I closed my eyes and laid my head on his chest. I could hear the steady beating of his heart and I knew he meant what he said. Sometimes it was still hard for me to believe that he loved me and saw a future for us. I wanted those things too, but sometimes it was all too easy to doubt that he’d want them too. It felt good to hear him say it.
I stepped back and smiled up at him. “Come on.” I started forward and he followed.
He nodded his head towards the house beside ours. “Is that where…?” He trailed off.
I nodded. “Yeah.” Steeling myself, I added, “We used to run through these fields playing as children.” I forced the words passed my lips. I didn’t want to be afraid to talk about Brett, Hannah, or Sarah. I wanted to remember them and be okay with it all. Pointing to the swing set that sat broken in our yard—and honestly I didn’t know why my parents hadn’t gotten rid of dingy thing yet—I said, “Sarah and Hannah used to come over when we were little and we’d play out here for hours and run over to Brett’s house to make trouble,” I laughed.
Cade gasped. “Rachael! Were you chasing after a boy?!” He joked.
I laughed. “Hey, it was only one boy,” I bumped his shoulder. “I wasn’t one of those girls that had a new crush every week. It’s only ever been…well, you and Brett,” I shrugged.
“And selfishly,” he lowered his voice, “that makes me very happy.” His lips grazed my chin and I shivered from the feel of his stubble rubbing against my skin. “Enough serious talk,” he grinned, backing away from me. “Let’s play some catch.”
“Cade,” I groaned.
“Come on,” he coaxed, “it’ll be fun.”
I set my camera down where it wasn’t in danger of being stepped on, and prayed to whatever God was listening that I wouldn’t get hit in the face with the ball.
“Ready?” Cade asked, lifting the ball.
“I think so…” I screamed when he threw it before I finished speaking. I jumped up, catching it, and then turned to run when he started chasing me.
He caught me around the waist and spun me around, before we promptly fell to the ground, and rolled until he hovered above me.
“I win.” He kissed my nose.
“You didn’t even give me a chance,” I frowned.
“My bad,” he grinned crookedly. He stood up slowly and offered me his hand. “This time you can throw first.” He lowered and picked up the football, handing it to me.
He jogged away and I tossed it to him. He had to run forward to catch it since I didn’t throw it far enough. He turned away from me and ran.
I jogged after him and when I got close enough I jumped onto his back.
He started laughing, reaching back to grab my legs.
“I got you,” I chimed, pressing a kiss to his neck.
“You got me a long time ago, Sunshine.”
I smiled widely at his words as he headed back to where we left the blanket. He dropped the football on the ground and I hopped off his back. I jogged back to where I left my camera and as I approached, I called, “Smile!”
He grinned and my stomach fluttered. Cade’s smile did crazy things to me.
After snapping a few more photos he took the camera from me. “My turn.”
I blushed, lowering my head, suddenly shy at having the tables turned.
“Don’t hide from me,” he warned, his voice husky.
I looked up slowly and found that he’d lowered the camera.
“You have nothing to be afraid of, Rae.”
“I know.” I stood up straight, squaring my shoulders and leveled him with a smile.
He grinned. “Now that’s more like it.”