Page 45 of Slew Foot
“Oh right. I don’t miss that,” Rafe said with a laugh. “It’s nice to have my own room.”
Though, that was kind of a lie. It was what guys alwayssaidbut Rafe thought it was more fun when he had people to hang out with. He’d like staying up late watching movies or TV, talking about dumb shit until they passed out mid-sentence.
Mickey laughed at something someone else had said now and the movement jostled his body, his knuckles grazing Rafe’s thigh.
“Sorry,” Mickey said, staring straight ahead, his mouth pulled into a tight line like he was mad about something.
“You’re fine.” Rafe tried to pull away but someone else was right behind him and he finally gave up, letting himself relax against Mickey.
He seemed tense though, his body stiff as he blinked a lot. Hmm, maybe he didn’t like elevators?
When they finally reached their floor, everyone poured out and Mickey let out a big sigh.
“Are you acrophobic?” Rafe asked, carefully pronouncing it and pleased he’d remembered the word.
“Huh?” Mickey looked confused. “No? I’m not afraid of heights.”
“Oh.” Now Rafe was confused. “What’s the one where people don’t like tight spaces?”
He’d been trying to sound smart but he’d kinda failed at that one.
“Claustrophobic, I think? No, I’m not that either.”
“I get them mixed up,” Rafe said with a shrug. “My teammate in Minnie was afraid of heights. I thought maybe you were like, afraid of being squeezed in there or something. I was worried about you.”
Mickey gave him a soft look. “Thanks. But no. I’m fine.”
“’Cause you seemed all tense,” Rafe said because he felt like he was onto somethingimportanthere.
“I was, uh, doing the math and trying to figure out if we were all too heavy for the elevator,” Mickey said.
Rafe laughed. “There’s probably a phobia for that too.”
“Probably.” Mickey smiled at him.
“Dude, would you either give me the key or like, quit fucking flirting in the hall long enough to let me into our room,” Tanner said, throwing up his arms.
Rafe jumped because he’d kinda forgotten he was there. The rest of the guys had disappeared too, walking down the hall or already in their rooms.
“We’re not flirting!” Rafe and Mickey both protested, almost in unison.
Tanner rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’ve gotta pee. Can I get in the room or not?”
“Fine!” Mickey said, turning and walking down the hall. “I’ll let you in.”
Rafe followed, not even really thinking about it but after Mickey unlocked the door and let Tanner in, Mickey turned to face him, one foot stuck in the doorway to keep it open.
“I think you’re in another room,” Mickey said gently.
“Oh! Yeah, I bet I am,” Rafe said with a laugh. He’d gotten so used to following Mickey and Tanner everywhere that he’d been on autopilot or something. He glanced at his keycard, then pointed down the hall. “Two doors down, that way.”
“Cool. See you at dinner?”
“Sounds good,” Rafe agreed and kept walking.
“Dude,” Tanner said when he came out of the bathroom.
Mickey had flopped onto the bed closest to the window—because Tanner liked being by the door and Mickey didn’t particularly care one way or another—and thrown an arm up over his eyes.
