I know I'm not the person you want to talk to about this. About Rafe. That's why you didn't call last night. I'm not Serena."
"No, that's not--"
"It is. I get that. You guys were best friends. Except, well, there are things you can't talk to Daniel about, right? He didn't like Rafe, so he's happy you guys broke up. If you're happy about it, you can't talk to him."
She was right.
"You like Rafe." She led me from the classroom, voice lowered as we walked into the crowded hall. "I don't need to be Serena to see that. I've watched you with other guys, summer boys. That's just for fun. This is different."
Right again.
"Is it because of the party?" she asked. "You think maybe he drug you? Because I'm sure it was Hayley. If you want, we could try to prove it--break into her place, look for the dope."
I stared at Nicole.
Her cheeks colored. "What can I say--I'm a closet rebel. But if it's not the party thing, is it because he came on strong when you were drugged? I could help with that, too. You guys arrange a date and I'll be close by, so there's someone you can call if things get out of hand."
"You'll be my secret bodyguard?" I grinned at her. "You really a rebel."
She flushed more. "Hardly. I just think you guys are good for each other."
I looked at Nicole. I'd misjudged her. Just like I'd misjudged Sam. And maybe Hayley. And Rafe? I didn't even want to think about that one.
"No, that's not--"
"It is. I get that. You guys were best friends. Except, well, there are things you can't talk to Daniel about, right? He didn't like Rafe, so he's happy you guys broke up. If you're happy about it, you can't talk to him."
She was right.
"You like Rafe." She led me from the classroom, voice lowered as we walked into the crowded hall. "I don't need to be Serena to see that. I've watched you with other guys, summer boys. That's just for fun. This is different."
Right again.
"Is it because of the party?" she asked. "You think maybe he drug you? Because I'm sure it was Hayley. If you want, we could try to prove it--break into her place, look for the dope."
I stared at Nicole.
Her cheeks colored. "What can I say--I'm a closet rebel. But if it's not the party thing, is it because he came on strong when you were drugged? I could help with that, too. You guys arrange a date and I'll be close by, so there's someone you can call if things get out of hand."
"You'll be my secret bodyguard?" I grinned at her. "You really a rebel."
She flushed more. "Hardly. I just think you guys are good for each other."
I looked at Nicole. I'd misjudged her. Just like I'd misjudged Sam. And maybe Hayley. And Rafe? I didn't even want to think about that one.
( Kelley Armstrong )
[ The Gathering ]
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