Old Money - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 17

Audrey hadn't seen Rafe since after midsummer. She woke up without him in her arms as she lay alone in his bed.

She went to see Pope that night. She didn't have anyone else to talk to about this. Sarah would be mad, so would Nathan, and she frankly didn't trust any of her other friends with sensitive information like that.

"I mean, yeah..." Pope sighed, looking up at the starry sky. They sat at the end of the dock at his house. "When he beat up that guy... I could tell it wasn't just because he's an ass. I don't know, it's like he was being... protective... or territorial."

Audrey sighed and listened, leaning her head on the wooden railing in front of her.

"And JJ told us all about what happened last week at your house." Pope laughed. "JJ was a mess the next day. You know, he was even happy that Rafe stood up for you? I mean, he was in shambles thinking about the two of you possibly being together but... he just felt so bad about what he said to you."

Audrey kept looking right ahead. She didn't feel much better about any of this.

"Can I just ask? JJ said that Rafe said you were rolling on the floor..." Audrey rolled her eyes and chuckled. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means we were blazing and laying on the floor of my brother's bedroom."

"Okay." He let out a laugh. "So you didn't get with him at all that night?"

"No." She said but then groaned. "Wait, well... I did. He kissed me, but that's all."

"So let me think..." He looked like he was calculating it all in his head. "He kisses you, neglects you for a week, then you fuck him?"

"Yeah I know I'm pathetic." She put her head in her hands. "I know how it sounds but... fuck, Pope I don't know. He just does something to me. Something I've never felt before."

"Yeah I know the feeling." He rolled his eyes.

"And I feel awful for JJ, really I do. But..." she groaned, "I've never had that sort of passion for anyone."

Pope nodded in thought. "Well, I won't tell anyone, if that's what you're worried about. It's no one's business but your own."

"Thank you." She smiled. What a sweetheart. "What should I do now?"

"Elaborate please."

"Should I reach out to Rafe?"

"No." Pope shook his head. "He's a one-night-only kind of guy. I'm assuming you were also one and- well..." He began to retract what he was saying. "It wasn't really a one and done. You've kissed... four? Five? Times now?" Audrey nodded. "Wait until he reaches out or... hang out with Sarah or Topper or Nathan and he might show. Then see how he acts around you." He shrugged.

Audrey laughed. "Should I really take advice from you? Have you ever kissed anyone before?" Pope sent her home after that one.

- - -

The following day she finally saw Sarah. They went to dinner, Sarah explained what happened with her and Topper. Apparently it was a big misunderstanding, and she thought she saw something that she didn't. But she blocked him on her phone the whole night of Midsummer, he eventually showed up to her house last night at her window with flowers and her favorite candy, so they were good and back together.

"So where'd you go off to?" Sarah asked and she quickly changed the subject.

"Speak of the devil." Audrey grinned, nodding her head and gesturing behind Sarah. Topper had just walked into the country club, speaking to the hostess and pointing his thumb like he had more people with him.