Then I asked, "Are you coming to the party tomorrow?" because it was, at the moment, the only change of subject I could come up with.
"Daniel's party?" Rafe looked confused, as if he couldn't imagine why I'd think he was going to the party of a guy who obviously didn't like him.
"Well, it's at Daniel's place, but it's really--"
"Your birthday party. I know." He kept giving me that look, and I didn't blame him--I was as unlikely to invite him as Daniel was.
"Everyone goes," I said. "The whole class."
"Yeah, I know. Hayley asked if I was going, but I kind of figured that didn't exactly count as an invitation. Unless I went with her, which I'd really rather not."
I had to laugh at his expression. "Don't blame you. But you can now consider yourself officially invited by the birthday girl. It's an easier way to meet people than hanging out at the smoking pit. Healthier, too."
That got a smile from him. Not that lazy grin I'd seen so often, but something as different from his usual self as that ice-cold anger I'd seen him show to Sam and, later, to me. A crooked smile. Hesitant. Not quite shy, but close enough to do more to my insides than that sexy one he tossed around so casually. When I felt that, I felt a faint pang of panic, too--something in my gut that said falling for Rafe Martinez was a bad idea. When he said, "I'll see," in a tone that said he wasn't likely to show up, I was relieved.
"It depends on Annie," he said. "It's Saturday, so she'll expect me to stick around."
"Understandable," I said. "Have a good weekend, then, and I'll see you Monday."
I hurried off before he could reply."
"Daniel's party?" Rafe looked confused, as if he couldn't imagine why I'd think he was going to the party of a guy who obviously didn't like him.
"Well, it's at Daniel's place, but it's really--"
"Your birthday party. I know." He kept giving me that look, and I didn't blame him--I was as unlikely to invite him as Daniel was.
"Everyone goes," I said. "The whole class."
"Yeah, I know. Hayley asked if I was going, but I kind of figured that didn't exactly count as an invitation. Unless I went with her, which I'd really rather not."
I had to laugh at his expression. "Don't blame you. But you can now consider yourself officially invited by the birthday girl. It's an easier way to meet people than hanging out at the smoking pit. Healthier, too."
That got a smile from him. Not that lazy grin I'd seen so often, but something as different from his usual self as that ice-cold anger I'd seen him show to Sam and, later, to me. A crooked smile. Hesitant. Not quite shy, but close enough to do more to my insides than that sexy one he tossed around so casually. When I felt that, I felt a faint pang of panic, too--something in my gut that said falling for Rafe Martinez was a bad idea. When he said, "I'll see," in a tone that said he wasn't likely to show up, I was relieved.
"It depends on Annie," he said. "It's Saturday, so she'll expect me to stick around."
"Understandable," I said. "Have a good weekend, then, and I'll see you Monday."
I hurried off before he could reply."
( Kelley Armstrong )
[ The Gathering ]
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