Page 1 of Running Winter

WHO RULES THE WORLD?

R A F E

"Motherfucker."

"Always eloquent when selecting your words, Rafe," Chase mumbled, kicking at the dirt beside me.

I continued checking out the girl in front of us, her bright green eyes dancing with excitement at the teddy bear her boyfriend had won for her. I watched enviously as the boy slipped his hand around the girls slender waist, her tanned skin barely visible above her tight denim jeans.

The boy was fucking punching. So high I wondered if she was with him out of pity.

The girl made a song and dance about this stupid stuffed toy and grinned like he’d presented her with a diamond necklace.

I frowned as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him, and Chase began to whine about being late home.

Seriously—sometimes I wonder how the fuck we are related.

"Chase, it's six in the evening, bro. Lacey has that party tonight, remember?" I muttered, not taking my eyes off the prize in front of me.

All I needed was for her boyfriend to go to the john or something—and boom! Rafe Deacon strikes again.

"Yeah, and I told you I'm not going. It's not my scene," Chase grumbled, tossing back his midnight black hair.

I sent him a look of disgust before turning back to see that the girl in question had disappeared.

"Partying isn't your scene? You're a senior. Not only that, you're a Fallon. Pops would be so disappointed in you."

Chase folded his arms, glaring at me.

"Please?" I pleaded, gazing at my cousin, who shook his head firmly. "You are a waste of genes sometimes, I swear. Maybe I'll ask Pops if he wants to come. He’d be more fun than you."

"Pops is more fun than both of us put together, Rafe." Chase smiled, and I nodded in agreement.

Our grandad was the notorious Cal Fallon, gangster of New York in his heyday, and even stole our grandma from his cousin way back when. He had a sick sense of humor, and I loved being in his company.

Despite being in his early sixties, he was still ripped from working out every day. He often said he's as young as the woman he slept with—earning him a clip round the ear from Grandma.

"Uncle Zane said he is gonna organize a party now he’s back. So I'll be at that one.”

I rolled my eyes, inspecting the girls that stood at the carousel appreciatively as they eyed us right back.

"Ah, Nina and Kendra are paying us some attention; care to say hi?" I suggested, knowing Chase had a crush on Nina.

I got it—she was all curves and sass but also far too talkative for my liking. Like seriously, she never shut up. Plus, I'd slept with Kendra, so it kind of ruled it out. Girls have these stupid codes and shit.

"Rafe—" Chase warned as I strode over, winking at Kendra.

She was a damn pretty girl, but she went all clingy and shit whenever I was around.

Not cool, but easy to get into bed.

The last time I was at hers, she took a selfie of me sleeping after a heavy night and put it on her fucking Insta.

Nah, not going down that route again.

She blushed immediately but sent me a look that told me she thought I was a pretty shitty human being.

"Nina Cherry, "I declared as Nina frowned at my joke.

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