Page 77 of The Rescue

I busy myself most of the morning, and add all the final touches to Sweet Treats’ new website to make sure everything is perfect to show Rabbie. He deserves the best after all the hard work he puts into his business.

The morning flies by, and before I know it, it’s lunchtime. I look up from my laptop to see Rabbie making his way towards me with a tray of sandwiches and coffee. How did I get so lucky to meet someone as selfless and thoughtful as him? His face lights up when I watch him wander over to me, he places the tray on the table. He leans down and gives me a kiss, before taking the seat across from me. I froze in my seat, I wasn’t expecting him to be so public about us. I can hear of a few whispers from the locals coming from behind him.

“How was your morning?” He asks, nonchalantly.

I look around at the whole cafe staring at us with beaming smiles across their faces, and I’m waiting for them to cast their judgement but it doesn’t come. I focus back on Rabbie who is holding out a plate with a sandwich on it. I take it from him, our gaze lingering for a while. He doesn’t seem phased by most of the cafe watching us.

“Good, how was yours?”

“It dragged a little, I’ve been watching the clock since you walked out the kitchen this morning,” he smiles at me as he takes a bite of his sandwich.

His admission has me feeling giddy, and I try to play it cool and not at all that I was feeling the same way. We sit and eat our sandwiches, enjoying each other’s company. I’m internally freaking out about how I’m going to approach the conversation about the website. As if he can read my mind, he beats me to it.

“So, what was the subject of business you needed to discuss?”

I shove the last bit of sandwich in my mouth trying to stall. He watches me intently waiting for me. I shift in my seat, and take a deep breath. His eyes grow concerned, and I’ve learnt with Rabbie that I just need to talk to him. I hate seeing the panic in his eyes whenever he thinks the worst. I know we will work at this together in a way that we know how. I wish I could ask him to come to Tennessee with me, but I know he has his obligations here.

“I–umm. I’ve finished the website,” I say quietly.

He looks at me with his head cocked to the side, and I can’t read his facial expression. He doesn’t say anything.

“You just need to finalise it, and then it’s ready to go live.”

I try to paint a smile on my face, and show him that I’m happy for him when really I’m crumbling on the inside.

“And you’re sad about this?” He raises an eyebrow at me. “You should be proud of the website, it’s beautiful. You literally took what I pictured in my head and brought it to life.” He praises me.

Clearly my smile didn’t convince him.

“You should have a launch party, it will be good for business,” I add, ignoring his question. I sound robotic and very business-like.

“Aye, okay,” he frowns at me, and I hate it when he looks at me like that.

“My job here is done,” I barely get out before he grabs my hand from across the table.

I feel tears prickle my eyes, and I try to blink them away. I can’t bring myself to look at Rabbie.

“Mo beag, look at me,” he whispers.

I finally muster the courage to look at him, a tear falls free from my eye and down my cheek. I don’t care that I’m crying in the middle of the cafe with people around and in front of the man who has slowly become my favourite person. I didn’t think I would react this way, but this is Rabbie. We’ve practically spent every waking moment together for the last couple of months. I can’t picture myself leaving just yet. It feels like we’re just getting started. He leans over the table and brushes the tear from my cheek.

“Why are you crying? I thought you’d be happy that it’s finished.”

“I don’t want you to think I’m going to leave you, because I don’t want to. But my job here is finished, I said I would return to Boston when I was done with the website.”

Another tear escapes my eye, and he’s there to catch it.

“Sorry,” I choke out.

He must be so embarrassed that I’m crying in his cafe in front of all his customers. I try to pull myself together. I take a quick look around the cafe expecting to see prying eyes, but it seems people are giving us a private moment for once.

“Dinny fash. Anyways, I thought it was a given you were staying until you had to go back to Tennessee for Christmas. Sorry I should’ve made myself clear,” he lifts my hand and kisses it.

“Plus, now I need your help planning a launch party.”

I let out a shaky laugh, and I must look really crazy to him and everyone in the cafe. I’ve gone from crying to laughing in a matter of seconds. This man has got my emotions all over the place.

“Aren’t you sure of yourself, and how are you not freaking out about this?”

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