Page 37 of Running Winter

My head snapped up at this information.

"The skinny dude? From the fair?"

"Yup."

So, maybe Chase was right not to take her home after all.

I got annoyed then, imagining Heather and her family taking Chase for a ride. He had just tried to be a good guy at a party, after all.

Pops met my eyes, and I shrugged.

"And this other girl?" Pops asked as Chase lifted his eyebrows.

He watched me as I tried to explain.

Awkwardly.

"Dad demanded I brought my fuck buddy to dinner," I groaned as Nanna and Raven shrieked with laughter at something from the kitchen.

"Oh, shit.” Pops snorted, clearly enjoying the tales of my father's shit attempt at parenting.

"Right?" I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "Anyway, Chase brought Rayna, and we got talking about art and stuff."

Chase was watching me silently, and I held my hands up with exasperation.

"What?"

"So then I had to take the fuck buddy home, who, by the way, is a fucking nightmare," Chase said, rolling his eyes at me. "Because Rayna and Rafe were talking about art."

"We were!" I snapped with irritation. "She's a nerd, not my type at all."

"Fucking hell, Rafe, you really are a dick,” Chase snapped.

Pops widened his eyes at Chase, who stared at me with disbelief as he continued.

"Rayna is amazing."

"Whoa, hang on," I snapped defensively, sitting up straight. "I spent the morning with her bud. She is pretty cool. Just not my type is all, so you can drop the possessive brother act and go and fuck her yourself."

"I don't see her like that either," Chase retorted evenly, and I tilted my head thoughtfully.

"Whatever. Just don't get pissy with me for talking to someone who knows their shit about something I'm passionate about."

I was fuming, but there's something else.

I felt a little shitty for saying Rayna wasn't my type because she was fucking beautiful.

I'd sat and sketched her, for fucks sake.

"Well, I'm glad she helped you release some passion," Chase said quietly.

I was about to respond when Pops spoke.

"Chase, do you like Rayna more than a friend? Be honest, son."

"No!" Chase replied quickly. “She’s not into me, and well, yeah. That's it."

I was even more confused now.

---