Page 69 of Tastes Like Watermelon Moonshine
Chapter 33
Raegan - The Present
“Thanksforshowingusall around Frisco.” I lean my shoulder against Austin’s as we watch Grace play in the sandbox outside his Frisco apartment complex.
“I’m just glad that it worked out for you to come visit before I’m super busy with baseball again. Plus, I got to show you off to the team, and get you a milkshake.” Austin winks at me.
“And which part was better? Showing us off, or the milkshakes?”
“Milkshakes.” He says it with such a straight face that I almost believe him. But the way that his eye twitches gives it away.
I playfully poke him in the ribs. My heart is happy now that he’s back. Now that we’re talking again. I’ve imagined sitting with him, watching Grace play. We sit in silence and watch her for several minutes.
“So…” My tongue feels heavy. My thoughts are tumbling. “Areweofficiallybacktogether?” All the blood drains from my face as I wait for his answer.
“What did you say?” Austin turns from watching Grace and looks at me with one eyebrow raised.
“Um…” I bite my lip and rub my hands on my legs. “Are we… Are we dating again? Boyfriend and girlfriend?”
Heat races up my hand from where his strong fingers clasp mine. His other hand brushes a strand of hair out of my face where the spring breeze blew it.
“I know we haven’t talked through everything yet. And we’ve got some healing to do, but–” his eyes dart down to Grace, “I talked with your dad.”
My face flames. I hope it was a good talk. I hope Daddy wasn’t mad at him. I didn’t hear them arguing, and I know Daddy isn’t one to cause drama. That’s one of the reasons he and Mom got together in the first place. “What did you talk about?” I finally whisper.
He pulls his hands away, rubbing them on his jeans. “Well, he told me that it had been hard to watch you hurt, and deal with pregnancy alone. So, I just pitched him straight, and asked him if he was okay with us dating again.”
I lean forward on my perch on the edge of the sandbox, the wood cutting into my legs. “He hasn’t said a word to me.” I swallow, really loudly. “So, what did he say to you?”
“He just wanted to make sure that I was putting God first, and that I would treat you right.”
My chest deflates slowly. At least he didn’t tell him no. “I know Daddy wants to make sure that my heart isn’t hurt again.” I look over at Grace as I grab Austin’s hand. “I trust you. I think we both learned a lesson.”
“I don’t want to go a day without talking. Ever again, Rae.” The pain in his voice is audible, and seeps into my bones. “It hurt so bad, being apart. Not knowing what would happen with us.”
“I felt the same way. I missed you so much. Austin, I tried to convince myself that you were with someone else, tried to force myself to move on.” A tear rolls down my cheek. “But there was always a glimmer of hope. A tiny piece of me asking God to let me have you back.”
“And He did. I just wish I’d gotten my head out of my butt sooner and reached out.”
I laugh at his comment. “We both might’ve had our heads up our butts. But I do think that we both had a little bit of growing to do before we were ready to talk and make things right.”
“Speaking of making things right… Rae, I’m sorry–”
I put my hand on his arm. “Austin you’re forgiven, but you didn’t do it all on your own. We made our choice together. I’m sorry too. But I want to look forward, not keep repeating the past.” I twine my fingers in between his and squeeze as I look back over at Grace’s dark head bobbing next to my legs. “I mean, there are parts I want to repeat. The hand holding, the kissing, making new memories. But um–” I look at his eyes then down at our hands. “Are we on the same page about waiting until marriage again?”
I’ve waffled between bringing up sex and brushing it under the rug. Pretending that everything was fine. But we have to be on the same page. I want us to work, but if he no longer thinks sex is for marriage… Then I don’t think we can date. Which will rip my heart in half.
“I can’t lie.” Austin looks away and my heart drops down into my stomach. This is it. We’re over. The tears press at the back of my eyes. “I want to do it again. I struggle not to think about it all the time. But I still believe that sex is for marriage.” My heart starts to beat again. His hands find my cheeks and he looksdeeply into my eyes. “I will wait for you forever, Rae of Sunshine. Even when it hurts. I. Will. Wait.”
I let the tears fall. The happy tears. And bury my face in his chest.
“Ma?” Grace’s sandy hands and scratchy voice force me to lift my head. I pick her up, disregarding the sand, and squeeze her between the two of us.
“You’ve got the best daddy, little girl.” I press a kiss to her head and my lips come back all sandy. I look up at Austin, seeing tears in his eyes as well. “I love you, Austin.”
His lips connect with my forehead. “I love you too, Rae. I’d kiss your lips, but there’s sand on them, and I figure maybe we should wait a little on the kissing stuff.”
I giggle and brush the sand from my lips the best I can. “You’re a wise man. And I agree. Let’s save the kissing for a little while.”
