Page 67 of Running Winter

"I'm a little tired, that's all. I've got to go, safe journey home."

I heard something in the background, and then the phone call ended.

I frowned, staring at the phone with bewilderment. Then, a few seconds later, my phone lit up with a text from Rayna, and my blood ran cold.

Rayna:

I've got to go away for a few days. Don't worry about me. Rayna.

The fuck?

Rayna never signed her name off like that, and she sure as fuck didn't just disappear for a few days.

Rayna didn’t have the sort of girlfriends that went on random vacations, and she sure as fuck would've told me if she was going the day before I was due to land back.

I shot out of bed, my hangover punching me in the face as I did, but I pushed on regardless. I left my room, pounding on Rafe’s door like a madman in just my shorts, oblivious to the people loitering in the hallway.

Rafe answered with bleary eyes, holding a silk tie in his hands. He looked me up and down before shaking his head expectantly.

"What?"

"Something is wrong," I said, filling him in quickly. Rafe frowned before sighing.

"Chase, listen. Maybe Rayna got cold feet—"

"Deacon. She said she loved me," I scoffed, turning my phone to show him the messages.

"Yeah. I know. But what other reason can you think of why she would be so cold?" Rafe asked, folding his arms with a yawn. "Let me just get dressed. I'll come round after."

I nodded, walking back to my room as I slumped back onto the bed. I was still sitting in the same position twenty minutes later, and Rafe was at my door. His hair was wet from the shower, and he was still yawning.

"Didn't you get much sleep?" I asked innocently as Rafe simply smirked.

"Sydney was far too much fun to leave for something as mediocre as sleep."

Rafe flipped the air conditioning on before raiding my mini-fridge for an orange juice.

Typical Rafe—come in and make yourself at home regardless of anyone else.

"So, we are in Los Angeles, and you're pining over a girl that dissed you up until two days ago, am I right?"

I frowned at him, realizing that Rafe wouldn't understand my concern. If he couldn't fuck it or stick a pin on his family tree, he didn't give a shit.

"Something doesn't feel right. So I'm going back."

"Chase.” Rafe laughed nervously, picking his phone up and waving it at me. "I'll call her, prove she is alright—"

"Rafe, I'm flying home. I don't want to be here another night anyway. You stay, party with Sydney or whoever."

"You're serious," Rafe gaped at me like I'm insane. "You're going to fly home because she has been a little off with you? Dude, that's not love. That's an obsession."

Rafe shook his head before turning back to the door.

"Don't make a fool out of yourself, man. Let's get some breakfast and then decide how you feel."

I was conflicted because if I turned up back home and Rayna was fine, she would probably think I was strange as fuck. But if I was right…I shuddered, not wanting to think about it.

"Food. Then decide. If you still wanna go back, I'll come with you," Rafe repeated, his eyes burning into mine.

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