Page 41 of About That Pact

Jason sipped his beer. “Yesterday, she was asking me about Rafe. Today, he’s asking me about her.”

Nate gave Rafe a knowing look, hiding his smile behind his drink.

“Fuck.” Rafe looked at his watch. “I forgot I have a thing and don’t want to be late. I need to get going.”

Jason was confused. “You have to leave now? Was it something I said?”

It was, but he didn’t need to know that.

“No, man. I just completely forgot about something I need to do.”

They all stood up and gave their typical half hug goodbye.

“Nate, keep your head up. You’ll figure out what you need. I’ll see you in Vegas,” Rafe told him.

Rafe left Jason’s place and got to his car. After Jason said Char had been asking about him, Rafe realized it was time. Charlotte was just as interested in him as he was in her. He wasn’t going to waste another minute.

Chapter 15

WHOEVER WAS UNDER the assumption Charlotte liked someone banging outrageously on her door was an idiot. Swinging the door open, she was ready to give whoever it was a piece of her mind. Once she saw it was Rafe, she softened up a bit. It was hard not to when it came to him. His hands were resting on the top of her doorframe and his devilish smirk made her heart skip a beat.

“What are you doing here?” she was curious to why he was there. It was a pleasant surprise outside all the obnoxious knocking, but not a visit she’d been expecting. What a treat for him that he got to see her in her Saturday attire. She wore sweatpants and a tank top, her hair thrown up in a ponytail, and she had been stuffing her face with popcorn. It was her ideal night: relaxing at home, reading a book, munching on snacks.

Rafe had already been aware her coolness level was low, but adding the butter debris from the popcorn on her face took it to another level.

“What are you doing here?” he mimicked her words right back at her.

She tilted her head. “Don’t be weird. I live here.”

“It’s Saturday night and you’re home.”

“So? It’s Saturday night and you showed up unannounced. Is your phone broken?”

This made him chuckle, and she loved the way his eyes crinkled. It always looked as if he had his own inside joke everyone else wanted in on. It was charming the way his green eyes twinkled. It made her want to beg him to tell her the joke too.

He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and waved it. “No, my phone is not broken.”

“So, why is it you didn’t want to call or text me before coming over?”

“I’d lose the whole element of surprise I was aiming for.”

“What if I had someone here?”

Rafe lowered his hands from the doorframe and now leaned against it. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Jada and Rachel again.”

He said it like there wasn’t the possibility anyone else would spend time with her at her apartment. More like, there was not an option of another man being there. That irked her.

“How do you know I don’t have a man here?”

His smile disappeared.

She continued. “Most people don’t go on blind dates where they need to text someone to get out of it.”

Rafe pressed past her and walked into the apartment, moving with purpose as his head pivoted around, searching. It was mean to suggest she had another man with her, but he deserved it. He paced around like a wild animal, and she quietly giggled at the sight.

He stomped over to her, without the smile she adored so much.

“Do you think this is funny?” The humor in his voice was gone. “I feel like we’ve been at war, fighting this pull we have to each other. And you want to laugh?”