Caine lifts me off my feet, grabbing my ass before kissing me, and I mean, really kissing me. His tongue delves into my mouth, and I cling to him, my tongue dancing with his as I tilt my head. Will this ever stop making me tingle all over?
“Call me if you need a ride home,” he whispers, placing me on my feet.
“Fuck me,” Raquel says when he drives away.
“I know,” I whisper, touching my lips. They’re swollen.
We walk to her car, and I pull up directions to Porters, the only bar in town with good food.
We both order burgers and fries and rum and cokes. It’s a Friday, but still early.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her as I sip my drink while we wait for our food.
“Can’t a girl just miss her friend?” Raquel asks, tilting her head.
“You, no. What’s wrong?”
Raquel closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “It’s stupid.”
“Shut up.” I hold up my hand.
Raquel rolls her eyes at me and slumps her shoulders. “It is! I’m hardly a little girl. But when I heard I—I just needed you.” Her voice breaks, and I reach across the table and take her hand.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, squeezing her fingers.
“My mom had an affair,” she says. Raquel sits up straighter and lifts her chin. “And now my parents are getting a divorce.”
“Shit!” I mutter, getting up from my seat and moving to sit beside her. I wrap my arms around her and lay my head on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s a week before Christmas, and they tell me now!” she huffs, shaking her head in disbelief. “I mean, Merry Christmas to me!” she hollers, lifting her hand up in a wave before fisting it and setting her cheek on it.
“You can celebrate the holidays with us,” I tell her. “Sawyer’s been staying with Lance since we left. Jason gets out in a few days. I need to talk to Caine about the plan for him, but the spare room is open,” I say, thinking out loud.
Our food arrives, and I look up to see Kyle walking in. “Not Kyle,” I say under my breath before I wave, and he waves back. I take in a deep breath as he walks over.
“You just got off work?” he asks, looking at my scrubs.
After he looked at Mr. Fletcher and I gave the old man his tetanus shot, Kyle had left for the day.
“Didn’t go home yet.”
Kyle’s eyes dart to my friend. I can’t tell if he’sinterested. Kyle’s good at hiding his feelings.
“Kyle, Raquel, Raquel, Kyle,” I say, waving my hand between them as I introduce them to each other. “Kyle is my boss and Caine’s best friend.”
“Hi,” Raquel says with a sad smile. But I see their eyes lock.
“Hi.”.
“Hey Kyle,” coos a busty brunette who walks over to the table. “Want to join me?”
I feel Raquel stiffen beside me, but more drinks arrive, distracting us.
I make a face at Kyle. The brunette’s perfume is overwhelming. I want her to go away. It’s ruining the comfortable ease between all of us. Even with Kyle here.
“Bye, Kyle,” I say as I get up and move back to my side of the booth.
Kyle’s mouth drops open, and he looks like he wants to say something, but the brunette grabs his arm, pulling him away.
