For the last few years, Rafferty and I put up with one another. If we were in the same space, I kept my distance like a moon orbiting a planet. He preferred it that way.
I didn’t need coffee or food. I needed a hug, and a shoulder to cry on, but with our mangled past, I wouldn’t get that from him.
“No, thanks,” I whispered.
With a sigh, he stood, and then sat next to me.
He settled his arm on my shoulders, pulling me toward him.
“You don’t have to—”
“Shut up, Lex. You’re shaking like a fucking leaf, and freaking me out.” His chest rose and he exhaled slow and steady. “Just lean on me for once, all right?”
After a beat, I rested my head on his shoulder. The frayed thread snapped and I let my tears stream quietly down my cheeks.
Rafferty’s hand on my shoulder squeezed. “I’m sure Porter will be fine. Did you ask how he’s doing?”
“They wouldn’t tell me.”
“Didn’t you tell them you’re his girlfriend?”
Strange how I knew from afar what was going on with him, but he obviously didn’t know anything about my life.
I blew out a breath. “He broke things off a few months ago. The only reason he came along was because we bought the concert tickets back in January, and I guess he couldn’t find anyone to buy his ticket.”
Rafferty’s fingers traced along my jawline and he tilted my face up. “I thought you were moving in with him.”
I pressed my lips together and gave a short head shake. “Nope. Things didn’t work out, and he’s transferring to a college up north so he can help with the family business.”
Raff’s dark brown eyes stayed locked on me. I couldn’t tell what was working behind them. Then he schooled his expression. “He’s a moron.”
“Wouldn’t you put family first?” I asked.
“That’s what I’m doing right now.”
That felt like a bucket of ice water on our conversation. Rafferty and I were always on different pages. If I was family, then he clearly thought of me as a sister. I blinked and tried to pull away from him, but he held firm.
His eyes widened. “Lex, you’re still shaking. Let me hold you.”
Someone loudly cleared their throat and we looked in that direction. Porter stood near the nurses’ station with his arm in a sling and a bandage on his forehead.
He trudged closer. “Should have known you’d call him. You talked about—”
I leaned away. Raff let me go, but kept his hand on my back. After the crazy morning, I forced myself to ask, “Are you all right, Porter?”
Porter’s blue eyes darted from me, to Rafferty, and back to me. “Yeah. Ready to put this shitty day behind me. Was gonna offer you a ride, but it looks like you’re covered.”
“She is,” Rafferty said, his hand clamping on my shoulder near my neck.
I turned to him, but he and Porter were having a stare-down.
What was that about?
I looked to Porter. He stopped staring at Rafferty and looked at me. “Be well, Lexi.” His snide tone negated any semblance of actual well-wishes.
As I watched him walk to the exit, Rafferty gently pulled me back into his hold.
“Lexi,” he said with a scoff.
