Page 79 of Protected from Malice
Rafe casts a quick look back into the hallway and gives a quick chin lift. “Thanks, W. I really appreciate this.”
Eeep. How did I forget Webb is out there? No doubt hearing every word of Rafe and my conversation.
“Hang on,” Rafe says with a little smirk. Then he turns to grab something just hidden out of view. “Step back, okay?”
A few seconds later, he wheels a covered dining cart through the door and closes it securely behind him. Once he fastens all three locks, Rafe turns back to me. “Since I can’t take you out,” he explains, gesturing to the cart, “I thought I’d bring the date to you.”
“Oh.” I beam at him. “What is it?”
He wraps one arm around my waist and leads me into the living room while pushing the cart with the other. Once we stop, he says, “Close your eyes.”
Excitement bubbles through me. Squinching my eyes shut, I ask, “Is it dinner? I think I smell?—”
“Eden.” There’s laughter in Rafe’s voice. “You’ll see in a second.”
A soft rustling sound follows. Then the faint clink of metal on metal. Finally, Rafe says, “Alright. Open your eyes.” A beat, and then more quietly, “I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I?—”
But as soon as I look at the cart, the rest of my words disappear.
A lump lodges in my throat.
My nose burns.
“I thought we could enjoy some of your favorites,” he explains while I stare wordlessly in wonder. “Food. Activities. Presents…”
“Rafe.” My voice wobbles a little as I approach the cart. On top of it sits an assortment of my favorite things. First, a stack of board games—Scrabble, Scattergories, Risk, and Settlers of Catan. Beside them is a pizza box, still steaming a little. A bouquet of pink roses is arranged in a squat, round glass vase, and just to its side is an adorable stuffed elephant with a pink bow around its neck.
“It’s a dill pickle pizza,” Rafe says, lifting the lid of the box to give me a peek. “I remember how much you liked it back in Boston. I thought we could have pizza, maybe watch a movie, play one of the games… and the elephant—” His cheeks go ruddy. “I just thought he’d be nice to hold if you’re having trouble sleeping.”
A beat passes. Then he adds, “Not that I wouldn’t keep you company. But I would never assume?—”
My chest goes tight as emotion swells inside me.
“Rafe.”I fling myself at him, and he catches me with a startled oof.
His hand strokes down my back. “Does that mean you like it?”
I nod, bumping his chin. “It’s amazing. All of it. The games, and the pizza, and the flowers and elephant… I love all of it.”
“I thought every date should have flowers. And I know you like pink.”
“But the pizza. I can’t believe you remembered.”
“How could I not? I’ll never forget your smile when I brought back the first pickle pizza. That smile got me through two months in Afghanistan.”
“Oh, Rafe.” My throat goes thick. “I wish I could have?—”
What? Been with him back then?
But he wouldn’t have agreed to that. Not being overseas so much. Not when his job was so dangerous. He said it himself the other night, after our big relationship talk. “Even if I thought I was good enough for you back then,” Rafe explained, “I wouldn’t have done anything. It wouldn’t have been fair. I wouldn’t have been around for you the way I should have been.”
Then his expression clouded, and I could tell he was thinking about what happened two years ago. How, in his mind, he wasn’t there for me then. It’s not true; whether we’d been together or not, he couldn’t have protected me all the time. But that’s something I’m not sure we’ll ever agree on.
Rafe kisses me. Then he says, “I wish I could have, too. But we’re together now.”
“We are,” I agree. “And that’s the most important thing.”
