Rendezvous at Silver Lining

Raphael’s POV: The trail

2 months ago

I was getting ready for my little nature walk with Divinity and the conversation that was had between Divinity, Damien, and I ran through my head from the week prior.

Flashback, a week ago...

I entered my mi amor home, and as usual, it's as welcoming as ever, except for the unwelcomed guest. I didn't trust him in the slightest, but I needed to keep what I knew hidden until all the facts were known. I don't like him, but I'm not with ruining people's reputation without just cause. Also, Divinity would have my balls on a platter for lunch if I did that, and then it turned out I was wrong. I'll keep quiet for now.

"Hello, Raphael."

"Damien."

We were close, damn near face to face when Divinity made her way between us and pushed us apart.

"Alright, calm down both of you. For one, yall not fighting in my place. Two, Raphael, if ANYONE deserves to be upset, it ain't you. Now chill the f**k out. Three, either of you break anything, it's coming out yall's pockets. Got it?"

I looked down at her and smiled.

"Mi amor, you don't ever have to worry about that. I'd give you anything you want."

"Yeah. Just ask, and it's yours, Songbird."

I looked up and over at Damien, and his face irritated me. He smiled down lovingly at Divinity and it made my heart clench. They've already been dating for some time now. Will I be able to have her? Did she invite me over to tell me to go f**k off?

FUCK!

My face slowly began to turn up into a frown, and Divinity caught on to it quickly. She patted my arm and focused my concentration on her.

"Let's take a seat, and we can discuss all this before people start jumping to conclusions on their own."

I looked on in amazement as she approached her couch. She could read me well. We all moved toward her couch and took a seat. Damien and I both took a seat on her couch while she took a seat on her coffee table facing both of us. She seemed a little uncomfortable and kept stealing glances at Damien. I frowned but said nothing. I understood she may be afraid of what he would have to say once learning of our little escapade in her office today, but if he let's go, that would be better for me. She straightened her posture and took a deep breath.

"So... Damien and I discussed what happened earlier."

My eyes widened, and I quickly turned my head to him, looking for a reaction, but he did nothing but stared at Divinity. I turned my gaze back on her, and she was looking back at him. She looked a little flushed and took deep breaths. Damien's face geld a small smirk. I didn't like what it looked like was going on.

"Uhhh, annndd?"

Divinity jumped and looked as if she was blushing from embarrassment or something else. I frowned.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry.My brain kinda wandered a little."

She gave a soft smile, and Damien chuckled darkly.

"Her brain wasn't the only thing wandering tonight."

Divinity eyes cut to Damien, but her thighs subconsciously squeezed together. I didn't like what any of this was implying.

"Stop it, Damien. Anyway, I told him what had happened between us today and also told him what you said afterward."

I leaned back against the couch, folded my arms over my chest, and smiled.

"Oh, that I couldn't careless that you two were dating because I'm never gonna not try to be with you? It's all true. Is there a problem?"

I turned my gaze to Damien, who didn't look the least bit worried.

"Damn, can you get your ego out the way for two seconds before you stick your big ass foot in your mouth. Damien and I spoke about my feelings for you before we ever started dating, and he's never pressured me and was always ok with taking things slow. What we did just confirmed that I still have feelings for you. And instead of being angry with me, he understood."

I had to admit, that was pretty mature of Damien because I don't know if I could be as understanding. And I can almost guarantee that they started dating when Sarah opened her f*****g mouth. That s**t makes me angry every time I think about it.

"She was very clear with me from the start that she had feelings for you for years, and it's not something one can get over easily, and I had no intentions in making anything worse for her... unlike some people."

Damien gave me a cold stare, and I cut my eyes at him.

"I think you're pretty f*****g stupid to have waited all this time to try and date Songbird after knowing her all these years. I also think you're arrogant as f**k to think no one would want her or chase after her and that she'd always be available for you and to you."

I couldn't even refute anything he said because they were all true. She even spoke to him about this stuff. For whatever reason, it made my heart hurt more. This led me to believe that I could never and would never have a relationship as open and free like her and Damien's. I couldn't even be honest with her for years about me clearly liking her, and now, I may never have the opportunity to show her. Not only that, I've never been able to speak freely about how I felt. I've learned people just aren't interested to hear anything I have to say if it's not work related. I sighed.

"Which is why I suggested dating both of you."

My eyes popped out of my head, and I jumped and leaned forward quickly. I was speechless yet had so much I wanted to say. I looked up at Divinity questioningly. She raised a brow.

"Why? Because I knew that I had strong feelings for Damien, but I still had feelings for you as well."

Still at a loss for words, I looked to Damien. What does he feel about it because I know he didn't just accept this. He snickered.

"I'm cool with it. I already knew that it'd be hard for her to get over her feelings for you, but I also didn't want to make her choose. I didn't want her to have any regrets and definitely no regrets about being with me. I'll do everything I can to make her happy, even if that means I have to share her for a time."

Damn. No wonder why she's dating him. Not gonna lie. He almost had me. Divinity’s eyes glossed over, and she went and sat on his lap and softly kissed his lips. He gladly reciprocated her kiss and wrapped an arm around her stomach, pulling her in close.

"I could never regret anything with you, D."

They pressed their forehead heads together and closed their eyes. It almost felt as if I was encroaching on an intimate moment. Divinity finally turned back to me, remaining seated on Damien's lap. She looked me dead in the eyes, and I could tell whatever she was gonna tell me, she was gonna mean every word of it.

"Raphael... I'm not gonna pretend that all my feelings towards you right now are good because with what we spoke about today, you better be glad I'm even choosing to speak with you. But I won't pretend that I have no feelings for you at all. I asked Damien if he was cool with it, and he told me yes. Now, just because I've decided to date you too, doesn't mean we're just gonna go head first. I learned my lesson when it comes to you, so I wanna take my time. Although we've known each other for years, we hardly know anything about one another. Damien and I were pretty close and talked and got to know each other some before we dated. I want to do that same thing with you. Now, hear me and hear me clearly, if at any moment Damien no longer agrees to this or I feel as if he is becoming uncomfortable, I will drop you like a bad habit. Are you ok with that?"

She looked me dead and the eyes, and I knew I'd do anything for her as well.

"Yes."

End of flashback.

I headed out to my car and drove to one of the city trail parks that Divinity and I chose to meet up at. Close by was a little coffee shop, and I went inside to pick us up a cup of coffee and got her a coffee roll donut. I drove the 5 minutes to the trail and parked, and a few minutes later, another vehicle parked next to mine. She stepped out. She wore her curly hair in two big puffs that had a dark red scrunchy wrapped around each puff. A large dark green long cardigan laid over top her black U- neck tank top, black leggings, and she wore black sneakers. Her face was always beautiful, and those eyes of her that could see the you were hidden behind her glasses. She looked over at me and gave a small smile. I smiled back and walked towards her.

"Good morning, Divinity."

"Morning, Raphael. Are one of these for me?"

She pointed and smiled at my hand, which held a coffee. I extended the one to here that also had the donut in its bag.

"Yeah. I also got you a donut. You like coffee rolls?"

"I surely do. Thanks."

Her eyes lite up and she shuffled her feet. I chuckled.

"You seem real happy. Maybe I should bring you food more often."

"And should."

She nodded her head and took the coffee and donut. I smiled down at and was so happy I could put that smile on her face. she looked me up and down.

"Mmm, I guess we decided to twin by accident. Or are you stalking me?"

She squinted her eyes at me and smirked, and I smiled back. I was wearing a flannel green and black shirt with black joggers and sneakers.

"Yeah. I even know the color of your underwear."

She elbowed me and took a sip of her coffee.

"This is good. Where'd you get it from?"

"I got it from up the road. A small cafe called Stop and Go. I'm glad you like it. Shall we?"

I waved my hand out and towards the trail. She nodded, and we began on our way on the path. We walked in silence as we both enjoyed our coffees. She, on the other hand, particularly was enjoying that donut. She licked her thumb and pointer finger. My mouth watered, wanting to taste her on my tongue, but I'd held myself together. The noise of the breeze, leaves, and twigs crunching under our feet and the rocks and pebbles that bounced and shuffled on the ground was the only thing that filled in the silence. We walked until we came across a small stream and a bench. She wrapped her arm around mine and directed us to it. I was a little taken aback by her touch since I didn't think she would be the first to make contact. We sat and just listened to the stream flow as little fish swam about.

"We don't have to be so awkward around each other, you know."

I looked over at her, and her eyes didn't move from the water.

"You f****d up. Just admit it that and we can get on with our lives. Don't blame me for the choices you made concerning me. We're here, aren't we? And after you apologize, you better not ever do anything like that again. I don't let people in easily, but I'm quick to eject them. Be honest with me. Be honest with what you're feeling with me. I can't talk to a wall, and I can't make you talk to an ear. All I can tell you is that I'm always open to hear and understand. Don't box me out, and don't ever lie to me. I will always try my best to be honest, patient, and understanding, but only if there's something for me to give it to and something that will be returned to me."

She never looked at me once and kept her eyes on the water as it gently flowed. I relayed her words over and over again, trying my best to understand them in their truest form, but I kept coming to a brick wall. I was afraid that I couldn't give her a truthful answer and that my answer would indeed be the wrong one.

"I-I... I've never really had a romantic relationship, so I'm kinda lost on the whole process of it. Usually, anything involving the opposite s*x comes with strings attached, and terms and conditions may apply. So, with you, all you want is me and I don't know how to go about that. I don't know how to ration it. I won't tell you this will be easy and I won't lie and say that I won't make you angry from time to time. But please know, the only thing I want from you is you. I want to make you smile. I want to see you happy because my heart can't take seeing those beautiful eyes filled with tears like they were before, especially knowing I was the cost of it. Know that I will be trying my best and always hear you out."

She finally met my eyes and smiled as a single tear rolled down her face.

"Thank you, Raphael. All I ask is that you try. Just try."

I wiped her smooth skin of the tear that escaped and gazed into her bright golden eyes.

"Divinity. I truly apologize for everything that I've done, whether I knew of full the implications or effects it would have on you or not. It was wrong of me to do that, and I'm really sorry. I'll never do something like that again, and if you give me a chance, a true second chance, you will never live to regret it."

She smiled up at me, grabbed my hand, and squeezed it.

"Ok. It's very nice to meet you, Raphael. Hopefully, the real Raphael."

I smiled and kissed the back of her hand. We walked the path more, and we talked to get to know each other. I've never been so happy to simply walk and talk in my life. The beautiful colors of fall never felt so bright, and my heart had never felt so full.