Page 40 of Running Winter

"Great. See you then."

I walked away, alight with jealousy. If Rayna wanted Rafe, that was fine—there was nothing I could do about that.

But I didn't want to see it.

"Chase Fallon, don't you think you can walk away from me in a huff," Rayna called out, walking towards me with a steely glare. "What’s wrong with you? I know you're just looking out for me, but really?"

"I just don't need to sit there and watch your verbal foreplay, that's all," I said, folding my arms as Rafe watched us from his position by the school parking lot. "Like, I get it, Ray. It's Rafe, and who could say no to him?"

"Uh, me?" she laughed before rolling her eyes. "I'm not stupid. Stop treating me like I'm your little sister or something. It's annoying."

"Fine."

"I know we never do it, but should we go to that club? I've got this dress I'm dying to wear."

It amazed me how quickly Rayna moved on from things, but I wasn't sure I could watch my cousin and my best friend get it on.

"What dress?" I grumpily mumbled as Rayna grinned.

"Just this little black thing. So, can we go? Stay at mine if you want; we can recover by watching movies and eating shit all day tomorrow."

Rayna was so beautiful when she was happy, her little nose wrinkled up, and her eyes danced with excitement.

So why am I holding her back?

So what if Rafe is who she wants?

He had told her he had no intention of ever settling down, and if she chose to fuck with that, then it was her funeral. I looked over at Rafe, who smirked at me, and I sighed.

Fuck it.

"Fine, but if Rafe breaks your heart, don't say I didn't warn you," I muttered darkly, my eyes still locked on my cousin as Rayna threw her arms around me.

"What, Rafe Deacon? Haha.” Rayna laughed before pulling away. "I've got Art club now, but can you guys pick me up? For the party?"

A party with Rafe and Rayna.

I can’t fucking wait.

ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT?

C H A S E

"Don't be a prick tonight," I warned Rafe as I climbed in beside him.

"You’ll leave this truck at the club, no driving it drunk, or I swear, I'll tell Nanna."

"You're a pussyhole, you know that?" Rafe scoffed. "You'll tell Nanna, what are you, five?"

"You'll drive drunk? What are you, fucking stupid?" I shot back as Rafe shook his head.

It annoyed the fuck out of me that he knew where Rayna lived, and when he pulled up outside, he nodded at me.

"Go get her then."

"Rafe, it's hardly prom," I scoffed, exhaling through my nose.

"So? You have been taught the same manners as me, man; open the door for her and shit. Girls love that."

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