Page 22 of Burn for You

This feels like more than just a head cold, though—I’m painfully exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open as I lie here staring at the ceiling. I must have picked something up at the food festival, or maybe I ate something bad and it’s just food poisoning? That doesn’t even make sense. My head hurts just thinking about it.

Nope, that's just another headache coming on.

Anotherheadache.

I can’t catch a break; my head has been constantly pounding since last night. I’ve wanted to fall asleep since the moment my eyes opened today. So I just close them, just for a second, just to give my eyes a break, just so I can rest a minute…

chapter ten

RAFAEL

“That’s a joke.”

“Nope.”

Leo shakes his head. “That’s just criminal. I don’t think I’ve ever known you to have an empty bed for more than a month, at most.”

“Trust me, I’d much prefer the company as well,” I say, before gulping down the last of my beer.

In the last four months, the bed beside me has been cold, much to my dismay. But I haven’t been able to focus on any woman for long enough to take her home. Something’s definitely wrong with me.

“I can certainly say I’ve been sleeping better having Isla in my bed,” Caio adds.

“Yeah, no need to brag, Mr. Love,” Leo says, leaning back in the booth. “We all know that girl is wearing you out big time. I’m surprised you can keep up.”

“Shut up, Leo,” Caio says. “Don’t make Rafael feel even worse. If I can’t keep up, this old dog definitely can’t.”

“Alright, I’m thirty-four, not sixty.”

“Anyone could be mistaken, given how much of a grouch you’ve been lately.” Caio gives me a pointed look.

“Well, I know a couple of sixty-year-olds and I can assure you, they still get plenty of action,” Leo says.

“Someone needs to tape your mouth shut,” I say, catching Marina’s attention from where she stands at the bar, signaling for another drink.

“Ouch,” Leo says. “A grouch alright.”

“How are you guys going?” Marina asks halfheartedly, placing replacement drinks in front of all of us. Her hair is tied up in a long braid down the back of her head, but it’s all frizzy and worry sits in the crease between her eyebrows.

“What’s up?” I ask before taking a sip of my cold beer.

“Ugh, it’s so busy and I promised May that I’d take her some food tonight, but I don’t know if I'll have the time.” She looks around like she can barely keep up with what's in front of her.

“Why are you taking her food?” Caio asks.

“She’s sick, likereallysick, like can’t get off the couch sick.” Her eyes look over all of us, once, twice, scanning each of us before they land back on me. “Rafael?” she drags the word out and I already know where this is going.

“No.”

“How much do you love me?”

“Not enough.”

“Please? Pretty please?” I look away, avoiding her persuasive gaze.

Leo laughs under his breath. “This has got to be the one and only time Rafael has said no to a woman begging.”

Marina rolls her eyes as I pin him with a look.

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