Page 3 of Be With Me
Chapter 2
Rafe had just walked away from his friends when he saw the woman from the food truck all alone. She was too enchanting to be alone. Okay, wow, look at him be all fanciful. Now that he’d gotten her to talk to him? Yeah, he was at a loss. What was it about this woman?
“So, are you a local? Live in Fayetteville?” Rafe hoped the answer was yes so he could take her on a real date.
“Not really. I’m from North Carolina but over near Asheville.” She pulled her hair out of the ponytail and shook it out. “You’re obviously not from here.”
“What gave me away?” He spotted a picnic table off to the side and guided Debbie toward it. “Let’s sit. You must have been standing forever.” Rafe made sure that she sat before scooting around to sit facing her, ignoring all the people walking around the fairgrounds.
“Could be the hat or you’re in good shape with a high and tight,” Debbie teased.
“Guilty. I’m from Delaware, stationed here with the MP battalion. So you work the food truck all the time?”
Debbie laughed. He didn’t think he’d told a joke but…
“Sorry.” Debbie held up a hand while trying to contain her chuckles. “My uncle would kill me if I worked the truck all the time. He’s determined that I’m going to get my degree and go places. I’ll start my final year in the fall at UNC Wilmington.”
“Your uncle owns the truck? That’s so cool. Does he go to all the fairs? What are you studying?”Way to bounce from topic to topic, Rafe.
“He’s got a circuit that he does throughout the summer and fall. Says it keeps him young. I’m his youngest niece and his godchild so he’s got it in his mind that I’m his responsibility. Think my grandma drilled it into him for some reason. I’m in the BSN program, will graduate with my RN.”
“Damn, you’re smart.” She might just be out of his league; she’s all in the majors while he was kicking around in the minors. He didn’t even have a degree.
Hearing rocks crunching against the cement had Rafe tensing up just before a shadow fell over him and Debbie. The shade felt good. Fort Bragg in July wasn’t the coolest.
“Mooney, you just ran off.” Danny walked up with the others.
“Seriously? You’re going with that?” Rafe couldn’t believe Danny called him that in front of Debbie.
“Going to introduce us, Mooney?” Jeff stopped next to the table, looking between Rafe and Debbie.
Debbie took the decision out of his hands when she turned to his semi-new friends. “Debbie Hansen,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Jeff MacNamara.” Jeff took her hand and held it. “This is Kevin Nolan and Danny Glenn.”
“What did you call Rafe?” Debbie looked Rafe in the eye.
“Oh he’s Mooney now,” Danny said gleefully.
“Mooney?” she repeated.Oh shit. Rafe didn’t know Danny well enough to know if he was going to tell Debbie about how he reacted to her.
“Yeah, it’s because—”
“Danny,” Rafe interrupted, almost growling.
“Of his last name,” Kevin filled in. “You know Luna, moon. Mooney.” Rafe let out a breath at that description. He looked over at Kevin and smiled as he nodded slightly. Yeah, he had Rafe’s back.
“Well, yeah, what did you think I was going to say?” Danny asked. “In fact, I think Jeff’s now Mackey. Yup, I like that.”
“Oh really? If I’m Mackey, then maybe you should be… let me think… Rocket.” Jeff smirked.
“Rocket? Seriously? You think that’s going to stick?” Danny tried for affronted but broke out in laughter causing all of them to break down.
Debbie just shook her head as she looked at all of them before standing. “It was nice talking with you but I’ve got to get back. My uncle might be my boss but I can’t take advantage of that. Bye.” She waved as she started to walk away.
“Wait! Let me walk you back.” Rafe raced to her side, pushing Kevin out of his way in his rush.
“You think it’s dangerous? Here?” Debbie glanced around like she expected something to jump at her and chuckled.
