Kiara and Rafe's Guide to Dating

lesson ten: share only what you need to

Lesson 10: Share only what you need to

Too late to go out

Too young to stay in

Archie, Marry Me - Alvvays

"—can't believe you haven't read it yet, it's hilarious."

Pope quickly pulls up his phone as JJ continues talking, "They called you a temptress, Kie. Temptress."

Kiara continues twirling the straw in her drink, the ice has all melted by now. John B looks over Sarah's shoulder to see the article pulled up on Pope's phone, "Why do they think this Trevor character is qualified to speak about you."

Sarah zooms in on a tiny photo attached to the article, "Wait, isn't this the guy you set Kie up with a while ago?"

Wheezie scrapes her chair closer to get a look, lips lifting in silent judgment, taking the phone from Pope's hand and turning it to Fiona so they can both mumble a loaded gross under their breath.

JJ purses his lips and narrows his eyes in confusion while looking at the photo, shaking his head. "Pope, what's she talking about?"

"Babe," Pope drops his stare. "The spicy gumbo guy."

"I have no idea what a gumbo guy is."

"You were just laughing about it last night."

"Doesn't ring a bell, sorry," JJ states.

"And who the fuck is Dominic Perkins?" Topper asks, arms crossed while glaring right at Rafe.

"I think Kie's better suited to answer that," Rafe laughs at the memory and juts his chin toward her but she doesn't react.

"Well, I'd rather hear from you because after all he's your former friend." And that breaks Rafe's stare from Kiara so he can glance at Topper. A frown on his face and cheeks slightly puffed out.

"Are you..." He couldn't be jealous, right?

Topper narrows his eyes at Rafe, "If they had to interview a former friend, it should've been me. I'm like, the premier former friend."

Rafe slowly nods, "Yes, well next time the Daily Mail asks for a comment from a former friend turned current friend, I'll lead them your way."

"Don't worry bro, I'm going to make you look great," Topper jots something down in a notebook Rafe had not noticed or cared to comment on. Just bizarre.

Rafe crumples up an unused napkin and throws it at Kiara, the white ball hits her shoulder and she finally looks up. He dips his head in a silent question, brows knit together in confusion—are you okay?

Kiara's lips are pulled in a tight line that she forces into a smile and she nods. Rafe doesn't believe it for even a second.

"Let's—"

"I'll be right back," She mutters the generic excuse as she leaves the table.

Her back weaves through the crowd of people outside, the night is well into midnight, but the bar is filled with clatter from the people. He's too busy watching Kiara to notice the table go silent.

"Oh shit," John B says once Kiara disappears completely into the restaurant.

"Are you guys fighting?" Topper asks, his back to Rafe while his head is swiveled at such a severe angle so he can keep an eye on where Kiara went.

"I'm... not sure." Rafe can't pinpoint what he did to make her upset. He can name a list of his general proclivity that may have annoyed her but nothing to warrant her being this distant.