Page 71 of Trust Me With Forever

“Rafe! Your knee!”

“I can hold you for a few minutes. Just don’t ask me to walk down that hill. Or slay a dragon. That kind of thing.”

Laughing, I looped my arms around his neck. “At least I know you won’t be able to carry me off to your evil lair and have your way with me.”

“I may just have to try that. Having my way with you sounds more like fun than evil, though.”

“Are we really getting into the semantics?”

“Have you met your family?”

I rolled my eyes. “Are you going to start flinging peas at the dinner table now?”

“Peas aren’t the best choice. I’d go for mini-potatoes. Or rolls. Maybe I could use napkins to make my own projectiles. Now, there’s an idea…”

He winked at me, and I snorted. “Who are you and what have you done with Rafael Mendoza?”

“He’s right here, being himself. With you.”

“Oh, Rafe.” I kissed him gently, and said, “I like real Rafe better than the fake playboy. Even more than the teenager I couldn’t stop staring at.”

“Do you, now?”

His gaze turned heated, and my belly flipped. “I always had a thing for hot yet silly guys.”

“Silly, huh?” He cleared his throat. “What should we do now, my lady? Shall I serenade you? Maybe summon a unicorn to take us on a ride? Or how about if I use rocks to spell out your name on the hillside?”

I snorted. “None of that.” I sobered a fraction. “Put me down and just hold me as we look at the scenery. I want to remember this moment forever.”

He slowly put me back on the ground, spun me away from him, and pulled my back against his front. Once he wrapped his arms around my waist, he laid his cheek against mine and whispered, “I want to remember it forever, too, Abigail. To remember this perfect moment with my wife.”

As he tightened his hold around me and the wind whipped around us, I simply lived in the moment, needing happy memories to help ground me for what was to come.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Abby

Amber:Are you going to tell everyone the truth about you and Rafe?

Me:I don’t know. I want to, but the last thing I need is for West to hate Rafe again.

Amber:Maybe just tell Emmy and Katie first, and then we can figure out how to tell the guys at the right time.

Me:Will there ever be a right time, though? What with the Douchebag’s latest stunt.

Amber:There will be. Once you get to Starry Hills, you’ll see how much this town has your back, Abby. Even old Mrs. Gunner is putting people in their place who try to badmouth you, and she loves gossip.

Me (typed but deleted):For now. But as it gets worse, if the deepfake releases, fewer will stand with me.

Me (actually reply instead):I’ll think about telling Emmy and Katie. But first, I need to face you all and set the facts straight about what happened in San Jose.

Amber:We already know that Travis is full of shit. How much you want to tell us is up to you, but we won’t judge you. We love you, Abby.

Me:Thanks, Amber. I love you all, too. See you soon.

After I finished walking around the grounds at Lyme Park with Rafe, everything became a blur.

We returned to Manchester, packed, and boarded Nolan’s private plane, all without facing the paparazzi. Something about Rafe’s UK assistant leaking false information to get them to gather elsewhere.

---