Page 35 of North

“Good,” he says casually, unscrewing the cap on his bottle. “How about you? How was your night?”

The question seems pointed and it sets me immediately on edge. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, but his expression is neutral. Too neutral.

“It was fine,” I say, turning to the fridge to grab a Diet Coke. I casually pop the top, take a long sip and hold his gaze.

“Fine?” he echoes, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “What’d you do?”

“Nothing much,” I say, deciding to keep it vague. “Went to Mario’s after the game, had a few beers.”

“Interesting,” Rafferty says, and there’s a lilt to his voice that makes me pause. Now there’s a definite glintof mischief in his eyes.

“What’s interesting?” I ask slowly.

“Just I heard you come in around four a.m.,” he says, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter. “Mario’s closes long before that.”

I stiffen, my heart rate kicking up a notch. “Some of us went out after.”

“Oh yeah?” he asks, his voice dripping with mock interest. “Where’d you go?”

I grip the edge of the sink, willing myself to stay calm. “A nightclub.”

“With whom?” he prods.

“With none of your business,” I snap, irritated and slightly freaked out by the interrogation. “I’m going to clean the bathrooms.”

I start to walk out of the kitchen but his words stop me cold. “North told me everything.”

My stomach drops, and I whirl to face him. “What?”

He grins now, full and triumphant. “Come on, Farren. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out at some point?”

“I—what—how—” I sputter, trying to find my footing. “I mean… why would he do that?”

“So, you don’t deny it?” he asks.

I roll my eyes at him. “Of course I don’t deny it. Not if North filled you in.” I rake my fingers through my hair in agitation, looking out the window before turning backto my brother. “He talked to you? About me?”

“Yes,” Rafferty says, his voice steady. “He told me everything. That you’ve been seeing each other. That it’s been casual. That he wants more and you don’t.”

My mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. “That—he—what the hell, Raff?”

“He was honest with me, Farren,” Rafferty says, his response firm but not unkind. “He didn’t want to keep it a secret. And honestly, I respect him for that.”

“Oh, you respect him,” I snap, my blood boiling. “Great. Did it ever occur to either of you to maybe consult me before having this little heart-to-heart?”

Rafferty raises an eyebrow. “What’s there to consult? He likes you. He felt bad about seeing you behind my back. He’s an honest guy. And because he’s my teammate, I think I deserve to know.”

I throw up my hands, pacing the kitchen. “This is exactly why I wanted to keep it casual! And private! Because now it’s a whole thing, and I didn’t want it to be a thing.”

Rafferty watches me, assessing the situation. “Why are you so afraid of it being a thing?”

“Because I just am!” I snap, spinning to face him. “Why can’t you just let it be what it is?”

“Because it’s obviously more than what you’re trying to make it,” Rafferty says, his voice calm but insistent. “And you’re running from it.”

I flinch at his words, a spark of anger and fear igniting within me. “I’m not running from anything. I just like things the way they are. Casual. Simple.”

Rafferty shakes his head, stepping closer. “Farren, you can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep shutting people out the second they get too close.”

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