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Had it happened in college when they were assholes who got off on stuff like that? Yes.
But…toothpaste!
Plastic wrapping Rafe’s tools was only a small payback.
Plus, Oreos had been expensive as fuck for him back then. He’d barely been able to afford the necessities—
No.
He could have afforded more, but he scrimped and lived on a hundred dollars a month (after room and board) because he hadn’t wanted to ask his mom for anything else.
Because Wyatt had been in school, too.
Because she had other kids to take care of.
Because it had all been too much for her.
Because…
No.
What had he wanted?
To not be a burden by being the one who was taking.
So, he never took…which meant he’d been the most noble, the most self-sacrificing and virtuous and—
Fingers on his jaw.
“What are you thinking about?” Teresa asked softly.
He pushed that down, focused on the concerned woman in front of him. “Everything and nothing and too many things at once.”
Her eyes gentled, lips turning up. “Well, that’s cryptic.”
He snorted. “You said some things”—guilt on her face that had him covering her hand, pressing her palm to his cheek, stymieing her apology—“goodthings. But…” A sigh. “They’ve turned me introspective.”
“Which is a good thing?” she asked, disbelief in every syllable.
“Yeah.” He smiled again. “Mostly because it distracts me enough to participate in dastardly deeds that are going to piss Rafe off.” A beat. “Win-win in my book.”
She allowed him the change in subject, flattening her fingers lightly against his jaw before slipping her hand free.
“If you say so.”
“I say so.”
Her lips twitched, but then she tilted her head to the door, and he listened to her unspoken cue to leave the building, holding the door for her as she followed him, waiting while she set the alarm and locked up, walking her to her car, waving as she drove away.
None of which she protested before he got into his own car and went home to his resumé.
Maybe because he was learning—caring but also taking,sharingenough that she wasn’t the only one who had to be vulnerable.
In fact,hewas the weaker one in the moment.
In fact,hewas the one who was taking.
But for once that didn’t make him feel anything but settled.
