ALWAYS || RAFE CAMERON

66

from the museum, i drove us to Sauvage, a new steak house we'd been wanting to check out.

i handed my keys to the valet as we entered the restaurant.

"good evening," a waitress came over. "do you have a reservation?"

"no, we don't." i looked around the place.

"ok, table for two?"

"yeah," i nodded.

"follow me," she smiled and led us over to a seat by the window. "i'll bring your menus over."

"this is nice," Rafe said as we sat down.

"yeah, it is."

"what's wrong?"

"nothing."

"June," he lifted his eyebrows.

i sighed and leaned back in my chair. "why would Singh donate that page?"

"i've got no clue," he shrugged. "maybe he didn't need it anymore."

"he kidnapped us because he wanted the diary, yet he gave part of it away." i stated.

"your menus," the waitress came back over and handed us red leather-bound books.

"thanks," i took mine from her and opened it.

"well i'm not about to go back to Barbados to ask him why he did it." Rafe looked at me.

"it makes zero sense."

"i know," he dragged a hand over his face.

i sighed and went back to reading the menu.

"shall we get a hot stone?" i asked.

"yeah, sure." Rafe signalled to the waitress.

"what can i get you?" she took out a notepad and pen.

"the hot stone, please." Rafe pointed at the option.

"for two?"

"yeah,"

"and for drinks?"

"ill have a cabernet sauvignon," i said.

"of course, and for you, sir?"

"just a coke, please."

"okay, i'll bring them right over." she tucked her notepad away and retreated.

"coke?" i raised my eyebrows.

"i told you, i'm sorting myself out." he shrugged. "i only smoked yesterday cause i was stressed."

i smiled properly for what felt like the first time in weeks.

"what?"

"i'm so proud of you, Rafe. you know that, right?" i reached over the table and took his hand.

"one cabernet sauvignon and one coca-cola." the waitress placed our drinks on the table.

"thank you," i said. "i guess we can't celebrate with a bottle of champagne."

"i know other ways," Rafe's hand slipped under the table and i felt his fingers trailing up my thigh.

i sipped my wine as he traced circles, getting dangerously higher.

"Rafe," i warned.

"yeah, baby?"

fuck.