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“Are you determined to go down in a ball of flames?”
“Maybe,” I shrug.
“Did you hit your head on something and not tell anyone?” Rae demands to know. “Like, do we need to take you to a doctor to get whatever is going on in there straight again?”
“I’m fine,” I wave his concern off. “I’m just giving them the show they want.”
“No, Sookie,” Rae shakes his head. “You’re giving them the showyouwant. This is not what the band needs or the label… but then, what the fuck do I know? Life is just an unbelievable fucked up game of roulette.”
He says that last part like he’s in pain or something and my eyes narrow. That comment doesn’t sound like the Rae I know.
Not at all.
“How was your date with Dueri?” I wonder out loud.
“Fine,” he mumbles almost uncomfortably and his cheeks actually turn a different shade. Hmmm.
I stare at him and notice something very unusual and unlike Rae—he’s not giving anything away. Like, at all. For the most part we can all tell what the other is thinking, we’ve been together for so long, we know when something is up. But not now—now Rae has a protective shield that’s giving nothing away—actually more than that, it’s hiding him and his thoughts from the world.
“Just fine?” I prod.
He shrugs.
“You were good to her, right?”
I can tell Rae doesn’t like my question because his eyes narrow and he looks like he wants to punch me in the face.
“I had to ask,” I tell him and lift my hands up in defense. “Even though I just met her, I feel very protective of her.”
Rae closes his eyes for a second and when he opens them I begin to wonder.
“She’s incredible.”
The way he says it. The way the sentence just lingers between us with such gravitas speaks volumes.
“She is,” I agree and decide to leave it alone. I know what it’s like not to want to talk about feelings—especially ones you want or need to hide from the world.
Speaking of feelings… Ari. God. Why did I even just go there again? How is it possible for someone to just cloud your mind so fast without you even asking for it? Now all I can picture is her naked body in front of me.
And all the things I want to do to it.
“Did you hear my question?” Rae’s voice comes through the Ari fog that’s enveloped me.
Crap. I hadn’t realized he even asked me something.
No, Rae, no, I’m not hearing what you’re saying. I’m not even on this planet right now, bro. I’m off in a fantasy world undressing your sister again, except this time I plan on being inside her—that’s how my fantasy ends. And it’s fucking unbelievable, by the way. Perfect.
Just like her.
“He’s got a headache.”
Lucas for the win. I nod in gratitude at my friend, who looks at me with wide, disapproving eyes. He’s shaking his head at me in acute displeasure. I know he’s pissed. I know he thinks I’m an idiot.
But…
Fine.
I am an idiot. Currently, a hard idiot who just needs to release this pent-up energy.
