Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 38

Rafe's POV

The house feels too damn quiet without Ward's constant pacing and barking orders, and it's making me restless. I know I should feel relieved that he's gone—at least for a few days—but the empty space just makes the silence louder. The only sound is the faint murmur of Wheezie's voice from somewhere upstairs, probably on the phone or watching one of her stupid shows.

I grip the edge of the kitchen counter, staring blankly out the window. Ward and Rose left for the Bahamas this morning, leaving me in charge of Wheezie. Me, the one person in this family they'd never trust with any real responsibility. I almost laugh at the irony.

"Rafe," Wheezie's voice breaks the stillness, drifting down the stairs. "What's for dinner?"

Dinner. As if I give a shit about dinner. I barely acknowledge her question, my mind somewhere else entirely. Teresa. She's the only thing that's keeping me from losing it completely. The only person I really give a damn about.

Without thinking, I pull out my phone and type out a quick text:

Stay with me at Tannyhill this weekend? I don't wanna be apart.

It's short and blunt, but I'm not good at saying how I feel. Besides, she knows what I mean. She knows I need her. I stare at the message for a moment before hitting send, my heart pounding a little too hard for comfort.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzes with her reply:

Of course, I'll be there. I love you.

Relief washes over me, and I exhale slowly, the tightness in my chest easing just a bit. God, I need her right now. She's the only one who makes all this bullshit bearable. I know I'm obsessive, but I can't help it. She's become my lifeline—my reason for not losing it completely.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to calm the anxious energy thrumming through my veins. Wheezie's still waiting for an answer about dinner, but I ignore her. My mind's already somewhere else, already picturing Teresa here with me, in my bed, wrapped up in my arms.

I shoot off one more quick text:

Come now. I'll pick you up.

Her response comes almost immediately.

Okay, I'll be ready.

I shove my phone into my pocket, grabbing my keys off the counter. As I head for the front door, Wheezie's voice stops me again.

"Rafe, where are you going?"

I glance back at her, barely hiding my irritation. "Out. I'll be back in a bit."

She frowns, looking a little lost. "But what about—"

"Order a pizza or something," I snap, cutting her off. "I'm not your babysitter, Wheezie."

She flinches, her face falling. But I'm too focused on getting to Teresa to care. Wheezie's not my problem. She never has been. She's just... there. A background noise. Someone I have to deal with because we share the same blood.

I don't wait for her response before heading out the door, my mind already on Teresa. She's the only one who matters. The only one I can't lose.

The drive to her house is a blur. I park outside, and she's already waiting on the porch, her bag slung over her shoulder. I watch her as she walks toward me, her hair blowing softly in the breeze, and something inside me tightens. Fuck, she's beautiful. I don't know how I managed to get someone like her. Don't know why she stays with me after everything I've done.