Page 31 of Running Winter

Before I could ask her whether that was respect for myself or Heather, Verity was gone. I dragged my phone out to see a text from Rafe and one from Rayna.

Rafe:

Did you bang her? Ring me if you do. If you don't, have a word with yourself, and I'll have one with you tomorrow.

For fucks sake.

Rayna:

How was your date?! I'm still stunned you agreed to go on a date with an actual girl, Fallon. Omg, if you kiss her, I demand a phone call.

I don’t care what time it is.

I grinned then, dialing Rayna's number as she answered groggily.

"So, you kissed her?"

"Yes, Rayna, I kissed her, but that's all," I explained, flagging down a cab. I was lucky there was one there; otherwise, I'd have had to wait for an Uber or something.

I gave the driver my address before sinking into the seat.

"That's fucking huge for you! But, wait, you sound pissed off. Don't you like her?"

I couldn't lie to Rayna; it was just one of those things. She knew when I was pissed off, and it was easier to just tell her than lying.

"It was all going so well," I groaned, rubbing my tired eyes with my thumb and forefinger. "I swear I thought I even had the feeling—"

"The feeling? The Fallon feeling?!" Rayna screeched, and I had to hold the phone away from my ear.

"Yes, that. But clearly, it doesn't work for this fucking Fallon. It just...went. Maybe Rafe’s right. Maybe I am gay," I mused as the cabbie looked at me with interest in the rearview mirror.

Every Fallon had fallen in love, hard, and at a reasonably young age.

It was like a rite of passage, and I was lacking. Rafe didn't give a shit and reminded everyone that told him he would fall one day that he was also a Deacon, and they didn't love unless they had to.

Whatever that meant.

"You're not gay, stop trying to convince yourself you are," Rayna yawned quietly. "But if you are, who gives a shit?"

"No one would care; I know that," I said hastily. "But what's wrong with me? This girl, man, fuck. Seriously Rayna—"

"Can you tell me tomorrow? I'm bored now you don't like her."

I laughed as I ended the call, sending a text to Rafe.

Chase: I'm going to start online dating.

Maybe I should. I was surprised when a text pinged back straight away.

Rafe:

I still love you, you weird bastard.

Chase:

Love you too.

Rafe:

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