Page 35 of Running Winter

"Because I don't do casual," I snapped back.

"Fucks sake. Did you even kiss her?" Rafe asked with mock disgust.

"I could ask you the same thing," I retorted, enjoying the confused expression on Rafe's face. "Did you kiss Rayna?"

Rafe shook his head slowly, but he refused to meet my eyes.

Pops was intrigued now, gazing at Rafe with interest.

"Of course not." Rafe snorted. "We went sketching."

"At six am,” I pointed out as Pops leaned forward in his chair.

"Rafe woke up at six am?"

Rafe filled us in on his time with Rayna, and I was relieved when he shrugged nonchalantly.

"It was good just to chill and sketch. Nothing happened, bro."

Rafe turned to me as I nodded slowly.

"It's cool," I mumbled, looking up to see the concern in my grandad's eyes.

I was about to ask what he was thinking about when a large crash demanded our attention from the kitchen.

GO FIGURE…

R A F E

Chase wasn't himself.

He was all distant and suspicious of me—and it was all to do with me going sketching with his best friend. To be frank, I was pissed off too.

I'm tired.

In hindsight, six am was a massively stupid thing to agree to, especially before a brutal ball game with the coach, who was a massive asshole today.

All I wanted was some homemade chow and maybe a little snooze before heading back home, but Chase had me all concerned.

I tried to catch his eye again, but he was having none of it. I didn’t get what his problem was—and I fully intended to call him out on it.

A crash from the kitchen told me Nanna had let Raven hold something as usual, and my sister had slipped into klutz mode.

Pops jumped up with amazing reflexes before roaring with laughter from the kitchen. The girls laughed too, and I relaxed back into the chair.

"You're pissed with me," I stated.

Chase looked up, his brow furrowing as he shook his head.

Typical Chase, always ready to diffuse any situation between us.

"Why would I be pissed at you?"

Chase fingered his collar slightly before exhaling.

So he wants me to address the elephant in the room?

"Rayna?"

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