Page 42 of Slew Foot
Still … it didn’t exactly seem like Mickey was excited about the idea.
“You know,” Rafe said slowly. “Maybe I’ll look around before I decide. I can check out a few more places when we get back from Dallas.”
“That sounds smart,” Mickey said.
And maybe Rafe was imagining it, but he seemed almost relieved. Or like, happy about it or something.
Which left Rafe feeling a little deflated.
“Sure, whatever. No rush,” Tanner said. He waved his Switch again. “Are we gonna play this shit now or what?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
As Rafe walked down the aisle of the plane the following morning about to leave on his first road trip with the Harriers, he was surprised to see none of the couples sat together.
Connor sat beside Graham Pennington rather than Jesse, who was toward the back with Tanner. Gavin was up front with the other head office people, while Dakota sat a little farther back with Leah Frye, the strength and conditioning coach.
Rafe had always sat with Logan. They’d sat together before they started dating. That was how he’d known the argument had been really bad.
Logan hadn’t sat with him anymore.
Rafe hesitated now, looking at the empty seat beside Mickey. He liked having company, but he didn’t want to bug anyone. And he did kinda take up a lot of space. Even in roomy seats like these.
But mostly he was worried because Mickey had been … weird last night.
Rafe shifted, planning to keep walking, but Mickey glanced up from his phone and frowned. “Where are you going?”
“You don’t mind me sitting here?”
“No.” Mickey looked him straight in the eye.
Hmm,Rafe thought as he settled next to Mickey, tossing his jacket in the overhead compartment, then dropping into the seat beside him. Because yeah, Mickey had definitely seemed off last night when Tanner suggested he move in. But maybe he’d read him wrong? It wouldn’t be the first time.
Or the last, probably.
Rafe was glad. They were good seat mates. Mickey usually watched movies, read, or napped on flights and Rafe mostly watched movies and knitted, or played on his Switch.
Mickey shot him a tight smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m sorry if I was acting strange last night when Tanner invited you to move in.”
“No, it’s okay,” Rafe said, blinking because it was like Mickey had read his mind. “Honestly. I don’t want to, like … bug you or anything.”
Mickey tipped his head back and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, turning in his seat a little. “You’re not bugging me.”
“Are you sure?” Cause Rafe knew he wasn’t the brightest guy around, but it had kinda seemed like it.
“I’m sure.” Mickey cleared his throat. “I was surprised, you know? The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. But youshouldmove in if you want.”
“I’ll think about it,” Rafe said. He still felt like he was missing something but there were a lot of times he felt like he was missing something so what else was new? He’d been wrong about what he thought he was missing this time.
Alsonot new.
But if Mickey said he was okay with it, Rafe was going to believe him. It would be smart if he checked out a few places in the area before he decided for sure but he already had a feeling he’d say yes. Because living on his own back in Minneapolis had honestly kind of sucked and that was when Logan had been over all the time. After the argument it had sucked even more.
And Rafe hated the hotel he was in now. Not that there was anything wrong with it. The place was nice enough. But it was so quiet and there was no one to talk to or do anything with. Waking up in the morning and seeing Mickey smile at him over his mug of coffee or spending every evening hanging out with Mickey and Tanner sounded way better.
Relieved, Rafe sat back in his seat and prepared for takeoff while Mickey did the same.
“Wanna watch a movie together?” Rafe asked hopefully after they’d reached cruising altitude.
