Page 42 of Running Winter

Rafe was ordering shots galore at the bar.

I held my hand out expectantly as Rafe glared at me, but I stared at him down.

He clenched his jaw before reaching into his pocket for his car keys reluctantly, dropping them into my hand.

"Wait, why is he giving them to you?" Rayna asked, peering at me closely as I put them away. "You're not driving us back home."

"No, babe. I'm not."

I decided not to elaborate, instead moving her towards me as a group of boisterous guys made their way past us, still managing to fall against her as they do.

"You ok?" I demanded, my eyes following the drunken fuckers who didn't seem to be aware of who they even were, let alone who they had run over on their march to the dancefloor.

"Tequila!" Rafe hooted, signalling the beginning of the end.

I lost count of how many shots we had, but I was soon on the whiskey.

Rayna had dragged us onto the dancefloor, and I was right behind her when I felt a hand on my arm.

I paused, glancing around to see no other than Heather Herrod staring up at me.

Ah, fuck.

"You didn't call me," Heather pouted, reaching up to put her hands around my neck. "Naughty Chase."

I looked back around to see Rayna and Rafe dancing, oblivious to the fact that I wasn't there.

"I didn't."

"Shall we dance?" Heather purred in my ear. "I'm so glad to see you again."

I stepped back, not wanting to fall into the trap of kissing Heather again. I was pissed off enough that Rafe and Rayna had decided to continue without me, let alone this.

"Heather, sorry—" I mumbled, unlacing her hands from my neck when Rafe murmured in my ear.

"Leave this to me."

I frowned as Heather's eyes narrowed upon seeing Rafe.

"Oh great, fuck boy-twenty-twenty is here," Heather huffed as Rafe smirked.

He walked forward, whispering something in her ear as I turned to find Rayna standing beside me.

"Drink?” I motioned to her as she shook her head, dragging me instead further to the dance floor.

"Dance."

I couldn't help but grin as I followed her, and she stopped suddenly, turning around to face me.

"Is that her? Jared's sister?"

I turned back to look at her when I saw Heather staring up at Rafe, a strange mixture of hatred and desire in her eyes.

I envied Rafe's ability to charm the pants off any woman he wanted, but then I wondered why Rayna was stood with me instead of him.

Doesn’t he want her?

"Yeah," I said, turning back to dance with Rayna.

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