Chapter 22
Rae
Caleb was being sosweet, even though I've done nothing to deserve his kindness. Maybe I...
“Whatcha thinking about?” I was so deep in thought as I was zipping up my duffel bag, I didn't even hear him come up behind me. I jumped. He placed his hand on my lower back, grounding me, but also stirring up a fire inside of me.
“Oh. Nothing. Just packing.” I gave him a small smile.
Caleb chuckled. “Rae, you realize we've known each other since high school, right? We may not have seen each other for a while, but that doesn't mean I don't know you still.”
He was right. He knew me best back in high school, and he knows me so well still. Why was I hiding anything from him now?
“I was just thinking about everything,” I admitted sheepishly.
“Well, that makes sense.” Caleb paused and gave me a kind smile, then looked around the room. “Anything else you need that I can pack for you?” He took the duffel bag I'd finished packing a few moments ago to the hall.
“Ummm...No. No nothing else. I think I'm actually done.” My eyes darted to the corner of my room, realizing he had returned faster than I thought he would.
“Is it personal? Do you want me to leave the room while you get it?”Smooth, Rae. He knows you, so even if he’d not seen you looking around, he would still know.
“It's silly. Stupid even,” I said, frustrated. I knew my face was red, so I didn’t look at him.
“I doubt it’s stupid or silly, Sunshine. Try me.”
I glanced up at him, over my glasses. Embarrassed, I walked over and pulled the night-light from the wall, then tossed it into my bag.
“Why is that silly?” He gave me a puzzled look.
“I'm a grown woman using a night-light. That's why.” Why was he not laughing at me?
Caleb sat on the edge of the bed, looking at me, his face without a hint of humor on it. “Can I ask why you use it?”
“You promise—”
“That I won't make fun of you? Of course I promise that.”
I stared at him for a moment and realized he was being sincere. I started to feel bad for not trusting him immediately.
