HEARTLESS─── RAFE CAMERON [1]

chapter thirty two

Days pass by in a blur of pleasant haze. It's been at least a week since our day out on the marsh, and life has settled into a comfortable routine. I typically see Rafe every day— or every other day— sometimes at the Club, or when he invites me over to Tannyhill.

With Aaron away somewhere in Europe with Cassie, there's a noticeable calmness in the air. The usual tension that he brings— at least for me— is absent. I bet he's busy "exploring" Europe with Cassie. Or he's exploring her. One of the above. But probably only the second.

Nonetheless, I find myself relaxing in ways that I haven't— not for a long time.

I find myself lounging on the couch as the afternoon sun starts to come down, scrolling through my phone, when a message from Kie pops up on my phone.

Kie: Hey! We're having a small little get-together at the Chateau. Just a few of us Pogues. You in?

A smile spreads across my face as I type out my answer. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Lux: You know it! What time?

Kie: Can you be down in around an hour?

Lux: Yes! Can't wait!

***

I bike all the way down to the Cut, the warm breeze ruffling through my hair as I pedal. As I start to arrive at the Chateau, I see the familiar sight of JJ's dirt bike and John B's old van, the Twinkie, parked haphazardly out front. I quickly recognized the only clean bike parked out front to be Sarah's. 

The smell of a bonfire wafts through the air, mixed with the faint sound of laughter and music.

"Hey!" I call out, seeing the Pogues circled together inside the hot-tub that JJ impulsively bought a year ago.

Kie spots me first and waves enthusiastically. "Lux!" She stands up in the tub, urging me to come over. I laugh to myself, but quickly strip down to my swimsuit and run up to them.

"Finally!" JJ exclaims, holding up a beer. "You're just in time for the fun."

I step into the hot tub, feeling the warmth envelop me as I sit between Sarah and Pope. JJ cracks open another beer and hands it to me with a grin. "Here. Drink up."

"Thanks," I say, cracking it open and taking several sips. The cold beer is refreshing in the heat. But before I can even finish half of the can, I hear JJ let out an exaggerated Ahh as he crumples the can in his hand and tosses it to the ground.

"Holy shit, JJ," I say. "You're done already?"

"Yup," he says proudly. "You're late to the party. This is my third of the night."

"Three beers, huh?" I say, raising an eyebrow. "Trying to set a record tonight?"

JJ shrugs casually. "Something like that. Life's too short to sip slowly."

Sarah rolls her eyes playfully. "Yeah, until you're the one we have to drag out of the tub later."

"Hey, I can hold my liquor," JJ protests, though his lopsided grin and slightly swaying suggests otherwise. "Besides, someone's got to keep the entertainment going around here."

John B leans back into the tub, smirking. "More like someone's got to be the entertainment. What's next, JJ?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets," JJ shoots back, eyes gleaming with drunken mischief. "I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve."

Several of us collectively roll our eyes in amusement, but laugh out loud.

"You are cray-zee, JJ," Sarah says between laughs.