Out of Focus (Love in LA #3)

On Wednesday morning, Rafael texts me to let me know he’s thinking of me.

ME:

I’ve been thinking of you too.

I’ve been thinking I’d like to try that pasta recipe.

The one you made for me?

I bought all the ingredients.

Even the veggies to hide in the sauce, like you recommended.

Would you like to have some with me?

RAFAEL:

I would love to have dinner with you, carrot cake. Why don’t you come make it at my place? The kitchen at yours is tiny, and I doubt Taylor even owned pots and pans when he lived there.

I’ll send you the door code. Come over anytime. I won’t be home until about six, but you’re welcome to whatever you want.

ME:

Okay.

I’ll come make it at your place.

Thanks, by the way.

RAFAEL:

Really? You’re gonna be here in my house when I get home tonight?

ME:

Well, yes.

That’s what we just agreed to.

His next response is a GIF of Joey and Chandler from Friends doing a happy dance.

ME:

See you for dinner.

RAFAEL:

I like this way too much.

I like it way too much, too. It’s dangerous, how much I like the idea of being in his house, having dinner with him, that he trusts me to be in his home when he explicitly told me he doesn’t have women there.

But it’s also what a couple might do, right? This is the ‘normal relationship stuff’ I’ve needed to try. This is what I need to understand and practice just as much as the naked stuff. Not that there will be any of that tonight. Will there? Does anybody want to have sex after a plateful of pasta?

I guess we’ll find out later.

By five o’clock, I’ve got the sauce made and everything cleaned up. I had no idea how long this would actually take, so I’ve been here for two hours already.

It feels good being in this house. It’s warm and inviting, and it smells like Rafael, which I like very, very much.