Page 43 of Fall to Me
“Now this I have to hear.”
I yawn for the third time. Carter stands and takes the wine glass from my hand and sets it on the coffee table next to his. Then, he pulls me up from the couch.
“I think I’ll save that story for our next date.”
“Is that what this is?” I mock with a cheeky smile.
He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “The definition of a date is the intention of getting to know someone and building a connection with them, yeah?”
“Well, yeah, but . . .”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“I suppose, but . . .”
He leans in close, grazing his lips across my temple. “You can call it whatever you want, baby: a date, dinner and a night in with your husband, a conversation with yourfriend. I don’t care what you call it. Just know that in my mind, every moment we spend together . . . is a date with my wife.” He drops a kiss on my forehead. “You need to sleep. I’ll clean everything up.”
I don’t ask him the question I wanted to because that window of opportunity has closed in my face, and I’m too chicken shit to ask him now. But when I’m buried deep under my covers, I do something I haven’t done before. I pull out my phone and shoot him a text. Maybe subconsciously, I want him to know he’s still on my mind.
River
Good night, Carter.
A few seconds later, my phone lights up.
Carter
Night, baby.
And when I drift off to sleep, it’s Carter Graham that I dream about.
Sixteen
Carter
Every second away from River feels like ants crawling under my skin. I fucking hate it. Over the past few weeks, she’s been opening up more and taking the initiative to get to know me. Now, she sends me random texts throughout the day. Something in her is definitely changing. I haven’t heard whimpers down the hall from a nightmare or noticed any flashbacks lately.
It’s been two weeks since I’ve secretly crawled into bed with her and held her through one of her nightmares, then snuck out the next morning before she woke up. I don’t know the reason they’ve suddenly stopped. Maybe I’ve gained her trust. It could be the self-defense lessons or her hitting bags after work every day. Hell, maybe it’s all three. Whatever it is, she has more confidence in herself, and she’s becoming stronger, both physically and mentally.
Damn. I miss the hell out of her already. I pull my phone out of my pocket and shoot her a text.
Carter
Try not to miss me too much.
River
I’ll probably cry myself to sleep.
Carter
I sense sarcasm.
River
You know me so well.
Carter
