I step out of his hold.“Hey.I’m late for a meeting.”I can’t look him in the eye.
“Are you okay?”He steps in front of me.Putting both his hands on my shoulder.
“Yeah, just…I don’t know about us anymore.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Us.I don’t think we can do whatever this is anymore,” I step away again, out from under his hands.
“What happened?”He queries.
“Nothing.These things happen.”Lowering my head, I walk away.
He is at my side in an instant.“I know what you are doing.Don’t push me away.”
“I’m not.”I am.
“You are.You can’t push me away.”
I’m silent, thinking things over.Thinking how to get around this.
“I’m here to support you.No matter what.You just have to let me.Talk to me when you have these thoughts.”
I can’t stop myself.It’s true.I let everything out.“You could be with anyone.That beautiful journo you were talking to.You both looked like you were into each other, and I’m over here like an aged ham.”Tears start streaking down my face.
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in tightly to his chest, so I can hear his heart beating.“Raven, please.You are all I have wanted for years.That reporter is new, and she’s married.I think you saw us while we were talking about that.She asked if I was married, and I said I was seeing you.Probably why I looked so loved up, because I was talking about you.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.Also, my perspective of you shouldn’t matter.You don’t need my point of view or perception of you to validate your feelings.I have watched you for the past twenty-five years.From a teenager, to a mother, to who you are today.I accept you, however you are.I don’t see what you see.But no one else’s options should be tied to your self-worth.”
“Argh.I know.I can’t stop those thoughts sometimes.”
“Then come find me?Give me a hug so I can remind you that you are a fucking badass goddess that just needs a safe space at times.There is nothing wrong with leaning on me.That’s what I am here for.It’s what I have been here for decades.”
“Thank you.”I wipe the tears from my cheeks and kiss him.His lips press firmly against mine, and I nestle against his chest again, finding the rhythmic beat of his heart soothing.
Several moments pass before I say, “So, are we just brushing over you saying you were looking ‘so loved up’?”
“Caught that, hey?”
“Kinda stood out.”
He leans back, lifting my chin to meet my eyes.“I love you, Rayna.Always have.Always will.”
“I love you too, Koby.”
He presses his lips against mine again, this time open-mouthed and languid.Taking all the time we want.
My phone vibrates in my hand, causing us to break away.
It’s Micah calling.
I answer it, “Sorry, Micah.Been doing a…thing.”
“Yes, I can see what you have been doing from here.”
I step back from Koby and scan the windows above the pit boxes.There is Micah, looking through the window at me, with a smirk across her face.“A very important…thing.”I’ve no idea how long she has been watching us for but she chuckles.“You stay to do your…thing.And I’ll take care of this supplier.”
