Inconvenient Attachment

Chapter 4

"Here they are!" We hear Rose's voice as soon as me and mum enter the country club doors. We walk over to the table where Ward, Rose, Sarah and Wheezie are sitting.

The Camerons stand up to greet us. Sarah immediately grabs my hand and pulls me away from our families. "It's nice to see you too Vanessa, honey!" Rose shouts after us giving me a smile and a wave. I return the favour and hear her and mom laugh between them.

"Where are we going?" I question Sarah but she doesn't stop pulling me until we reach some empty sun loungers well out the way of our parents.

"I cannot deal with Rose today, she's already had too much to drink and it's not even lunch yet." She groans falling down onto one of the sun loungers. I sit on one beside her.

I scan the country club unsure of why I am even looking for him when my eyes fall on him stood between my idiot brother and Kelce. All three with a drink in hand, chatting amongst themselves.

"What do you even see in my brother?" I blurt out as I watch him from afar. Everything about him is stupid.

"Sometimes I ask myself the same question. But then he's kind to me, he's affectionate, he's handsome. What more could I ask for." She shrugs letting out a relaxed sigh covering her eyes with her arm.

"Handsome? Kind? Affectionate? I don't think we're talking about the same person." I snort. She joins in laughing with me knowing the kind of relationship me and my brother have.

I look back over at my brother but instead my eyes land on Rafe. He's already looking in my direction, his face showing nothing but a blank expression.

RAFE'S POV:

"I don't care if it's hard to hear, Top, man your sister is hot!" Kelce changes the subject completely after noticing Sarah and Nessa sit across the way from us on the sun loungers.

"Dude, that's my sister." Topper smacks Kelce up the back of his head causing him to wince in pain.

"Come on Rafe, back me up. Don't tell me you wouldn't smash if you had the chance." Kelce grins at Topper knowing exactly what he's doing taking a step back to avoid another head slap.

I shake my head in disagreement. "I'd rather shoot myself in the foot."

Topper laughs. "That's what I told her today."

I snap my head to look at him. "Told her what?"

He notices my surprised expression and realises he didn't give much context. "Oh my mom was grilling into her about being single and suggested she date you but I told her you wouldn't go anywhere near her cause she's an annoying, ugly, adopted termite who no one likes." He remembers his exact words towards his sister and laughs at himself.

Confused how he can be so rude to his sister, I just nod in response to his explanation.

"Bro, she is far from ugly." Kelce doesn't hesitate to say earning himself another off guard head slap.

"Come on, I wanna go see my girlfriend." Topper gestures for us to follow him around the other side of the pool towards my little sister and her best friend.

VANESSA POV:

"Oh shit Rafe's coming over." I snap my eyes away from the upcoming golden trio, trying to sort my hair in a panic.

"You said you didn't have a crush on him anymore!" Sarah whisper shouts in disbelief watching me mess with my hair trying to make it presentable.

I snap my stare to look at her. "I don't but I'm already your boyfriends annoying little sister and I'm already your brothers little sisters annoying best friend and I'm also the girl that's friends with the Pogues, I can't make an even worse impression." I stress and she nods at me giggling.

"You're not annoying, V." She assures me.

I sigh. "You have to say that, you're my best friend."

She furrows her brows. This means she's about to get deep but she is instead cut off by my idiot older brother attacking her with sickening kisses. Sarah squeals as he attacks her with affection.

"Hey V, how are you?" Kelce slides onto the end of my sun lounger and places his hand on my leg.

"Great thanks." I bluntly reply before pulling my leg from his hand and standing to my feet. "Gross." I blurt out as I walk past my brother and my best friend being overly publicly affectionate making me want to puke.

I head straight for the bar.

I hop on a stool swinging my legs round to face the bar, grabbing the menu in front of me.

"Hey, Vanessa right?" The bartender places his hands down on the counter in front of me in order to get my attention.

I look up from the menu at a man with dark hair and a bushy beard grinning at me.

"Yes..."

"Jack Daniels and coke and a strawberry daiquiri for my girl." A familiar voice interrupts me as a figure slams his country club card onto the counter.

I look up to meet eyes with Rafe.

He shoots me a quick wink before looking back up at the bartender who was now quickly and nervously preparing our drinks.

I'm confused. My mind is doing overtime as the words 'my girl' circles over and over in my head. The wink. Why? My stomach won't stop doing flips at the thought of it.

Rafe taps his card on the counter impatiently until our drinks are finally ready. The bartender places our drinks in front of us before stalking off to serve someone else.

I look at the red alcoholic cocktail in front of me. "Rafe, I'm not 21 and my mom is here." He notices my nervous state and places his hand on my shoulder. The hairs on my body stand on end at the feel of his touch whilst my heart thuds against my chest.

"I suggest you drink fast then." He nods at my drink as he lifts it up to pass it to me.

He reaches over to grab his drink off the counter his mouth coming close to my ear. "Stay away from creepy bartenders next time." He whispers before stalking off leaving me sat alone at the bar with a strawberry daiquiri in hand.