Page 118 of Invisible String
She cranes her neck to look at me. “What a gentleman.”
“Far from one, sunshine, at least when I think of you.”
“Max, table for two,” a woman calls out.
The woman takes us through a maze to get to our table.
“Rainey, is that really you?” a man asks.
Rainey comes to a halt. We both look to see where the voice is coming from. My blood pumps with rage. I hate that motherfucker. Professor dickhead. He looks older, with gray hair. He’s sitting with a couple. You’d think he’d find himself a woman instead of pining for mine.
“Hey,” Rainey says with a not-so-impressed smile.
It has me wondering if he had persuaded her to go out with him when she returned to college.
“What a coincidence to run into you here,” he says.
I can’t remember the asshole’s name. He goes in for a hug, then glances at me standing next to her and goes pale. He looks me over like he’s sizing me up.
“Professor Shithead, good to see you. Now, my lady and I are going to sit. The host is waiting to seat us.”
Rainey pulls my hand, and we walk to our booth. Some people around us gasp, and some laugh. Once we slide in, she bursts into laughter.
“Professor Shithead? God, that was funny.”
My hands run up and down her soft-as-silk thigh. “When’s the last time you saw him?” Not because I’m jealous of him, but because I don’t trust him.
“Well, I’m pretty sure it was when I yelled at him. He wanted me to go out with him, and I told him to leave me alone.”
The urge to grab him by his scrawny neck and dunk his head in a big bowl of pasta is petulant, but fuck, would it be rewarding.
“He was probably looking for a professor-student fantasy.” She shrugs. “Lana’s words, not mine.”
Now that makes me want to bash his head on the table until I knock his teeth out.
“You’re my fantasy, not his or anyone’s.” I pick the menu and flip through it, my brows pinching. The thought of that makes my skin crawl.
Rainey cups my chin, averting my gaze toward her. “To others, you’re like a grumpy, slash, scary guy, but to me, you’re like a cute, soft, and cuddly teddy bear.” She gives me a dopey smile. “I’ve always liked that about you. You reserve that side of you for me. I like being the only one having that side of you. You know.” Her voice softens. “I like every version of you. I always have.”
My lips slant on hers for a short and sweet kiss. She’s so wholesome and perfect.
The server walks up and leaves a basket with a loaf of bread at the center of the table. Then he takes our drink order. I smother a slice of bread with butter for Rainey, then one for myself. It’s been on my mind to ask her this question about college, but it hasn’t been the right time.
“Have you thought about going back to school for psychology? Or is running the café what you want now? I’m only asking because you were so passionate about becoming a psychologist.”
Her soft, rose-petal skin under the palm of my hand urges me to move higher on her thigh.
“I haven’t thought about it in a long time. Lana and my sister have mentioned it, but I’ve been too busy to think about myself.” The server places our iced tea and water on the table. “I dropped out because my mom got sick, and I didn’t want money from my dad. He paid for college, and I didn’t need for him to ever throw that in my face. I worked at my mom’s bakery until she closed, and I sold it and got the money to start a business. The bakery is for my mom to keep her legacy alive. She taught me everything about baking and cooking.”
Her lips hug the straw, taking a sip of her tea.
“But is that what you want?” I know deep down it isn’t. Rainey is an incredible woman. Her heart has always been my weakness. She loves so freely and gives it at no cost. She once told me she wanted to become a psychologist to help people and make the world a better place. I believe she would. She changed me in ways I never thought possible. Rainey brings the good in anyone. She’s the sunshine that illuminates a plague of shadows.
“You know I love to bake. I enjoy working at the bakery and owning it.” She plays with the hem of her sweater.
I start to speak, but I’m interrupted when the server arrives to take our order. We tell him what we want, and I include some appetizers. Once he leaves, I turn to Rainey.
My lips brush her cheek. “That’s not what I asked. Is this what you want? Do you see yourself doing this for the rest of your life? I know you love baking, the atmosphere of the café, and being an owner of one, but what does my girl want? Not what others desire for you, but deep in that beautiful heart of yours, what do you want?”
