by Ruff, K. S.
He offered brief instructions on how to operate the car before he sat back and motioned for me to go. My pulse quickened as I put the car in reverse and eased out of the garage. “So, where are we going?”
He reached across me and pressed the remote so he could lower the garage door. “Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.”
I shifted into drive and pulled away from the garage. “West Virginia? Why West Virginia?”
He laughed as he programmed the GPS on his phone. “Because it’s a fun drive.”
I shot him a condescending look before turning onto King Street. “What are you going to do when your primary source of entertainment heads off to Ukraine?”
Rafael leaned against the passenger door as he turned to face me. “Are you sure I can’t talk you into letting me tag along?”
I shook my head. “No. I need to do this on my own. How’s it going to look to the rest of my colleagues if I drag my boyfriend along on my very first trip? I told them I was comfortable working in conflict-ridden countries. Now, I have to prove that I am.”
“You weren’t nearly this stubborn with Michael,” Rafael noted sourly.
I burst out laughing. “I resisted Michael’s sexual advances for over two months. How long did I resist yours… like fifteen minutes?”
A grin spread slowly across his face. “Are you saying I’m irresistible?”
My eyes widened. “Oh, yeah. Your photo is probably sitting right next to that word at Dictionary.com.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Then take me to Ukraine.”
I merged onto GW Parkway. “Your picture probably appears next to the word relentless too. So, what are you going to do while I’m in Ukraine?”
Rafael leaned back against his seat and sighed. “I’m going to Paris to speak with Michael.”
My heart stalled. I glanced at him as I tried to shift the car into a higher gear. “About us?”
Rafael nodded. “He deserves an explanation as to why I’m dating you, and I want to be clear with him about my intentions. I’m not comfortable doing that on the phone. I really think that’s a conversation we need to have in person.”
I shot Rafael an apologetic look as I fought a wave of nausea. “I feel really guilty about this… for putting you and Michael in this situation. He’s going to be hurt, and it could cost you your relationship with him. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Rafael’s eyes darkened. “Do what? Talk to him or date you?”
I glanced at him nervously. “I don’t know… both?”
A fiercely determined look settled over his face. “I want to do far more than just date you, which means I have no choice but to talk to him.”
My heart slammed against my ribcage. “What… what exactly are your intentions?”
“You know my intentions,” he responded softly.
My heart raced as I reflected on the statements he had made during the negotiations with Shae. I took a deep breath and slowly blew it out as I merged onto I-495. “You want to prove that you’re the man I should spend the rest of my life with.”
His eyes softened. “I’m not dating you to pass the time. I have every intention of marrying you, Kristine.”
My voice climbed three octaves. “Are you trying to make me crash the car? We… we can’t talk about marriage when I’m driving on the beltway!” Cars tore past us on either side. A semi-truck bore down on us from behind.
Rafael chuckled as his GPS navigated me onto I-270. “We’ll be exiting off the beltway shortly. I can wait a few minutes if you’d like.”
“I think we should change the topic,” I insisted shrilly.
Rafael rubbed the stubble along his jawline. “I don’t know. I kind of like the direction this topic is headed. So, hypothetically speaking…”
“Stop! You don’t get to ask me that. Not when I’m driving your car.” My knuckles whitened against the steering wheel as I risked another glance at him.
His voice gentled. “Then when?”
I stared at him, thoroughly unnerved. “I don’t know! In a few months?”
He smiled, seemingly unaffected by my growing hysteria. “We’ve known each other a year. Actually, I’ve known you for nearly two years now. Don’t you think that’s long enough?”
I glanced at him. The man looked completely serious. All of the air rushed from my lungs. “We haven’t even been dating for two months!”
Rafael shrugged. “I know what I want.”
I stared at the road. What was it with the Garcia men? Most guys resisted marriage as if it were the plague, but not the Garcia brothers. They latched onto their women and dove in head first.
Rafael changed the topic. “Will you e-mail me your itinerary and the names of the hotels you’ll be staying at in Ukraine? You should probably do the same for your family, so they can reach you in case of an emergency. You should also make photocopies of your passport and all of the credit cards you’re taking, just to be on the safe side.”
I nodded, thankful for the reprieve. “Sure. I’ll e-mail the itinerary and the list of hotels to you first thing on Monday. I’ll leave photocopies of my passport and credit cards in the top drawer of my desk in case they get lost or stolen while I’m there.”
He relaxed into his seat. “Are you going to Simferopol or Sevastopol first?”
I reduced my speed as I turned onto the exit for I-70. “Actually, we’re spending our first night in Frankfurt, Germany. We fly to Simferopol the next day. Thankfully, we have the weekend free so we can get settled in and adjust to the time difference. We’re teaching in Simferopol that first week. We’ll be teaching in Sevastopol the second week we’re there. Oh, and we’re stopping in Zurich, Switzerland to decompress on our way back home. Do you think you can live without me for eighteen days?”
Rafael shook his head. “No. Please tell me you have an international calling plan on your cell phone.”
I nodded. “Yes, and I’ve already ensured the calling plan includes Ukraine.”
Rafael looked visibly relieved. “You’ll need to purchase a SIM card in Ukraine.”
I smiled. Rafael was beginning to sound a lot like my dad. “Yes, I know. We’re picking up the SIM cards first thing on Friday.”
“Good,” he responded. “At least we can talk by phone, maybe even Skype.”
I shook my head. “I’ve heard Internet service is spotty there. I’m not even sure how good their cell phone coverage is. We do plan to scout out some Internet cafés, in case we don’t have good Internet service on our phones.”
Rafael nodded. “Just watch what you write in your messages and who you send them to. I wouldn’t be sending any e-mails to your military friends that could be viewed as suspicious by Ukrainian authorities.”
I sighed as I stole another glance at him. “Is it really that bad over there?”
He nodded, then motioned out the window. “Looks like we’re here.”
I peered over the river at a small cluster of colonial-style buildings. The historic town was nestled among vibrant green trees on what appeared to be an island in the middle of a very wide river. Heavily treed mountains flanked the river on the opposite banks. “Wow,” I breathed. “This place is beautiful!”
Rafael reached for his cell phone. “Let’s see what kind of restaurants they have in town.”
I admired the quaint stone buildings and the cobblestone streets as we crossed the bridge into town. A number of people stood frozen on the sidewalk. They were gaping at Rafael’s car. “A horse drawn carriage would have blended in a lot better than this Ferrari.”
Rafael laughed. “Let’s try the Canal House Café. Their menu looks pretty good, although we do have to bring our own bottle of wine.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want wine, not if I’m driving your car back home.”
He grinned. “Why don’t you pull over here? I’ll run inside the bar and grab a bottle of wine.”
I pulled onto a side street that ran alongside the bar. There was no way I
was going to parallel park Rafael’s car so I stopped in the middle of the street. “I’m going to drive around the block so I don’t have to park.”
The passenger door rose as Rafael jumped out of the car. We were already holding up traffic, so I eased forward as soon as I got the door lowered. I made two trips around the block.
Rafael was waiting on the curb with a brown paper bag. I jumped out of the car and motioned him toward the driver’s seat. I ran around the back of the car and slid into the passenger side.
Rafael lowered the doors. “Sorry that took so long. They actually had a pretty decent selection of wine.”
I relaxed into the soft leather seat. “I only gave up the car so I wouldn’t have to park. I want to drive home, so you’re on your own with that bottle of wine.”
Rafael laughed. Within minutes he was parking in front of an old masonry style building that looked more like a house than a restaurant. The door and windows were framed in a soft yellow color. The windows boasted shutters painted in Cape Cod blue.
I glanced at the time on my cell phone. It was just after five o’clock. “Do you think they’re open for dinner this early?”
Rafael grabbed the wine as we climbed out of the car. “I guess we’re about to find out.” His hand settled on the small of my back as he joined me on the sidewalk.
He opened the door and followed me inside the restaurant. The place was already packed with patrons. We waited a few minutes while the waitress cleared a small table nestled in front of a window. Rafael pulled my chair out for me. He kissed me on the cheek before taking his seat.
I quietly contemplated the narrow planked hardwood floors, antique furniture, and massive stone fireplace. “This place reminds me of Montana,” I noted admiringly.
The waitress recited the evening specials while she poured our water. She retrieved two wine glasses from the kitchen and opened Rafael’s bottle of wine while we studied the menu.
Rafael set his menu down. “Ladies first,” he said with a smile.
I handed the waitress my menu. “I’d like the honey ginger shrimp with a Caesar salad, please.”
“I’ll have the smoked salmon and a house salad with Italian dressing,” Rafael added.
The waitress nodded, then walked away. She returned a few minutes later with a wooden bowl full of warm, crusty rolls.
Rafael poured our wine, then raised his glass. “Saude.”
“Saude,” I responded softly. I took a small sip, then set the wine aside. No way was I drinking if I was driving Rafael’s car.
“So admit it...” he urged.
I glanced at him questioningly. “Admit what?”
He grinned. “You like driving the car.”
I laughed. “Who wouldn’t like driving a Ferrari?”
“Don’t worry about the wine,” he teased. “You’re not driving home tonight.”
I couldn’t hide my disappointment. “I’m not?”
He smiled. “Nope. We’re spending the night here.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “But I didn’t pack anything!”
He shrugged. “We can pick up a couple of toothbrushes and anything else you might need at the drug store down the street.”
I reached for my wine glass. “You really are full of surprises aren’t you?”
Rafael laughed. “You have no idea.”
The waitress stopped by to deliver our salads. I thanked her before focusing my attention on Rafael. “Have you already make a reservation?”
His soft brown eyes sparkled. “Yes. We’re staying at the Stone Manor bed and breakfast.” He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. “Just so you know, our room has a two person Jacuzzi.”
I leaned over the table and kissed him. “I guess I know what we’ll be doing tonight,” I replied with a smile.
* * * * * *
I sat back and stared at my computer screen as I reviewed the e-mail I’d written to Kadyn for the fifth or sixth time. I had already left two voice messages and texted him multiple times to check on him over the past few weeks. He wasn’t returning my calls or text messages. I didn’t want to push him for a response. I knew he needed time to sort through his feelings and my decision to date Rafael. Still, I wanted to see him before I left for Ukraine. I needed some assurance that things were going to be okay between us… that we could still be friends. My hand hovered over the mouse. I closed my eyes and clicked send.
Shae popped her head inside my doorway. “Hey. What are you working on?”
I turned from my computer screen and shrugged. “Nothing much. I just sent Rafael, my parents, my cousin, Lexie, and Kadyn my itinerary for Ukraine. I don’t suppose you’ve compiled a list with the names, addresses, and phone numbers for the hotels we’ll be staying at?”
She plopped down in the chair across from my desk. “Yes. I’ve already typed up that list. I’ll e-mail it to you as soon as I return to my office.”
I reached for my coffee. “Thanks.”
Shae snatched a piece of chocolate from my candy bowl. “Are you free for lunch tomorrow?”
I eyed her suspiciously. “Yes. Why?”
She popped the chocolate into her mouth and smiled. “The Human Resource Specialist let it slip that your birthday is tomorrow. So Paul, Cory, Sammi, and I want to take you out to lunch.”
I had suspected as much. The same blabbermouth had informed me that Sammi and Shae would be celebrating their birthdays while we were on our trip. “Okay,” I conceded with a smile.
She reached for another piece of candy. “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you going to be, anyway?”
“Thirty,” I replied in disbelief.
Shae’s eyes grew wide. “Wow. I didn’t realize you were that old.”
I wadded up a sticky note and threw it at her. “Thirty is not old!”
Shae laughed. “I thought you were closer to my age.”
My eyes narrowed. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-five,” she responded apologetically.
I rolled my eyes. “Now I feel old.”
Shae snickered. “You aren’t old. You’re just old… er than me! Does Rafael know that your birthday is tomorrow?”
I drank the last of my coffee. “No. I don’t think so. The subject of birthdays hasn’t really come up.”
She raised one eyebrow. “So, you don’t know when his birthday is?”
I shook my head. “I don’t even know how old he is. I should ask.”
Her head cocked to one side as she studied me. “Do you know how old Kadyn is?”
I nodded. “He’s twenty-five. He turns twenty-six in September.”
“Has he responded to any of your messages yet?” she asked softly.
I sighed heavily. “No… and I really want to see him before we leave for Ukraine.”
Shae frowned. “I’m sure Kadyn’s hurt that you chose Rafael, especially after only a week of dating them both.”
I pressed the heel of my hands against my eyes until stars appeared. “I don’t blame him for being hurt. I just want to try to salvage our friendship.”
Shae shook her head. “I don’t know. You’ve chosen Michael and now Rafael over Kadyn. That’s got to be a huge blow to his ego. I don’t know many guys who would stick around after that.”
I sighed, thoroughly discouraged. “I don’t know that I have chosen Rafael over Kadyn. I told Kadyn that I’m not comfortable choosing until I at least had some time to date Rafael exclusively. I’ve had that opportunity with Kadyn. I know how good things can be between us. I haven’t really had an opportunity to see what a relationship with Rafael would be like. I know it sounds selfish, but I don’t want to look back and question what could have been. If I walked away from Rafael now, I think I would look back with regret.”
“But if you end up losing Kadyn because you chose to date Rafael, then you’re still going to look back with regret. You may not get another chance with Kadyn,” Shae noted with some concern.
“I know,” I
replied miserably.
Shae’s head tilted. “Do you think you might be finding it difficult to trust Kadyn? Are you worried he’ll change his mind about the relationship and decide you should just be friends again?”
I pondered the possibility, then shook my head. “I don’t know. That could be part of it. I just feel more comfortable with Rafael. He’s very easy to be around.”
Shae rose from her chair. “Well, you let Kadyn down when you chose Michael. He let you down when he decided he didn’t want to date you anymore. Rafael hasn’t let you down... yet. He’s been your protector for the most part. So, I can see why you would be more comfortable with him.”
I nodded absently. I was already lost in my own thoughts.
Shae turned in the doorway. “All relationships require work, Kri. You and Rafael just haven’t hit that point in your relationship yet. So what if you and Kadyn have some issues to work through? If the relationship is worth saving, then you need to work through those issues.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “You sound entirely too knowledgeable for someone who’s only twenty-five years old.”
Shae shrugged. “I’ve been through my fair share of failed relationships.”
I offered a half-smile. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could both put an end to that?”
* * * * * *
My colleagues and I celebrated my birthday over lunch at DC Coast. We accomplished very little after that. It was our last day in the office before we left for Ukraine. We had already mass produced all of our training materials in English and Russian and compiled the material into training manuals that we’d be distributing to our students. We had all agreed to limit ourselves to one suitcase for clothes, so we could carry a second suitcase filled with training materials.
Sammi discovered that it was customary to offer small gifts when visiting people in Ukraine, so we purchased a variety of Ghirardelli chocolates to offer as gifts. Since the training manuals would likely crush the chocolate, we were going to have to stuff massive amounts of candy into the suitcases with our clothes. It seemed our wardrobe options were getting more limited by the minute.
I lugged my boxes of training manuals and chocolates home and set them on the kitchen counter. I dug my phone out of my purse and texted Rafael to see what he wanted to do for dinner. He had been noncommittal when I asked him this morning.