Page 58 of Clinch'd

I’ve been playing around with her and telling myself lies. This isn’t about Beast, but if it isn’t, who the hell is Minnie and why is she parading as his cousin?

Chapter 21

Minnie

With a small smile, I fold my shirt and place it in the suitcase. The events from last night with Cooper roll through me and I sigh.

As dates go, it was the best ever but then my smile fades because we’re not fucking dating. Gah.

Zipping up my case, I head down to the lobby, curious about our next destination. Seattle from what I read is green and lush but perpetually rainy. I’m not sure I need the weather to match my mood.

Beast texted me earlier and said he’d meet me at the airport but when he doesn’t appear by the time I’m sitting on the plane, I start to panic.

He’s my connection to this whole sordid affair. I don’t know anything about where we’re going. Shit. I only have the name of the hotel we’re staying at.

Which by the way, is fucking expensive.

My thoughts are interrupted when Rafe sits down in the seat next to me with a smile. My tongue immediately sticks to the roof of my mouth.

When his brows rise over his head, I spy a glint of something, before he turns his head away. Is he uncomfortable about his looks? Hm.

“Where’s your cousin?” he asks.

“Who?” I ask and when his brows furrow, I laugh, covering my gaffe. “Um, running late.”

“Right,” he drawls, eyeing me closely. Suddenly uncomfortable, I busy myself pulling out my phone, ignoring the fucking flush in my cheeks while Rafe gazes on but doesn’t comment.

Once we’re in the air, I start to relax, only to stiffen when he says, “I have no idea what’s going on but if you’re Beast’s cousin, I’ll eat my shoe.”

“Better start eating then,” I say tartly, but my throat is tight and I’m ten seconds away from begging to be seated anywhere else.

“Here’s the thing,” he says with a slow smile. “Beast hasn’t ever mentioned family. He’s actually known as a loner but miraculously a cousin shows up? One who just so happens to be hanging out with his arch enemy?”

“Well, yes,” I whisper. Fuck me. Of all the people to catch on to my game, it’s Rafe? Damn.

“Hm, I think you’re here to fuck up Cooper’s world. Why, I don’t know but you should be careful.”

“Oh?”

“Cooper may seem like a fun-loving dick but he’s a bastard. You fuck with him, and you’ll regret it.”

“Noted,” I say, mustering a calm, I nowhere near feel before turning to the window.

The remainder of the ride is silent and by the time I get to my room in Seattle, I’m nauseous and exhausted.

Rafe’s warnings pinballed in my head for hours before I finally set it aside. The reality is it doesn’t matter. I have no choice, but it’s still a fucking horrible thing to contemplate.

Exactly what does bastard mean anyway? Shit.

I still haven’t heard from Beast and nibbling on my nail, I send him a text.Everything okay?

Beast: It’s fine, I’m not gonna make it to Seattle

Beast: For fucks sake, seal the deal

Rolling my eyes, I drop my phone and walk to the balcony. It is indeed overcast, but the misty air hangs over the beautiful green trees like something out of a fairytale.

With Beast unable to make it, I’m stuck. I now have to create reasons to see Cooper assuming he doesn’t outreach me. Which to be clear is another dart to my heart.

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