“I was feeling self-conscious,” I confessed, and he gave me a confused look. “Your hands were on my hips and your thumbs were rubbing back and forth on my waist.”
“Did you not like that? I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“No. I mean, I thought I would have struggled with it since...but that wasn’t it. I hate my hips and waist since they’re...bigger.”
“Oh. Rae, I’m sorry, not because of what I did, but because you don’t see yourself how you really are. You are beautiful, curvy”—he scooted closer to me on the porch swing and looked at me with such intensity in his blue eyes— “and if you were mine, I would never let you forget it,” he said with a low whisper, leaving me stunned.
He immediately stood up, took my plate from me, and walked to the door, leaving me with only my thoughts.
The screen door shut behind him, but the whisper he left me with lingered longer than I wanted to admit.
Chapter 25
Caleb
Iwoke to screamingand crying coming from the room next door. With Duke in tow, I ran to Rae’s room and to where she lay thrashing around, having a nightmare. Tears were streaming down her face, but I could tell she had not woken up yet.
“Rae, Rae. Sunshine, honey, wake up. I'm here.” I sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over her while brushing her hair back and rubbing her arm. I wanted to pull her into my arms, to hold her, but if she was dreaming that monster was grabbing her, then I didn’t want it to be her reality as well.
At first, Rae continued crying but slowly, she started to open her eyes.
“Hey, Sunshine. Wake up. I'm here and you're safe. You have nothing to be afraid of.” I spoke calmly but just firmly enough that maybe it would snap her out of her nightmare.
With a sense of panic, Rae threw herself into my arms, shaking. “You're here,” she sobbed into my chest.
“Always, Sunshine. Always.” I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back.
For a moment, she breathed erratically and shook. “It was so horrible, Caleb.” Her voice still sounded like she was so frightened.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I'm not sure. It was scary.”
I pulled her tighter into my chest, hoping the closeness calmed her and didn’t scare her. Being this close to her was addictive. I loved every second she let me into her space, her heart, regardless of how much. “Well, I'm here if you need me.”
She placed her warm hands on my chest, next to her head, and I kissed the top of her head while rubbing her back gently.
