when she told me she was moving to Chatswain City without me.
“I’m not going anywhere, Rafe.” She pauses, but I know there is more. She’s laser-focused, her gaze locked in on mine. “I’m coming back home.”
Chapter Eleven
Luna
Rafe stiffens and looksdown at me. “What do you mean when you say you’re coming back home? Exactly? Spell it out like I’m five.”
I realize he thinks I mean permanently, and I’m not sure I can burst his bubble. But I have to. We can’t have any misunderstandings, and my job is in Chatswain City. It isn’t like I can make the almost two-hour commute daily, but I find myself wondering if things go well, would he be willing to move to the city? I never asked him before. I was too afraid he wouldn’t want to, and my worst fears would be confirmed—that he doesn’t love me the way I love him. So I made the idiot move and broke it off before he could.
“I meant that I’m coming back to Coldstone Creek for a little while. My job is in the city, but I can come on weekends. I’ll come home when I’m off, and we can keep working on this even after we leave Ireland.”
This clarification hasn’t dashed the hopeful sparkle in his eyes, which I take as a win. We’re getting somewhere for the first time in a long time.
“You’d come back to Coldstone for me?” He shakes his head and clarifies. “I mean, for a little while? To spend more time together?”
This is so easy.Suchan easy answer, that I cannot fathom what was so hard about it before. I think, for the first time since I left, I’m realizing what I walked away from. I see my part in how it all went wrong, and I think I’d be a little crazy not to take full advantage of this second chance to use my voice. Tosaywhat I need from him. Especially when he seems so willing to do the same, something unheard of even a few months ago.
“I would. When I have to go back to work, I could come home on some weekends. Would you come to the city with me for a while?”
Rafe takes a deep breath and presses his hand to the countertop. He’s grounding himself, something that he’s done for as long as I’ve known him, and he only does it when he’s about to do or say something that puts him far, far out of his comfort zone.
“I would, yes. If you really wanted me to, I’d move there.” He shrugs a little. “If we were getting married, I mean.”
And there you have it. None of this had to happen. None of the heartache, the miscommunication, the sleepless nights, and wasted dates. He could be with me now, or at least planning to be since we wouldn’t live together until marriage, but neither of us used our words. We messed up but now is the time to fix it. To make it stronger and better than ever before.
I remind myself there is still a lot to work out, but at least we’retalkingnow rather than making assumptions.
