“And you feel fine?” he urges.
“He didn’t put anything in our drinks, Rafe.”
“He could have.”
“Geez, paranoid much?” Gwen mumbles.
I jab her a little. I think it’s sweet he’s worried about us.
“She can ride with us,” Rafe finally decides after a few long seconds. He doesn’t sound pleased.
“Wow, don’t sound too put out,” Gwen grumbles as Rafe walks toward the side of the building.
“Stop, he didn’t mean it that way,” I tell her, even though I think he did.
“He’s fucking hot, I’ll give you that, but he’s kind of cold,” she tells me in a hushed voice. Rafe is far enough ahead of us that I’m not worried he will overhear.
“He’s not cold to me,” I reply, and it feels kind of nice to acknowledge that he does treat me differently than he does others. “He’s got a dry sense of humor. It’s hard to tell when he’s joking sometimes, that’s all.”
Gwen lets out a low, appreciative whistle when Rafe opens the passenger side door of his Mercedes, and all talk of him being cold dries up. “Find out if he has a brother,” she says out of the corner of her mouth.
Chapter 18
Halfway through the film, I’m wishing we could leave. Awkward is the kindest way to describe it. Gwen went out of her way to sit on the other side of Rafe, leaving him in the middle of us, which is strange, but I keep telling myself it’s just because she doesn’t want to be the third wheel.
I never really even checked what was playing, and when we arrived, it was either an animated kids’ movie or some science fiction film unless we wanted to wait around for an hour. If Rafe weren’t here, Gwen and I probably would have just watched the kids’ movie or bailed. As it turns out, we chose the sci-fi. I’m not really invested in it, but it seems kind of bad, like I can’t even figure out how it didn’t go straight to TV bad.
I could think of so many other things I would rather be doing—sitting in the parking lot with Rafe would be number one. I have a lot of things I want to talk to him about, like my mom possibly looking for a new place and the two calls I received for riding lessons this week, but I can’t do that here.
I feel a tiny bit bad that I want to ditch Gwen, but every time I see her leaning on the armrest between her and Rafe, that feeling dies a little. I’m jealous, and that’s a new experience for me.
“I have a favor to ask you,” I tell Rafe softly. He looks away from the screen and gives me his entire attention. It’s a little nerve-racking, but it makes me feel good too, like I’m being seen in a way that I’ve never been before.
I lick my lips. “Will you get us a drink or a snack?” I have a ten-dollar bill in my hand I try to give him, but he just looks at it and stands. “What do you want?” He doesn’t keep his voice low, and I think about shushing him but decide not to.
“Fruit punch?”
“That’s it?”
“Unless you want anything?” I whisper.
Rafe steps past Gwen’s recliner without asking her if she wants anything. I slip into his seat the moment the light from the hallway disappears as the door shuts behind him. “What do you think?” I hiss.
“It sucks.” She adjusts in her seat so she’s no longer leaning on the armrest.
“Not the movie. Him.” Honestly, I’m only using the questions as an excuse to take his seat. I’m probably being petty, but I feel like she’s being too flirty. What if he likes her more than me?
Gwen shrugs. “He seems kind of old for you.” She winces a little.
I get defensive. “How old is Jay?” She blinks like she wasn’t expecting my question.
“Like twenty-seven, but he’s not the first guy I’ve dated,” she mutters quietly, like she’s making a real effort not to be heard.
“So…” I don’t know what else to say. I have some of the same reservations myself, but not when I’m with him. When I’m with him, I’m just happier than when I’m not, and that has to mean something, right?
“I’m not saying it to be mean, Lucy. I guess I just don’t know him well yet, and I’m not used to seeing you with a guy.” She gives me a small smile. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
The door opens again, letting in light from the hall, but I pretend not to notice as Rafe makes his way down our aisle. He steps past Gwen and drops into the seat on my other side. A feeling of victory settles in my stomach, which I probably shouldn’t celebrate. Gwen is my best friend, and she has never given me a reason to mistrust her. I’ve always known her to be a little flirty, but it’s never bothered me before either.
