Beautifully Wrong - Rafe Cameron

II

Chapter II: unexpected approach
warnings: foul language, underage drinking, SA.

Indiana tore her eyes away from the mojito she had just made and looked up, finding her friend, Paige, speed-walking towards her with a look of sheer panic on her face.

"Why are you walking that fast?" Indiana asked, grabbing a straw and placing it in the drink before handing the cup to Paige. "Running away from something?"

"Actually, yes," Paige replied, shoving the cup back into Indiana's hands. "Take over. Please?" She clasped her hands together, practically begging.

"I guess I don't really have a choice." Indiana sighed, grabbing the tray and notepad. "What table?" She placed the mojito and a bottle of water on the tray, already dreading the answer.

"Table 7," Paige mumbled, avoiding eye contact as she started to prepare another drink.

Indiana's hand froze on the tray as she processed Paige's words. Table 7. Her eyes instinctively darted toward the table in question, and her heart sank when she saw who was seated there. "No." She turned back to Paige, shaking her head. "Absolutely not."

"Please, I beg you." Paige's eyes were wide with desperation.

"Paige, you need to face Kelce. You can't keep throwing your responsibilities at me." Indiana huffed, crossing her arms. She knew exactly why Paige was avoiding the table—Kelce and Paige had hooked up in the past, and things had turned ugly after that. But that didn't mean Indiana wanted to get involved.

"I know, I know... Just this once. I'll cover for you when you need it, I promise," Paige pleaded, her voice bordering on panic.

Indiana sighed deeply, the weight of her reluctance heavy on her shoulders. "Alright, fine," she conceded, though every fiber of her being screamed against it.

The three guys at the table—Topper, Kelce, and Rafe—looked her up and down as she approached, their eyes lingering far longer than she was comfortable with. She wanted to disappear.

"Took a little too long," Topper chuckled, but his tone was devoid of humor, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.

"Sorry. There was a... uh, issue with the other waitress," she stammered, her cheeks reddening under their scrutinizing gazes.

Kelce's eyes scanned the bar area, quickly spotting Paige, who was poorly hiding behind the counter. A smirk played on his lips, knowing full well why she had sent Indiana in her place.

"The water?" Indiana asked, trying to maintain her composure. Topper raised his hand, and she placed the bottle in front of him. "The mojito?" She looked around the table, hoping someone would claim it quickly so she could escape the uncomfortable situation.

"Rafe," Kelce said, elbowing Rafe in the ribs.

Rafe seemed to snap out of whatever daze he was in and reached for the drink, his gaze locking onto Indiana a little too intensely. Indiana could feel his eyes boring into her, making her wish she could vanish on the spot. To mask her discomfort, she discreetly held the tray against her chest, suddenly very aware of how exposed she felt in the country club's ridiculous uniform.

The uniform for women—if you could even call it that—was nothing more than a bikini top and jean shorts, while the men got to wear polo shirts and whatever bottoms they preferred. It was, in Indiana's opinion, a blatant display of misogyny, but what could she do? She needed the job, and the club had made it clear that it was their way or no way.

"Are you 21 yet?" Indiana asked, trying to break the awkward silence, though she immediately regretted it.

The three guys burst into laughter as if she had just said the funniest thing in the world, making her feel even smaller. Rafe's laugh was the loudest, almost mocking her for even asking.