Page 17 of Burn for You

“What’s wrong with loafers? They fit your vibe. You know thewhole ‘get off my lawn’ kind of energy.” Rafael really isn’t that old, but I find way too much enjoyment in acting like he’s already graying.

His face stays deadpanned. I gesture to the popular sci-fi novel in his hand. “I mean, the book really adds to it. You could throw it at the delinquents for emphasis. Don’t tell me you have a gnome.” I’m getting sidetracked here, but I’m enjoying it more and more as I go.

“No loafers. No gnomes.”

“Well, that’s dull, isn’t it?”

“There’s not so many delinquents in my area that I need to deter with garden gnomes.”

“How did that ever become a thing? Like were garden gnomes ever supposed to be cute? Because they’re not. If I saw a garden gnome on someone’s front lawn, I’d be staying far, far away. Anyone who thinks that’s cute enough to put in their front lawn is clearly deranged.”

I swear I almost see a smile crack, but I must have imagined it because in a blink it’s gone. Replaced with his usual frown. “Can I go now?”

“With that?” I look at the book held firmly in his grip.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Oh nothing, it’s just basic.”

“Basic? It’s a book.” I shrug in response.

He squints his eyes as he reads the back of the book I’m holding. “You’re telling me the ‘toe curling smut’ in there isn’t basic?”

“Wow, that’s really advertised on there?” I turn the book over to read the back again.

The answer is that no, it’s not, and when I look back up at Rafael, he’s got a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Ha ha, very funny.” It’s my turn to scowl, but he just raises his eyebrows.

“Me and my basic book are going to leave now. Enjoy that.” He nods to my book.

“Oh, I will.” I wink, and a dramatic shiver racks his body as heturns to walk away. But then I realize I have to follow him to the counter.

He must hear my footsteps following behind him because he turns around to look at me. “Why are you following me?”

“I do need to purchase my toe-curling smut, and to do that, I need to go to the counter, where you are unfortunately heading to getthat.” I look at his book once more.

He raises his eyebrows and steps aside to let me go ahead of him. I frown at the gesture, but I don’t pass up the opportunity to get in front of him.

I ignore the fact that he looks absurdly sober. His eyes are annoyingly brighter than normal, even though they’re still black as night. But today the night just has a few stars twinkling in it, and it pisses me off because I can just imagine how dull my own look. How dark and heavy the bags are hanging under my eyes.

I trudge up to the counter and place the book on the counter for Aria to scan up. I squint my eyes as she wraps my book in a paper bag. “Did you get new lights in here? They seem brighter,” I ask quietly.

“You not feeling so good, Blondie?” Rafael says from behind me, and I can hear the smirk in his voice. “Did you have one too many last night?”

I spin around to face him and he’s standing so close to me that I have to crane my neck to look up at him. I scowl, and my headache comes back as my eyebrows pull together. I can’t control my expressions enough to hold back my flinch.

“Aw, you talk a big game, don’t you? But really, you can’t hold your drink much better than Marina.”

I gasp. “That’s rude. I lasted another six rounds after she bowed out.”

He hums. “But you don’t look much better than she does, do you?”

I scoff. “Are you saying I don’t look good, Rafael?” I poke my hip out and fold my arms across my chest.

He surveys me, his eyes rolling from head to toe. Anunexpected heat follows in his trail, and my heartbeat turns erratic. I will it to calm but then a throat clears behind me.

“There you go, May.” Aria slides my purchase across to me, and the sound of the paper bag crinkling as it moves across the counter fills the awkward silence.

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