Page 29 of Trust Me With Forever

Zach:I found some cardboard boxes for you. Are you going to tell me what they’re for yet?

Me:Can’t a girl have some secrets?

Zach:Well, that depends. Are you building a giant box fort? Because if so, I want in.

Me: I’m not seven years old. So no, I’m not building a box fort.

Zach:Hey, I had to ask. With you moving back home, I thought maybe you were going to start reliving your childhood. You placing a frog in my bed would be next, and I need to be prepared.

Me:I never did that! It was Zane.

Zach:Naw, it was you. We both watched you do it. That’s why we put the worms in your bed.

Me:I still have nightmares about the wriggly things against my feet!

Zach:Hmm, maybe Zane and I should try to pull some pranks again. It’d be a nice welcome home present for you, to feel a part of the family again.

Me:How old are you?

Zach:You’re the one wanting to make a box fort.

Me: Has anyone told you that you’re a man child lately?

Zach:I resent that. I can dress and wash myself, thank you very much. I even have a decent job.

Me:That’s a pretty low bar, Zach. Just tell me where you put the boxes.

Zach:I can’t because I didn’t hide them. Zane did. And not even I know all of his hiding spots. It should be fun finding them.

Me:Fine. I’ll ask Zane. I love him more anyway.

Zach:Love you too. We can go box hunting together when you get home.

That evening, I paced Rafe’s living room and kept looking at the stairs. Part of me wanted to go and snoop a little, but another part of me knew that wasn’t the best way to start a marriage.

Marriage.

Twisting the ring on my finger, I paced faster. Rafe should be home soon to begin our married couple lessons, and my heart raced and my palms sweated.

Not because kissing him or touching him would be a chore. I’d dreamed of kissing Rafael Mendoza since I was a little girl. The hard part would be not taking it further, keeping my heartwalled off, and not allowing memories of the boy he’d been to cloud my judgment about the man he’d become.

Remember, he hurt Emmy. Plus, he’s been away a long time, and he’ll probably leave again, too. Don’t get attached. Don’t do it.

Although remembering the placard with my name on the door and him giving me the choice of my last name softened me a little. Then the man had gone and listened to my ideas of how to tweak the tutoring center and praised me about the suggestions.

Those things reminded me of the boy he’d been so much. Maybe a part of the old Rafe had survived after all.

Stop it. Don’t go chasing rainbows.

I was about to distract myself with texting my annoying brother again when the front door opened and Rafe called out, “Abby? Where are you?”

Well, here goes.“In the living room.”

I stood near the fireplace for extra warmth. Well, and to put as much distance between me and the entryway as possible.

Rafe walked in, his hair ruffled and his jaw dark with late-day stubble. I wanted to run my fingers over his cheek, his nose, his lips. Would they be soft or hard?

Damn it, why did he have to be so sexy?

---