after he got into town and insisted on picking me up. I was in no mood to argue, desperate to see him. It was an immeasurable high to belong to someone so talented, so insanely sexy, and so completely in tune with me. Our time together, though short in measure, filled me so completely. The sadness of my former life, which I’d now labeled the gray, had completely dissipated. It was a distant memory in my new life filled with color, adventure, and love. I daydreamed constantly about my new reality, which was actually better than the thoughts that swirled constantly in my head. I could replay them a thousand times and they would never be better than the real thing.
“You look hot, baby...God, you are so beautiful,” Rafe said from the door as I looked up to him with a widening smile. The look on his face was almost one of pain, and I took it as a compliment. I’d worn a warm red, form fitting dress to work today, knowing it was his favorite color on me. I’d fixed my hair and lined my lips with the red lipstick he loved so much. I stood and quickly made my way over to him as he took a steady step toward me and pulled me into his arms before his mouth claimed mine with an urgent kiss. When I began to pull away, he gripped me tighter, his lips soft, and his warm tongue frantic and thorough. I moaned into his mouth and kissed him back with all of me. Rafe finally pulled away with soft whispers of ‘I love you’ and peppered kisses on my neck and chin. Both of our mouths were now scarlet red, and I giggled as I wiped the lipstick smear from his lips and the corner of his mouth. His eyes were gentle as he ducked in again and claimed my lips with a slow kiss. I sensed it then, in his grip, his desperation, and took a step back to look up at him.
I studied Rafe’s face and the drop in my selfish gut was instantaneous. I pressed it back and found a sincere and proud smile. “You got the call.”
He pushed out a breath, the worry in his features clear, and I shook my head.
“Don’t, Rafe, this is fantastic! I’m so happy for you, really. Oh my God, this is really happening!” My facade was ice thin, and I already knew he could see the cracks.
“Happy?” He reached out with his hand and wiped the wetness away from my cheek with his finger.
“Happy tears,” I lied as he pulled me to him and forced my chin up with a gentle hand.
“I love you,” he whispered.
I said the only thing I could say. The only words the lump in my throat would allow. “I know.”
Rafe wanted to stop at Andy’s to give him the news before we went home. I was sure I was doing a pretty good job at hiding my devastation, but Rafe kept our hands locked and looked over at me every few seconds as he drove. I kept quiet, too afraid of the burn at the top of my throat. When I felt brave enough, I threw out questions.
“Where?”
“Denver.”
“Are you happy about that?”
“Absolutely.”
“When?”
He looked over at me with pause.
“I’m okay,” I lied with a smile. “Rafe, when?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I repeated without emotion as my heart completely shattered. Tomorrow would be the worst day of my life. I made peace with it, swallowed, and gripped his hand as I turned to him. “You deserve this. It happened. It was always going to happen.”
Rafe looked over at me and pulled my left hand to his lips. He kissed my empty ring finger twice and set it down. “No end, Alice.”
We stood at the entrance of the bar I’d entered completely green only short months ago. Rafe gripped my hand tighter as I spotted Andy leaning over the well as he spoke to Mac, a regular I’d had a few conversations with. In fact, I knew the names of everyone on the stools. I’d found my tribe, my village, and with one phone call, I felt like I was about to lose it all. I prayed my smile was Oscar worthy as the second tear ripped through my chest. Andy looked up at us curiously as we remained where we were. A slow, incredulous smile covered his face as he looked at Rafe. “Listen up,” Andy shouted over the chaos, his eyes