Page 52 of Birthday Girl

“Bloody Leah!”

He laughed, then reaching out, ran his hand from her calf up to just above her knee. “I’m not complaining though.”

She pushed his hand away with a grin. “You keep doing that and we’ll be heading straight home, instead of wherever you have planned for tonight.”

“Oh, there’s an offer.”

“Depends on what else you have planned.” She eyed him speculatively. “I mean, you could have organized something that is complete shit, so I might prefer to go back to yours and shag your brains out all night.”

He reached for his phone. “I’m just gonna cancel our plans.”

He grinned at her as she laughed. “Just jokes. Let’s do both.”

“You’re on.”

Mikayla turned to look at the little table Rafe had set up. “So, what have we got here?” Her eyes widened when she took in what he’d organized. “Oh my god. Roll ups, Le Snacks, Summer Rolls, fruit puree. Space bars! I haven’t had one of these in years. They were my absolute favorite!”

“I know.”

Without any warning at all, Mikayla’s eyes filled with tears.

“Hey.” Rafe scooted closer and put his arm around her shoulders. She curled into him and gave into a fit of uncharacteristic weeping. “What’s this?” He said when she calmed down a little.

“I don’t know. I’m such a weirdo.” She pulled back a little then reached for a napkin to dab at her eyes. “I was just remembering how we used to share our lunch and morning tea. It must have got me all sentimental.”

“We didn’t share our lunch, Mik. You gave me yours. I didn’t have any to share.” He said quietly.

She frowned. “What? That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is. And when your Mum realized, she packed extra, and you’d give me that.”

Mikayla’s frown deepened. “Really? So, you didn’t have any lunch?”

“I did, but it was usually just a vegemite sandwich and that was it. I definitely never had any of the fancy snacks you had.”

“But how do I not remember that?”

“Because you being you, you’ve changed it so that we shared, rather than you giving to me.”

Not knowing how to answer that, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. “I’m sorry that you had shitty food when you were a kid.”

“It’s okay. You made it easier. Oh god, don’t go off again. Here, have some more wine.” He half-filled her wine glass and handed it over. Then he grabbed another napkin and lifting her face with a finger under her chin, he surveyed her carefully. “Hm, not too bad, actually.”

“Waterproof mascara. Leah’s a wizard. Here, hold this for a minute.” She took a sip of wine before giving him the glass. She smoothed her hands over her cheeks, hoping to even out any tracks her tears might have made in her makeup. “All good?”

“Perfect. Now, what are you gonna have?”

“A Space Bar, please.” She smiled when he handed the snack to her, taking a Summer Roll for himself. “Oh, these are so good.” She let go of the tension and the strangeness as she sat next to him, chewing on her space bar, drinking wine and watching the glorious sunset.

“Right, finish your wine, put your shoes back on, and we’ll move on. Okay, I didn’t mean that fast,” he said as she gulped the wine.

“I’m just excited. Let’s go.”

“You can help me pack this up, in that case. Then I just have to drop into the pub to see Bluey.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t really keen on popping into the pub to see Bluey on her special birthday surprise, but he didn’t say anything further, just started packing up the picnic, so she went along with it.

They stopped by his car so he could put the picnic stuff in the trunk. Then he checked his watch again, glanced at her face, then back at his watch.

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