“Drink,” Rafe mumbles and puts the straw of the huge plastic cup he’s holding near my lips for me to take a sip. I take the drink. It’s ice-cold and sugary sweet. I love how much syrup they put in the drinks here.
After swallowing, I whisper, “Thank you.”
He makes a grunting sound I can hardly hear over the movie. Rafe places the cup into the far holder, then leans over so his lips are near my ear. “What are we doing after we drop her off?”
I like the fact that there’s no question we will be doing something, only as to what. “Do you have any ideas?”
“This movie blows,” Gwen hisses.
Rafe leans forward and gives her an impassive stare. “I was just thinking the same thing. Let’s get out of here.” Without giving either of us time to object—not that I was planning on it—he grabs my hand and tugs me from the chair, remembering to grab my drink at the last second.
“Oh, okay.” Gwen stands and takes a few steps forward before looking over her shoulder as if she’s checking to make sure we’re following. “I’m sure we can find something better to do than the movies anyway,” she says once we clear the double doors of the theater.
“I’m snatching…Lucy.” Rafe puts his arm around my neck after pausing before saying my name. It makes me feel like he had to think to remember it, but that wouldn’t be the case, would it? “I can drop you at your car,” Rafe offers as if he’s doing her a favor, not just leaving her at the theater parking lot.
Gwen makes a face, then looks over at me, making me think she interpreted his words and delivery the same way I did.
“You don’t mind, right? I haven’t been able to see her all week,” Rafe cajoles. When I look up at him, I see him giving Gwen a version of his lopsided grin, but it seems forced.
“Fine, ditch me for the new boy toy.” Gwen pretends to pout, but I know she’s just teasing.
“New?” Rafe looks down at me.
“That’s what you take exception to? Not the fact that she called you my boy toy?”
“Well, it’s clear she’s delusional. I haven’t been a boy in a very long time,” he reasons pragmatically. “I’m more concerned with the fact that she’s alluding to there being an old boy toy if I’m the new one.” His eyes narrow on mine.
“Well, there isn’t,” I confirm.
“I guess that means my plans of murder and mayhem are put on hold for now then.”
“Ugh, I’m ready to go to my car now. I don’t think I can handle you two for much longer.” Gwen spins dramatically and starts heading toward Rafe’s vehicle.
“Is that all it takes? Shit, I should have brought up bodily harm a little sooner.”
I chuckle at Rafe’s joke, then reach up to grab his fingers dangling over my chest. “Don’t judge her for tonight. The guy she’s been talking to has been kind of distant, then there’s the thing with the waiter. She’s having a bad night.”
Rafe unlocks his car, and Gwen gets in while we’re still slowly strolling over. “Ah, I guess that means she had a good reason to feel me up.”
I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him. “She did not!” I snarl, and march toward the car to give her a piece of my mind. Rafe grabs my arms, stopping me, before wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.
“I was only teasing you about that part. But I’m happy to see you care.” He chuckles near my ear.
I shove away from him. “That’s not nice, she’s my friend,” I argue.
“Let’s be honest here, it’s not like it was that much of a stretch. You did believe it, after all.” He slides one hand into his pocket and waits for me to respond.
I’m feeling a little out of sorts, like I need to defend Gwen and apologize for how flirty she was.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m cool to hang out in your G-Wagon while you guys give each other fuck me eyes. I think I’m getting a contact high anyway,” Gwen hollers out of the open door sarcastically.
I lower my head and pinch my temples. “Jesus, I’m sorry,” I mutter. When I look back at Rafe, he’s making anI told you so face. “Let’s just get her back to the car.”
I walk fast enough that I reach the car well before Rafe. “Thanks, Gwen,” I snap and close the door, probably too hard.
“What?” She sounds kind of surprised, maybe even a little hurt.
“I told you I really liked him,” I say while watching Rafe approach the driver’s side. She makes a noise as if she might say something, but I cut her off. “Drop it. We can talk about it later.”
