Page 71 of Running Winter

"Elise told you that? Why didn't she tell me? Show me."

He took the phone from me, his eyes scanning it greedily. Finally, he handed it back to me, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I've got to go."

"Chase."

"I want to be on my own, Rafe. So just leave me for a bit, yeah?"

His shoulders slumped slightly, and I nodded. He walked out of my bedroom, and I listened as his footsteps sounded on the stairs. Seconds later, the front door shut behind him.

I felt peculiar, both angry and sad. Hints of guilt nipped at me, too; I'd pretty much pushed them together.

I was surprised Rayna would do Chase like that, though—the way she looked at him was something else entirely.

I felt powerless, and there was nothing I could do.

HE IS WHAT?

C H A S E

Mom and Dad were doing that parent thing they do, exchanging helpless looks and trying to make the other speak to me.

Dad must've lost because Mom excused herself from the dinner table and left.

I pushed the spaghetti around my plate, bracing myself for Dad's super parent act.

Ha.

"What the fuck is going on?"

I couldn't help but smile, knowing Dad had no other setting than blunt. He gazed at me with concern, and I wasn't sure what he thought was going on.

I never dressed things up either, and I had no energy to be extravagant with my explanation.

"Rayna is with some guy."

"Oh.” Dad's face relaxed before he sighed with relief. "Thank fuck for that."

I made a face at him, and he backtracked.

"Nah, I mean, I'm glad you're not being chased by the mob or trying to hide a body."

I raised an eyebrow at him, and he held his hands up.

"It's been known to happen in this family." Dad grinned, plunging his fork into his food. "Girl problems I can deal with. Any day of the week."

"It's not girl problems, Dad.” I filled my mouth with spaghetti and chewed thoughtfully.

"It is. Rayna is your best friend, albeit a hot best friend.” Dad winked at me before continuing. "You like her, and now she has another guy. Right?"

I swallowed my food, taking a sip of water. I loved telling my Dad when he was wrong because it was hardly ever.

"Or.” Dad frowned, stealing my thunder. "Your face is telling me something happened between you, and now she has dissed you for another guy."

Bastard.

I shrugged, pissed off that he had already worked it out.

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