Page 27 of Austen Persuaded

“I’ve said this before, but seriously, Annie …” Rafael paused, a pained look on his face. “I know it’s easier said than done, but youneedto cut her off. Completely.”

Rainn nodded, his posture tense.

I opened my mouth to speak and then closed it. “I … I know. I think I will, someday.” I drew in a deep breath. “But for now … I’m actually OK, mostly.”

I stared at my lap for some time, hoping they’d change the subject. But when I raised my eyelids, Rafael was staring at me intently. My right eyebrow shot up.

He merely asked, “What else?”

“What do you mean?”

“What else is going on with you, Annie?”

“You mean besides having a nasty virus, a terrible breakup with a cheating jerk, and then a falling out with a good friend, followed by a reminder that my mother is a horrible person and will never approve of me?” My tone was bitter, and I wondered again why my glass was empty.

Rainn came to my rescue, putting an arm around my shoulders. “That’s certainly more than enough for anyone, Raf. Let’s leave her be.”

“No.”

I glared at him for a moment before looking away.

Rafael sighed and leaned back. “There’s more to it.”

I bit my lip too hard and then winced at the sharp pain. Rainn was silent but pulled me in closer.

“Annie.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I guess … we never did talk about whatever came out of my fever delirium, did we?”

“I mean,wetalked about it,” Rafael said, motioning between himself and Rainn, “but not with you.” When I narrowed my eyes, he grinned. “Kidding! Mostly.”

“Can I at least get, like, five more shots first?” I asked, my lower lip jutting out. “It’s the least you can do if you’re going to make me talk.”

Rainn looked uneasy. “I don’t think more booze is what you need, girl. In fact, I’m a little concerned about how much you’ve already had.”

I rolled my eyes, tapping my foot against the bar stool leg. It was then I realized I’d lost my shoe on the other foot. How long ago had it fallen off? I bent down to find it on the floor and then bumped my head on the counter, nearly losing my balance.

“I rest my case,” Rainn said with a cocky grin.

“I know, let’s go to a greasy diner place and eat like lumberjacks!” Rafael said, grasping us both by the sleeves.

We both looked at him in surprise.

“What?” he asked defensively. “It’s not like any of us wants to dance or socialize or meet someone new here tonight, and we’re allpast the point of drinking too much. Besides, it’ll give us a quieter place to listen to Annie’s troubles.”

My lips curved into a frown. “I’m just fine here, actually—”

“Come on, I want 2 am pancakes. And it’s my night to celebrate, isn’t it?” Rafael turned his pleading eyes toward me.

“I could go for a lumberjack breakfast,” Rainn said. “Come on, Annie. It’s Raf’s night—let’s do it.”

I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut. Gorging myself with my besties at a greasy spoon restaurant actually did sound kind of wonderful, but there, I’d have no opportunity to escape the interrogation I knew was coming. At least here, at the bar, I had options.

I could catch the eye of some guy. There were no rules, right? I could dance and find someone to have fun with for the night. And escape my roomies.

But I realized, to my surprise and increasingly to my horror, that the thought of being with anyone, even casually, held no appeal at the moment.

Why? A good rebound can be so fun!

---