Page 5 of Be With Me
Chapter 3
Debbie toweled off from the shower, in her hotel room. It wasn’t the Taj Mahal, but it was a decent little room. Two double beds with a dresser and TV. Small bathroom but comfy enough for just her. Her uncle had bought an RV a few years ago but still insisted on getting her a separate hotel room when she worked with him. She always drove her little Toyota when she worked with him so there weren’t any hassles getting her to and fro. She couldn’t decide whether to dry her hair or not when her phone exploded with texts.
“Who the hell…” She muttered as she wrapped the towel around her tighter rushing to get to her phone before it went off again.
Apparently, whoever was on the other end of her phone was impatient as it went off again. Oh this better be important. She scooted around the bed, her towel slipping. Grabbing it to her with one hand, she snatched up her phone with the other. She was tired and just wanted to crash. It’d been hot in the truck today, but it could’ve been worse; hence the shower when she got back to the hotel. July in North Carolina wasn’t known for Artic temperatures. One touch of her finger and it was awake. Looking at her unread messages brought a big smile to her face. Rafe Luna. Wait, what did his friend call him? Oh yeah, Mooney.
Hey, it’s Ra—
fe. It was great—
stupid phone. Or big fingers. Great to meet y—
you. Want to have breakfast?
I’m on—
shit. third shift so breakfa—
st would be great. Where are you staying?
Ha! Take that phone I go—
teach me to—
Oh this was great. Technology was screwing with him. Just as she went to text back, her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, but it was a 302. Debbie went to reject the call, but her finger slipped and hit ‘accept’. Shit.
“Hello?” she said, putting the phone to her ear as she sat on the bed.
“Debbie? It’s Rafe. Sorry, I hit the wrong button as I was typing the text and…” Rafe trailed off.
“Thought you were working?” A smile spread across her face. Debbie hadn’t expected him to use her number when she gave it to him. It was amazing how many asked for her number but never used it. Okay, it wasn’t many because, yeah, she really didn’t give out her number. She was kind of surprised at herself for sharing it this time. “Third shift? What exactly do you do in the Army with shifts?”
“I’m an MP and this quarter it’s nights for me. First sergeant has me riding with a newbie and he—” Someone objected to that term in the background, cutting Rafe off. “Cassidy, zip it. Anyway, want to meet me for breakfast and I can tell you all about it?”
“Depends on what time and where? I’m beat from today. Only one more day here and then I’m not sure where we’re off to.”
“So tomorrow morning? Say nine? Waffle House? IHOP? Cracker Barrel? Your choice. I’m not picky, I’d just like to get to know you a bit more.”
Debbie looked around the room, trying to decide if this was in her best interest. She one more day then bouncing around for a few more weeks before back to Wilmington. This year was going to be a bitch, she was going to have clinicals first semester. Rotating to get hands-on experience.What could it hurt to have a meal with this handsome soldier? It’s not like it was going to change her life or anything.
“Nice, sounds perfect. I haven’t been to Cracker Barrel in a while.”
“There’s one on Skibo Road. Do you want to meet me there or could I pick—” A crackling noise cut off Rafe. He continued after a minute. “Sorry, needed to listen to that and make sure we weren’t needed somewhere. So meet or pick up?”
“I’ll meet you there. I’m right down the road at the Days Inn. So nine tomorrow?” She looked at the clock on the table and corrected herself. “Nine today.”
“I can’t wait. So…” He stopped talking but didn’t end the call, like he didn’t want to lose the connection to her.
“I’m glad you texted… well, called. I didn’t…” It was Debbie’s turn to trail off. How was she going to finish that without sounding like a dork?
“There wasno wayI wasn’t using your number when you gave it to me. I wasn’t joking when I said I think you’re meant to be with me. I’ll see you in a few hours. Sleep well.” Rafe ended the call with that.
Debbie pulled the phone from her ear and stared at it for a few minutes before she went back to her messages and hit the information icon at the top. When the next screen appeared, she hit ‘new contact’ and saved Rafe’s number. Yeah, she’d keep this for a while.
§ § §
Rafe put his phone to sleep and stuck it in his thigh pocket. His new friends had dragged him to the fairgrounds but damn if he wasn’t glad they did. Even if by the end of the day he had a new nickname. Actually, the nickname was growing on him. It was definitely better than when he was in school and a few classmates decided to try calling him ‘Rafey’ in a bad attempt at ‘Ralphy’. The marathon ofA Christmas Storygot the idiots going every year.
