Page 14 of Running Winter

Rayna lifted her eyebrows with surprise, looking at me over her thick black glasses.

I shifted uncomfortably on her bed, still yawning from my early start.

Rayna had demanded a movie day today, and I was happy to oblige—providing she knew I’d probably end up dozing off.

“Yeah. I know, but Heather doesn’t have a boyfriend,” I protested, and Rayna frowned, tilting her head to the side.

Part of me loved seeing her do that, especially when her dark hair fell over her shoulders. It was rare she had it down, but she did today.

Lucky me.

“But you said when you saw her at the fair she kissed her boyfriend. Are you telling me she kissed her cousin?”

Rayna looked horrified, and I frowned, wondering how I had forgotten that little nugget of information.

“Shit. You’re right.”

“And she knew Rafe liked her, right?” Rayna continued, and I nodded silently.

The cogs in my mind were already whirring, yet Rayna beat me to it.

“It was a setup.”

“No way! Why?” I groaned, flipping back onto her bed. “She didn’t kiss me like it was a setup.”

“Oh, Chase. You and Rafe are tight. Jared probably wanted to fuck with you both.”

“Wait, but why did she go along with it if she had a boyfriend?”

Rayna paused, her beautiful face contorting with confusion.

I couldn’t help but feel the same—what game was Heather playing?

“You’re Chase Fallon? The one guy girls can’t resist?” Rayna teased, and I arched an eyebrow at her.

“Except for you.”

“Only because we are friends. I love having you as my movie buddy. Plus, it means I have my own personal bodyguard whenever we go out.”

“We never go out. We are always in here, chatting shit or watching movies,” I pointed out. “How’s about this? My uncle has demanded Rafe brings Kendra over for dinner, purely because he keeps fucking her.”

Rayna shook her head with disgust before waiting for me to continue.

“Come with me. It’ll be hilarious.”

“You’re going?” Rayna asked and then rolled her eyes. “Of course you are.”

“It’s tonight. Please come.”

“You want me to come to your scary uncle’s house and eat dinner with Kendra and Rafe? Please, come on. I couldn’t imagine anything worse. Ask Heather. Now that would be entertaining.”

She rose, tugging her hoodie over her head to reveal the swell of her breasts beneath her thin t-shirt.

I tried not to check her out, but it was hard not to. I didn’t understand how guys weren’t lining up around the block for her.

Sure, she hid her curves with baggy clothes and didn’t make an iota of effort with her appearance, but she didn’t need to.

She was interesting to talk to, and she was funny too.

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