Rafe greets me as I walk into Rafael’s after a ridiculously busy day in Manchester. He leans over the end of the counter and I lean in to kiss him briefly. “Good day?” Rafe starts to make me a cappuccino as I lean on the counter with my arms crossed in front of me and take in the sight of my man at work. He is the king of the castle behind that counter, working with efficiency and fluidity and constantly aware of his surroundings. He dodges a fast moving Sophie as though he didn’t even notice that he had to. “Yeah, it was a long and tiring but successful day. I’m knackered though babe, do you mind if I grab a bath upstairs and then we’ll go for a pint later?” I’d promised Rafe last night that we’d go for a drink after he closed up on Friday but I’m wiped out. I need to chill for a bit or I’ll be asleep by ten. “No, course not. I can’t imagine we’ll be much longer down here.
