THE CUT

if anyone shouldn't have eaten, it's ward

22

My mother caught me and Rafe kissing in the upstairs hall, just before Rafe was about to go into the bathroom to take a shower.

"So... you're completely done with the Pogues," she said.

"I told you I was."

She left it at that. I don't know if she told my father, exactly, but I assume she did. A couple of afternoons later, he invited Rafe to golf with him again.

Rafe ended up moving back home two days later.

***

The Camerons arrive twenty minutes late, and when they come through our foyer, they're all rumpled and unorganized. It's raining, and Rose can't close the umbrella. Water drips across our freshly polished wood floors, driving my mother crazy—she bites her bottom lip to prevent an outburst at her guests. Ward's shirt is only half tucked and wrinkled. He's slightly out of breath as he greets my father.

Sarah flashes me a tight-lipped smile, which puts me on edge. If anyone is to come in and reassure me that the Camerons are okay, it's her, but her eyes dart away.

Rafe and I make eye contact. Even though everyone knows we're together, he doesn't greet me right away, which worries me more.

"So sorry we're late," Rose says. Their shoes squeak with drops of rain.

"That's alright." My mother sweeps them into the dining room. Her heels, which are not slicked with rain, click across the floor. "Would anyone like to start with a glass of wine?"

"I would love a glass." Rose shrugs out of her jacket. I take it for her and hang it up.

Sarah comes up and whispers to me, "Rafe was the first one ready."

I smile despite the lingering tension. We still haven't spoken about JJ.

"I made fun of him for wanting to see you, and he got all pissy."

My cheeks warm. "He doesn't like being teased."

"Unless it's by you."

And as though he knows we're talking about him, he pops up behind Sarah with a scowl. When she notices him, she shuffles away but not before she shoots me a glance.

"Hey," I say.

"I texted you," he says.

"You did?" I scramble for my phone then realize I left it upstairs when I was getting ready.

He slides a hand on my waist. A smile creeps up on his face but doesn't get far. I reach up and brush my hand against his healing bruise. If it hurts him, he doesn't let it show. I, on the other hand, flinch.

"I've missed you."

He kisses my forehead. "You should come over."

"I don't know..." Sarah and I are still tense, and Ward still doesn't want me dating Rafe, even if he doesn't say anything more about it. "I wish you were still staying here."

We both smile, remembering. Every night, we fell asleep together, and every morning we woke up together. We lived together.

He pushes my hair back and cups my face. "One day."

"Rafe," Ward calls.

We both straighten. I squeeze Rafe's hand and then follow him into the dining room. I keep my eye on him when Sarah slides back up beside me.

"It's so weird that you're dating my brother."

I flinch. I should have reached out to her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."