Page 68 of Running Winter

"Fine. They have food at the airport, right?" I replied smoothly, heading for the shower.

Rafe groaned behind me, the door slamming as he walked out.

I hope he is packing his shit.

Less than two hours later, the two of us sat facing one another in a burger bar at the airport. I was ravenous, and from the looks of it, so was Rafe. Between us, we had already put away two stacks of onion rings, four double bacon burgers, and a side of fries. I needed the grease and the sugar.

"I'm going to be blunt," Rafe declared, sucking on his straw loudly. "You're in love with Rayna, aren’t you? You have been for years. Right?"

I nodded, pushing the remaining fries into my mouth greedily. I guess Rafe had always known how I felt for Rayna, probably before I did. Rafe lifted his gaze to mine, and for a moment, we didn't speak.

"I never touched her for that reason. Not because she isn't attractive, because she is," Rafe drawled, sitting back in his chair. I feel my body tense up as he continues. "She is the sorta girl you settle down with. That's you, not me."

He smiled, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Rafe would never settle down.

"So what's your point, dickhead?" I sighed, sucking the salt from my fingers.

"I'm loyal to you and the Fallon fairy tale, but other guys aren't. Other guys would be all over that, do you get me?"

Rafe leaned forward, and I sent him a glare before folding my arms.

"Spit it out, Deacon," I muttered as he sighed.

"In those three months, you didn't speak. Do you think Rayna could've met anyone?"

My breath halted in my airways, and the pounding in my ears became louder with every second that passed. I don't know, and I don't fucking want to know.

"So what if she did?" I snapped with irritation.

Rafe studied me for a moment before shrugging.

"Yeah, fuck it. So what if she did. But if your girl got herself a boyfriend then slept with you—"

"Rayna wouldn't," I scoffed, grabbing my duffel bag and standing up. "She would have told me."

"Would she?" Rafe asked, dropping a twenty-dollar bill onto the cluttered table. "That's another difference between you and me. You're positive. I’m negative."

"Unless you're talking STDs," I muttered, walking towards the boarding gate.

As much as I hated to admit it, Rafe was right. There were some possibilities I had to face, regardless of what I thought I knew. Rayna had told me last night that she loved me, then today, she had gone all cold and weird.

What had happened in those fourteen hours?

ANOTHER GUY

R A F E

"I'm moving to California."

Mom smirked to herself, glancing over at my Dad, who simply continued like I'd not uttered a word. Bastard.

"I said—"

Dad slammed his coffee mug down before lifting his gaze to mine. There was something about the chill that ran down my spine when he looked at me like that, almost like a warning not to antagonize him.

"Do I look stupid to you?" Dad leaned back in his chair, lifting his eyebrows.

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