Rafe (5 page)

“Did you just call, Lucy Cooper ‘Snowflake’? As in...”  I nod my head, telling them yes.

“Oh fuck, Rafe. Are you going to tell her or is she gonna have a big surprise when she gets in your pant. Sorry Hayley” I just sit there looking at my chucks.

“When the time comes I will explain it to her okay?” I get to my feet and make my way back to my mom and lean down and kiss her cheek. “I will explain when and if the time comes, OK. I promise mom” I nod to my uncles and leave the office. I need some fresh air. As I walk to my baby, all thoughts of Lucy fill my head. The way she smiled at me, the way she smelt. Damn that girl smells amazing, fuck I’m getting hard just thinking about how she smelt. What the hell. I climb in my car and crank up the music. Linkin Park’s “Faint” blasts through the speakers. I need a long drive to clear my head. But I know that I will never get Lucy out of my head, not that I want to but I will try my damned hardest to be friends with her, well until the times comes and we become more.

Chapter 5

Lucy

After watching Rafe walk away, Milly and Mia pounce on me. They are both totally shocked and slightly pissed off that I didn’t inform them that I knew Rafe. They hound me with questions.

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell us you knew Inside Noise? That’s not very friend like, Coop.” I step around them and make my way to the back room to hang up my bag. I turn to head back to the store front and the girls are all up in my personal space. I shrink back slightly.

“I grew up with them but I didn’t know they were Inside Noise until last night. I haven’t seen the boys in a while. What’s the big deal, girls?” I shrug and squeeze past them. I open the till and lift my store ID up and around my neck. I turn to Milly and Mia, who are still staring at me with mouths hanging open. “You will stay like that if the wind changes,” I tell them.

“Did you fuck
, Rafe last night? Did you know that they sleep with so many groupies? It’s the Phoenix effect, as Reeve calls it,” Milly kindly informs me. Oh, I know what the boys call it. They used it all through high school, but I managed to keep my feelings wrapped up tightly. Rafe knows I like him but it’s ‘Lucy Time’ for the time being. I’m just not sure how long I can keep it up. We will try the friend’s path, even though I know how hard it’s going to be.

“I didn’t have sex with Rafe, okay? We are just friends, girls. Like I said, I grew up with them.”

Mia chimes in, “So, you didn’t have sex with Rafe?” I shake my head no. Why aren’t they getting this? “Oh that’s awesome, because I wouldn’t want him to use you like the trashy groupie he took back stage last night. She looked well fucked when she came out of that back room. All rosy cheeks and everything.” My blood runs cold through my body. Mia’s statement floors me for reasons I’m not comfortable with. I didn’t see them at the club last night.

“I’m going to sort out the deliveries, you two okay in here?” I don’t wait for them to reply and make my way to sort through the many boxes that have arrived. I sit on the floor staring at the inventory sheet, not really reading it. My vision blurs and I watch as a tear hits the sheet before me. I quickly wipe the tear away. I have no claim over him, even after everything he just said to me less than twenty minutes ago. I try to convince myself that Rafe does really want to be just friends. So in turn yes, he can fuck whomever he wants to and so can I.

The morning goes by pretty quickly and before I know it, Mia is coming to see what I would like for lunch. I tell her I will have my usual of chicken, bacon and mayonnaise wrap with orange juice. I never used to drink OJ much but since I craved it with Shane, I have kept the taste for it. Weird, I know. While I’m waiting for Mia to bring back my lunch I continue with inventory and orders. I hear my phone ping and I know that I have to move to get my phone. Ugh! Note to self; don’t sit on the floors for hours at a time. I dig my iPhone out of my bag and sit on the red Barcelona chair to read my phone, might as well check Facebook and Twitter while I’m here. I tense up when I see who has sent me the text.

Rafe:
Afternoon Snowflake. I know we said friends but I can’t get our kiss out of my head ;) Did the freaky sisters say anything?

I ponder whether I should reply or not. Like I said, I have no claim over him, but friends will be hard. That kiss was amazing, the best I have ever had. He tasted so damn good and I suddenly feel my face burn up at the thoughts of Rafe’s hands and lips on me. I shake my head and decide to reply. I need to get him to forget to about kissing me again. Friends and that’s it. Also, friends or not, I will not allow him to parade his fuck buddies in front of me.

Me:
Afternoon R, work has been fun. The girls and me had a nice little chat about you and the band ;)

I hit send, not expecting him to reply instantly.

Rafe:
Oh yeah, what did they say about us Phoenix boys?

Me:
You really wanna know Rafe?

Rafe:
C’mon Snowflake, tell me.

Me:
Ok. They told me all about the Phoenix effect, how you boys still throw that around your groupies to get them to do whatever you want. You still fucking groupies, Rafe? Friends tell each other everything right?

I sit nervously waiting for him to reply. I change my position on my chair and now sit crossed legged. I roll my neck as I can feel a knot in my shoulder muscles from sitting on the floor looking down. Rafe takes a few minutes to reply. I bet he was thinking of a cover answer. He doesn’t know about me knowing that he is still fucking groupies. Yeah, it will hurt but shit happens.

Rafe:
I stopped fucking groupies before school started. It gets old babe.

I snort to myself and shake my head. Fucking liar.

Me:
Really?? You don’t fuck groupies anymore? C’mon Phoenix, we are friends you can tell me
.

Rafe:
Yes!!!! I DON’T fuck groupies Lucy. I haven’t for weeks now. Where is all this coming from?

I go to reply when Mia comes through the door and hands me my lunch. “You okay, Coop? You look totally pissed right now.” I smile.

“No, Mia I’m fine, just checking my Facebook.” She nods and goes back out front. I start to unwrap my lunch and my phone pings again.

Rafe:
Lucy, answer me please.

I put my phone on the desk and go about eating when my phone rings. I look at the screen and see Rafe’s name. I really don’t want him lying to me. I mute the call and go back to my lunch. The phone ringing stops and immediately rings again. I spy Rafe’s name and again I mute it. After he tries four times he gives up.

I clean up after my lunch and head out front with The Minnies, as I like to call them. it’s a mixture of their names and the word twinies. We chat with some customers and they tell me their plans for the weekend. They are going to a club that has local bands play all the time. The girls are huge rock band groupies, “but with class”, they say. I am curious to see them in action, so I invite myself along with them and they are well up for the three of us hitting the club. Before I know it, it is closing time, so I ring the last customer up. Then the girls and I clean the store to be ready for the following day. Once the store is cleaned and the money is locked away in the safe thanks to Milly, we head for the door. The girls stand behind me while I set the alarm and lock the door. I turn to say goodbye to the girls and they are staring at Rafe, leaning against his car. I freeze from both Rafe and his car. That car brings back some memories for me. I walk over and stand just to the left of him. “Hi.”

“Lucy,” Rafe says a low toned voice. He looks towards the girls standing behind me. “You gonna introduce me to your friends?” Why is he asking to meet them? I turn to the girls.

“Rafe, meet Milly and Mia. Milly, Mia, this is Rafe Phoenix, bass player of Inside Noise.” I wave my hand between them. Millie steps forward.

“Very nice to meet you, Rafe. We saw you last night at Max Point and can I just say you were amazing as usual. Your music always gets me hot and bothered.” No Shame Milly, her name will be from now on. Mia steps up next and stands the other side of Rafe, as if they are tag teaming him. He looks at me and our eyes lock and he has his signature Phoenix smirk on his face. I clench my jaw and look away. I really don’t want to see him flirt with them. Fuck, I hate that he is making me feel like this. Mia runs her hand down his arm and says something in his ear and he laughs. OK, that’s me, done.

“See you girls tomorrow afternoon,” I say as I walk off towards my apartment. After a few feet I take quick look back and the three of them are still talking and standing very close to each other. I bite on my lower lip so hard that I’m sure I taste blood. I keep walking back to my place and after about ten minutes of walking I hear the rumble of a vintage car and my heart skips a beat but I keep walking. I really don’t think we can even try to be friends. It would hurt and piss me off at the same time to see him with girls draped all over him. I look to the road and see Rafe’s car stop besides me but I don’t stop walking. I’m almost to my place and I just want to take a hot shower and spent the night with a pint of coconut ice cream. My favorite. I hear the car door open and then slam shut.

“Lucy, wait up.” I keep walking until I feel him grab my upper arm, forcing me to stop. I rip my arm from his grip and turn to him; I can’t keep the scowl off my face.

“What, Rafe?” I fold my arms across my chest, just under my breasts. They push up a little and I see that Rafe takes notice. He just stares at me. I’m so over this shit today. I turn to walk off but he speaks up.

“I thought I was taking you home? But the girls cornered me and you sulked off. What’s the deal, Luce?”

“What’s my deal? Really, Rafe? First of all you lie to me. Then you let the girls grope you, and by the way, they didn’t corner you. You could have said something to them about taking me home. I walked away from you ten minutes ago, Rafe. If you really wanted to give me a ride home you would have said something. I’m fine to walk home on my own. Goodnight, Rafe,” I walk off towards my apartment. I don’t turn back to him, I can’t. I know I’m being really childish right now but I don’t care. I fish my keys out of my bag and open my door. I hear the all too familiar rumble of an engine and rush into my place. I lock the door behind me and drop the keys into the bowl on the table near the door. I hear Monty and Gunner in the living room, talking about the gig last night. Just great, that’s all I need.  I know Monty is going to push for details after what happened.

I walk around to see them all snuggled up together watching a movie and chatting away. “Hey guys. What you watching?” I ask, as I make my way over to them. Gunner sits up and pats his lap for me to join them. I crawl onto Gunner’s lap and place my feet over Monty’s. I spy my pint of ice cream on the coffee table, might I say, empty pint of ice cream.

“Sorry, Luce. I really wanted ice cream and that is what was left in the fridge.” She gives me her best Monty smile, trying to butter me up. I fake a scowl at her and we laugh.

“It’s okay, but you owe me girly.” Gunner chuckles and I turn to him. I poke him in the chest. “You Mister Gunnerson, don’t you laugh. You owe me just as much as our girl over there,” I point to Monty. “No doubt you ate my ice cream, which you know if my fave...with her.” I lower my voice but after last night I know I owe them both an explanation. “I’m sorry for running out on you guys…” I’m cut off by a knock on the door. I look at Gunner and see he senses that I’m not looking forward to seeing the person knocking. Maisey jumps up.

“I’ll get it,” she says, darting towards the door. I look back to Gunner and I try to stop my bottom lip from trembling. He hugs me tighter. God I love this dude, best big brother stand in ever.

“Lucy it’s, Rafe. Um, he wants to know if he can come in and explain.” I nod and she calls him in. I climb off Gunner’s lap and sit on the loveseat. Gunner stand and gives Rafe a manly hug, then sits back down.

“Rafe I love you like a brother but what you have to say to Coop, you say in front of me, okay?” He gives Rafe a stern look. I look over to see Rafe nod and then he takes a seat on the couch closest to me. Rafe goes to speak but I hold my hand up to stop him.

“Maisey, take a seat babe. Before Rafe says his peace, I need to explain about last night.” I take a deep breath and look back to them. “Rafe knows all of this because he was a part of it all. I have known Rafe and all the Phoenix family all my life. I dated a guy my senior year named Dallas,” Rafe mutters ‘Prick’ under his breath, but keeps his head down. “Let’s put it this way, he was the wrong kinda guy to have been with. Dallas was all kinds of wrong, but I was rebelling.  My parents were putting a lot of pressure on me to get good grades and when they didn’t approve of me dating Dallas, it pushed me towards him more. I started dressing differently and wearing stupid ass makeup,” I chuckled to myself and smiled at them. 

“So, was my Honey Bear was a total skank, Goth-type girl?” Gunner winks at me and I smile.

“Yeah, Gun. I was a skank just to get the rich dumbass boy. How pathetic is that?”

“Was he hot, Coop?” Typical of Maisey to bring that up. I nod and smile. I look at Rafe, who is clenching his fists so tight they are white. I place my hand on his knee and I see him relax a little.

“What the fuck has that got to do with it babe? He treated our girl like shit from what I can tell,” Gunner replies to her.

“Calm down, Kirky,” I smirk at him and he scowls at me. He hates me calling him by his given name. “He was good looking but like I said, he was all kinds of wrong. Anyway, a few weeks before we finished high school I found out I was pregnant with Dallas’s baby. I hadn’t told anyone that I was pregnant, as I didn’t know what I was going to do.” I look at Rafe and he nods his head, telling me to carry on. My heart is racing a mile a minute. “At the end of school we always had a field bonfire to celebrate. Everyone from our year was there plus others from our area. I was there with Trin and Kenzie, but I knew that Dallas was going to be there. I needed space and was sitting by myself when I spotted him talking to the school whore, Dani Basset.” Gunner looks at Rafe and he gives him a slight nod. What’s that about? “What? Rafe, what the fuck was that nod to Gunner about?” Rafe looks at me and closes his eyes and takes a deep breathe.

“Babe, Dani is here. She goes to SoCal now; she transferred in.”