A Rose and A Kiss in the Rain

Luke

I'm starting to think my dad may have died on the road. It's already early July and he left early June.

Oh well. I'm not complaining here. I've learned to live on my own thanks to my mother.

My mother bumped into us at the wedding party. I wish she would have never seen us. I wish Lilibeth would have never known her. But I couldn't reject my mother's talk with Lilibeth there. So I went ahead and listened to all of her concerns about me.

I barely responded back. All I did was listen. It's all I ever do with her. That's who I've become because of her...

So I stay silent at the job. Lilibeth's right. Those guys are ruthless when they bother me about my girlfriend. So I decided to take care of my last car out in the parking lot. Besides, after Micheal's latest threat that if I hurt his sister he will break my face, I prefer to stay away.

I look up from the hood of the car and see Lilibeth's car parking. Luckily, Micheal left for lunch with Roy so they won't be staring me down.

I give her a small smile as she quietly comes by my side. I can tell a small difference. A slight furrow of her brows. Something's on her mind.

"Hey."

"Hey," she softly says. She leans by the edge of the hood and sighs. I look up from my work and lean closer to put a soft kiss on her lips. I smile down at her dark blue dress and say, "You look beautiful today, Lilibeth."

She lets a small smile start at the edge of her lip. "Thank you. I....came to see you."

I give her a soft chuckle. "I love it when you visit me. Nothing's wrong with your car today?"

"Nope. Just you." I furrow my brows at this and she quickly says, "I mean I just came to see you!"

I laugh at this. "I understand. Then stay. I'll be here for a little and then we can get something for lunch. I just need to finish up this car."

"Okay." She stays silent for a moment until her expression turns worried and says, "Charity isn't very close with you, isn't she?"

"We are. But not all the time. We are very different. I believe you could tell already."

Lilibeth gives me her sweet laugh. "You're right. She is so extroverted when you are extremely introverted. I don't really date introverted people. They confuse me."

My heart is slightly stabbed at this. But I keep my eyes on the engine instead. At least she's being honest. And I agree. She deserves much better than me, but I can't seem to imagine myself without thinking of her every morning.

She realizes the words that just came out of her mouth. "I...I mean...what I meant is that you're a new kind of...guy that I've dated? You know what? I'll just shut up."

I do a small laugh. "Please don't. I love listening to your voice."

I look up at her with a smile and her eyes soften at me. "I'm sorry, Luke. I'm so bad at words. I...you know that's not what I mean."

"I know," I softly say as I look back at the engine. "I'm tired...."

Her tender worry crosses her expression now as she runs a hand on my back. It sends shivers down my spine as she gently says, "You can't leave it for tomorrow?"

I shake my head. "The client is coming today and I have to do the last of it. I'm almost done."

"Well why don't you ask for help?"

"I don't need help."

Her eyes grow wide at this and this makes a smile start at my lips. "Everyone needs help at one point."