Page 62 of About That Pact

Jason came over once their moms walked away. “Rafe, I’m taking your seat so I can hang with your sisters on the flight. You both look miserable, and you know how misery loves company and all. You can sit with Charlotte.”

“No,” they both answered.

“Yes. You both are the opposite of a good time. I’m sitting with Gab and Elena.” Her happy-go-lucky brother went back to the group, notifying Rafe’s sisters they were going to sit together.

They boarded the plane, and Jason quickly took the aisle seat reserved for Rafe. He didn’t cause a scene about it and trudged to sit in Jason’s window seat a few rows back.

“Jason normally lets me take the window,” Charlotte stammered, not wanting the middle seat.

He finally looked at her. “I can go this entire vacation acting like you do not exist. To make it easier on both of us, stop talking to me.”

She was about to protest, but he covered her mouth with this hand. Just this slight touch made her tremble. She missed his hands on her, even if it was to shut her up. It was everything about him she missed.

“And I’m not getting suckered into switching seats.” He dropped his hand away from her. Pulling out a travel pillow from his carry on, he put it behind his head. He got comfortable in his seat and Charlotte buckled in, not so happily.

A man who probably shopped at the Big & Tall store sat in the aisle seat. He spoke to her quickly while putting in ear buds. “I am exhausted and need to get some sleep. If you need to use the bathroom, just push on my leg until I wake up.”

She looked at Rafe, and he smirked at her.

“Enjoy your flight,” Rafe sassed, closing his eyes.

The odds of an enjoyable flight were slim to none.

HE HAD TO give it to the Bellagio, where they were staying. The check-in process ran smoothly, so his time with their big party, including Charlotte, was limited. So far, so good. They were all on the fourth floor with everyone in different rooms, whether they were partnered up with someone or had their own. He’d opted for his own. He loved the chaos of sharing with his friends, but he’d booked his room when he was playing pretend relationship with Charlotte and had expectantly thought they would need the privacy.

Obviously, that wasn’t a concern anymore.

Rafe walked to his hotel room, and leaning against the door next to his was Charlotte. She must have taken the elevator up as soon as she got her key, just like he had.

“Waiting for someone?” Rafe was unable to stop himself. After a plane ride of ignoring her, he’d reached his limit of acting like she didn’t exist. It wasn’t an easy task.

She crossed her ankle over the other. “I was waiting to see who was staying in the room next to me.”

“Surprise,” he said lamely, waving his key card.

“This vacation keeps getting better and better,” she muttered.

She looked dejected, and while there was a part of him that didn’t want to be the only one with a broken heart, he didn’t want her to feel the way he did.

Like nothing mattered.

Like all the light had been stolen.

Like he would never be repaired.

Fuck this. He wasn’t going to be empathic to her. If he did that, it was only a matter of time before he let her in again. She would shine so bright in his world, only to take it away. Again.

“We haven’t even been here a full day and you’re already complaining?”

She glared at him. “Given that you’ve excommunicated me for god knows how long and I am on vacation with you, yes. Yes, I’m complaining I have to act like I am fine when, in reality, I have to share a wall with the man who crushed me.”

Without another word, she went into her room and slammed the door shut.

He was about to go after her, but stopped himself and went into his room instead.

This was always how it worked with Charlotte. Rafe could never resist her. At a certain point, he always gave in to whatever she asked. This time around, things had to change. He had to set-up some sort of rules between them. Heartbreak was excruciating. He wouldn’t be able to survive this again.

Ignoring her, though…was an impossible feat.