STRAYS by Brent Cora

Author:Brent, Cora
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

12

Izzy

Rafe and Oliver are long gone by the time I wake up. Following the little backyard liaison, I showered and then slept soundly until my phone alarm began going off with the sound of birds chirping. Once I read an article stating this was the most emotionally soothing noise to awaken to. I do not feel emotionally soothed.

Today there aren’t enough chirping birds on earth to erase the flood of flashbacks from last night. Pulling the covers over my face with a groan does not purge the memory of Rafe’s breath in my ear as I came on his hand.

“I’m not going to be the one to break you in.”

I throw the covers off my face.

If I think about him anymore I’ll just get angry. Rafe Hempstead has no idea what he’s talking about. For his information, I have had all of the sex. I’ve been having sex since the summer after my junior year of high school. He flatters himself to think he has some kind of all powerful cock that can conquer any woman it pleases.

Yet something bothers me about the things he said. He was being vulgar, not unusual for him. He succeeded in offending me but I’m not sure that was his goal. Even before I humiliated myself in my lingerie last night he could have had me if he’d ever made a move. He never has, despite the fact that he wants to. I don’t think he’s in the habit of being a gentleman. Maybe, despite his rough way of showing it, he’s trying to be one now.

Rafe doesn’t hate me. But he might hate himself.

In an abrupt move I sit up and decide that’s enough of dwelling on Rafe Hempstead for now. At some point we’ll have to face each other. We live together. He’s not going anywhere and neither am I.

My first class of the day is in an hour and I get ready in a hurry so I’ll have time to stop somewhere for breakfast. I can think of no place more deserving of my business than Ruby’s Bakery, which I think of as Shane’s Bakery, though Lana has said he has no intention of changing the name of the place he inherited from his godmother. Shane hooks me up with a pair of cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven and the day improves dramatically.

Outside the weather is pleasant enough to believe that the dry heat of summer will soon be in the past. I’m grateful to have three classes in a row because this leaves me little time to think about anything else. My mother calls just after my last class ends and I’m careful to keep any mention of Rafe out of the conversation. Instead I stick to talking about Oliver. She loves hearing all about the little boy who has captured my heart.

The call doesn’t last long because she’s running late for the job she took at my Aunt Truly’s store when her empty nest status left her feeling bored.

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