Page 6 of Running Winter

It could be worse, I suppose.

Rafe’s football buddies spotted us, and we ended up standing around talking to them.

It was one of those situations where you try to appear interested in your surroundings, but you end up wishing you were anywhere else. I left Rafe so I could go and explore, something I always did when I was bored.

Lacey didn’t have a huge house, per se, but it did have a beautiful yard.

Something about twinkling lights set amongst the deep green grass that seemed to soothe my soul, but I couldn’t admit that to anyone.

Only Uncle Zane understood what it was like to be different in this family—but for some reason or another, Rafe was my soul mate despite our differences.

I was swigging my beer when I saw a girl appear from the back of the shed, adjusting her skirt and giggling drunkenly. It was Nina, and she was with Jared fucking Herrod.

Jared nodding at me with a shit-eating grin on his face while still zipping up his trousers.

Fucker.

That was enough for me to know that Nina was not for me. Not that it mattered who she fucked, but I didn’t like a girl who fucked random guys up against sheds at parties.

Unless it was me, and it was a kind of a forever thing.

“Chase, was that Nina and fucking—”

“Yeah, don’t sweat it. I don’t give a shit.”

Rafe narrowed his eyes, clearly seething.

“Why is Jared even here? What reason does he have for being at a Winterburg party?”

“Maybe he knows someone. Who gives a shit, don’t start football drama tonight, or I’ll drown myself in that pool.” I nodded at the tiny pool at the end of the yard, frowning when Rafe snorted loudly.

“It’s a fucking pond, you knob.”

I squinted at the pond, hearing my mother tell me repeatedly to wear my glasses. I wore them for driving, but Rafe had the better car, so I barely used them.

“No fucking way!” Rafe hissed, punching my arm as he nodded behind me.

I punched him back before turning to follow his gaze.

It was the girl from the fair, the girl with the boyfriend. I didn’t know what was with my cousin.

He was all kinds of fucked up.

Whereas I would move on from seeing a pretty girl, Rafe became fixated. He seemed to believe that if he felt something for someone, anyone in the way would be simply eradicated.

The girl did look stunning, to be fair to Rafe. She was a tanned blonde, something we didn’t see too much of here. She must be from warmer climates, meaning she wasn’t permanent here, which would only further intrigue my cousin.

I liked how casual she dressed, but from the look in my cousin’s eyes, he just wanted her clothes off.

“Fuck it. I’m going over.”

It was pointless even trying to talk him out of it.

Rafe did what Rafe wanted.

I leaned against the glass of the conservatory as I watched with interest, sipping my beer.

Rafe approached her boldly, his effortless confidence exuding from his every pore.

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