LIZZIE headed into work later than usual. Bernadette had called, saying some random stuff about energy alignments and morning meditations she needed to do in the shop before anyone could come in. The gist Lizzie took from it was that she could get a few extra hours of sleep.
Indira had been too busy at work the day before to get Lizzie’s things from Rake’s apartment, and Lizzie had spent longer than she’d planned searching for a dress that fit over her bump in the hodgepodge of crap she’d thrown together.
Objectively, things could be worse for Lizzie. She had a place to live, a job that was morphing into the most exciting career opportunity she could ever hope for, and friends that were coddling her to the highest degree, but a sadness still penetrated deep into her bones.
She felt hollow. Fragile. Like if someone were to touch her, she would crack into a spiderweb of broken glass before shattering to the floor.
She missed Rake with an intensity that scared her. That made her feel like she would never be able to let him go. It had taken all her strength not to answer his calls or texts over the past few days, but when he hadn’t reached out last night, his silence had wounded her in a fresh way.
If she were being honest with herself, she’d admit that she maybe, sorta, kinda loved him in the most devastating way humanly possible and wanted him back.
But she wasn’t being honest with herself.
And she also wasn’t going to submit to being someone’s shameful secret. She had too much to offer the world than to be hidden away in some apartment, not deemed suitable for public spaces.
When Lizzie got to Bernadette’s, the blinds were closed and the door locked. Lizzie rattled around her giant purse until she found her key and let herself in, trying to focus on work and not Rake.
When she stepped into the dark space, it took her a moment to process what she was seeing. She blinked, turning in a full circle, her jaw dragging on the floor.
Hundreds of candles lit up the space like a galaxy created just for her. Bunches of flowers sat on all the tables, filling the room with their sweet fragrance.
And in front of the counter stood Rake. His tall, broad form was covered in a ruffly yellow apron, splatters and stains decorating the front. His face was serious, eyes watchful, following Lizzie’s movements like she was a skittish animal about to bolt. His usually neat and tidy hair was a mess, and flour was smeared on his cheeks and neck. Lizzie was unable to do anything but gape.
“Hi,” he said at last.
“Hi,” Lizzie managed to choke out, staring at him in wide-eyed shock.
“Can we talk?” he asked, wringing his hands together in an awkward little knot in front of him.
Lizzie tamped down the impulse to throw herself into his arms. Searching for composure, she gave a haughty sniff. “Not sure why I would subject myself to that. It’s a well-known fact that the Australian accent is the vilest sound to penetrate the ear,” Lizzie lied. She was obsessed with his accent.
Rake’s serious expression slowly morphed into a smile. “God, I’ve missed you,” he said, letting out a small laugh. “I made this for you,” he added, turning to grab something on the counter behind him.
When he faced her, he was holding a large, wonky-looking cake.
“It’s supposed to be a heart,” he said, staring down at the lumpy mess. “I asked Bernadette and Indira for help, but they both told me if I wasn’t prepared to take on this labor of love solo, I didn’t deserve you.”
Lizzie glanced over Rake’s shoulder and saw the telltale curls of both Bernadette and Indira duck below the kitchen window.
Lizzie stepped closer, looking at the splotchy pink icing, trying to make out the words written in terrible cursive on the top.
She realized it said Rake ♥s Lizzie, and she sucked in a breath.
“It’s really ugly,” she said, tears pricking her eyes as she dragged her gaze up to him. “I love it.”
Rake’s eyes glistened. “I, uh, I have something else for you,” he said, setting the cake down. He reached into his back pocket, pulling out an envelope. He handed it to Lizzie.
With shaking fingers, she took it, tearing open the seal. It took her a moment to comprehend what she was seeing.
“Plane tickets?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Flight vouchers,” he said. “Three of them.”
“For…?”
“It’s … well, it’s a promise of sorts. Obviously, I’m a clueless idiot and have no idea when babies can fly and the practicality of it, but I want to take you to Australia someday. You and the little one.”
Lizzie continued to blink at him. “Why?” she asked, unable to form more than one word at a time.
Rake dragged his hand across the back of his neck as he looked up at the ceiling and smiled.
“Because I want to show you where I grew up,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Take you to a new corner of the world to explore. I want you to meet my nan and I want my mum to babysit our child. I want to introduce my friends from uni to the girl of my dreams, so they can see what a lovesick idiot you’ve made me. I want to show you off and hold your hand. I want to take you to the beach and ogle you in a bikini. I want to take you camping and make love to you under the stars. I want to hand over all my old memories because I only want new ones with you.”
She blinked, trying to breathe past the lump in her throat. She chewed on the inside of her cheek and looked around like she wasn’t sure he was talking to her.
“I have … I’ll probably have to work,” she said at last.
Rake nodded, his face looking solemn. “For what it’s worth, Bernadette said she’s fine running the shop any time we decided to go. If you want to go, of course.”
“And you expect Dominic to give you time off your job?”
“I told Dominic to go to hell.”
Lizzie’s eyes snapped to his face, confused and wary. “You did?”
Rake nodded. “I told him that no one gets to disrespect you like that. I told him he could shove the stupid job up his arse because I don’t want it.”
“I…” She trailed off, not sure what to say. Lizzie looked at him. Really looked, taking in the beauty of his face, the sincerity of his eyes. Her heart felt stretched by the flood of emotions, like he had captured every star in the night sky into his cupped palms, enhanced them with whispered words of love, then let them float into her chest. Fill every inch of her.
He reached out, softly tracing his fingers across her cheek. Lizzie’s eyes fluttered closed at the touch.
“Why?” she finally asked, looking at him.
“Why?” The question made Rake laugh. “Because I love you. Because life was a shadow before, but you’re the sun. And I want the world to know that I’m an absolute fool for you and nothing makes me happier.”
“You love me?” A small burst of fear shot across her nerves.
“Yeah, Birdy, I do. I love you like a heart beats or a fish swims. It’s automatic and unavoidable, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. You’ve busted into my heart and carved your name into every chamber.”
Lizzie laughed, hot tears trickling out from the corners of her eyes.
“I don’t expect you to love me back. Not yet, at least,” Rake continued, taking a step forward, putting one hand around her waist. “Not until I can make it up to you. But all I want is to make it up to you. To show you every single day how much I love you. So let me take you to Australia. Or let me just take you home. Our home. Everything is so empty without you, Lizzie.”
“I’ve missed you,” Lizzie whispered, the happy tears rolling down her cheeks. Rake wiped them away. “And I’m a little scared,” she added honestly. “I’m scared I’ll mess this up.”
“I’m scared I will too,” Rake said, giving her a brilliant smile. “I’ve made a million mistakes, and I’ll make a million more. And I love you enough to know you will too. But we’ll do it together.”
“I love you too,” Lizzie said, an uncontrollable smile breaking across her face.
Then Rake kissed her. It was soft and perfect and made a sunrise of happiness bloom in Lizzie’s chest. She broke away, starting to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, resting his forehead on hers.
She grinned, taking his hand from her cheek and dragging it to the soft swell of her belly. Rake’s eyes shot wide as he felt it.
“Told you you’d get to feel the baby kick,” she said, more happy giggles bubbling up from her throat. “I think she’s trying to tell us she loves us too.”