WILD RIDE (Rafe Cameron x OC) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Nine (Rafe)

CHAPTER NINE

Rafe

Dad's glasses sat on the tip of his nose while he stared at his computer screen. Typing away while I ranted to him and not once did he look up at me. Not until I stopped pacing the hardwood floors in his office and nearly tripped over one of the leather armchairs.

He took his glasses off and sat them on the oak desk. Pinching the bridge of his nose with aggravation and annoyance with me.

"Rafe... Slow down, I can't understand a word you're saying when you're talking a mile a minute. All I heard was Sarah's friend, guest room, foster care."

I heave a breath and then approach his desk, leaning on it with my hands and towering over him as he slowly closes his laptop. "Sarah's friend that's in the guest room? She's hiding out here so she doesn't go into foster care."

Dad nods and I furrow my brows. "Yes, I'm aware. I told her as long as she needs to stay here she is more than welcome. Alana is very respectful and I enjoy her being here, I know Sarah does too."

"So what do you plan to do when the social worker hears that Sarah Cameron is her best friend and then shows up here to do a full search?"

He laughs and shakes his head at me. "Rafe, unless they bring a warrant to seize the girl from this house she's not going anywhere. She's not from here, she's from the Cut so trust me when I say they'll be going to Kiara Carrera's house first, then Pope Heyward's and back the Routledge house, before they even think of coming here."

"And you're so sure of this? How?"

He takes a sip from his glass. "I'm not as out of the loop as you think I am, Rafe. I know a lot of people and people love to talk to me. I may or may not have made sure to send any social workers on a wild goose chase when it came to Alana's safety. Big John would have wanted me to do that for her."

"Yet John B was taken this morning and managed to escape? That's what Sarah said."

A nod. "Yeah well, he's more of a free spirit than his sister. He's more like Big John in that sense. Hey, you know what, why don't you take Alana out with you and your friends tonight? Get her out of the house but don't take her anywhere that will bring attention to her. I've got something I'm working out but I don't want to speak on it before it's set in stone."

"I'm not taking that girl anywhere."

"Rafe Cameron. It's not a request anymore. I was nice at first when I asked but now it's a demand. You will take her out with you and your friends tonight. You're all just going to the movies anyway; you don't have to talk to her. Just keep an eye on her and maybe try and be nice."

"I'm nice." I argue back feeling slightly offended he thinks I'm not nice to her. "Fine. She can come but I'm not going to babysit her the entire time."

Dad slips his glasses back on as he opens his laptop again. Already typing away and without a word he waves me off. I back away from the desk and spin on my heels out of the room. Letting the door fall shut behind me.

"Fucking hell." I grunt as I pull out my phone and open the group text with me, Kelce, and Topper. Change of plans for tonight. No longer a boys night... Dad's making me take the Pogue Princess.

Topper replies back quickly. I was going to offer to drive but I don't want filthy trash in my car.

Kelce laugh reacts to the reply from Topper and gives mine a thumbs down. We'll find a way to ditch the Pogue. Or maybe we can have some fun with her. I bet she's as easy as the rest of them.

My stomach gets a sharp pain reading that text. Dad says I have to be nice. Is all I can find myself replying back to them. I don't want to piss them off and I certainly don't want to feed too much into it either. If Dad somehow found out he'd kill me. It's a movie anyways. Not like we have to talk to her.

Topper give my second text a thumbs down and soon after Kelce does the exact same thing. I roll my eyes as I make my way up to my room and lay out my clothes for after my shower. I hear the shower cut off and yet again in an instant I see Alana come out of the bathroom but this time she's in only a towel and quickly dips into the guest room. Leaving wet foot marks on the hallway floor.

Another text comes in and this one is from Topper. You couldn't pay me to touch that bitch with a ten-foot pole. I'll wear a face mask tonight so I don't have to breathe in the same air as her. I bet she stinks like Pogue shit.

Wrong... The smell of citrus fills the air from the bathroom after her shower. I noticed she filled the bathroom we share with different lotions and they all have that scent. Even the shower itself smells like her.. It drives me to the brink of insanity having to smell it and she's only been here for two days.

If you two keep complaining I'll go with her by myself. Which would only be a punishment to myself. Being alone with her... It's dangerous. I don't trust her and I don't trust myself with her. She irritates me with that attitude of hers but I've started to develop a soft spot. Especially hearing about that shitty boyfriend of hers.

I never knew she was dating JJ Maybank and if I did know I forgot. Tonight should be interesting because I'm sure word will get back to JJ that she was seeing a movie with not one, not two, but three Kooks.

I wonder if he knows that she's in the bedroom across from mine.. Spraying herself with her perfume and doing her makeup in my damn house. I found that the sink had a shimmer to it yesterday morning before I went golfing with Topper and when I saw Alana having breakfast with Sarah it was the same shimmer on her eyes that was in the sink... She's getting eyeshadow in places that I bet she's never gotten at JJ's.

Is that some new kind of torture therapy? Kelce replies to my text. Topper laughs at his reply and I send them a bunch of middle finger emojis. So, we're all meeting at Tannyhill I'm guessing? He adds.

Yes. And be nice... I don't need another reason to stay on Ward's shit list. At this point I think my name is just about on there a hundred times. That text gets ignored for about an hour while I'm in the shower and getting myself ready. Throwing some gel into my hair even though I'm just slipping my hat on over it. Once I'm dressed and ready I see that Kelce and Topper both texted that they're outside.

I knock on Alana's door and she opens it, that damn citrus scent nearly knocking me to my knees. Her hair is down and wavy, touching her hips. Her leggings are sitting high waisted and her shirt is thin and shows a little bit of her abdomen. The shade of pink she's wearing compliments the light shimmer of her eyelids.

"Uh.. A-Are you... Ready?" I ask. "T-Topper and Kelce are..."

"Outside? Yeah. I saw them pull up." She slings a tote bag over her shoulder. It's ragged and very well used. I catch a peek inside to see some candy bags and chips and then a book too. It's different from the one she was reading this morning. "I had Rose sneak me to the store to grab some snacks so we don't have to buy any there. They always charge so much at movie theaters."

"It's an outdoor movie."

Her eyes widen. "Oh..."

"You never went before?" I watch as she shakes her head. "First time then? Wow, I'm taking your virginity then."

"Not funny." She moves past me and heads down the steps.

Dad is in the kitchen pointing to something on a take-out menu while Rose writes down on a piece of paper. Alana smiles and waves to the both of them and Dad says, "Have fun you two. Be safe."

"We're seeing a movie not going into battle." I scoff.

"Thank you, Mr. Cameron. And thank you again Rose for taking me earlier." Alana taps on her bag and Rose winks at her.

I shuffle Alana out the door and she nearly trips over her own two feet.

Topper and Kelce are standing on the porch and both their eyes widen at the sight of Alana.. Yeah, I'm sure if I warned them that she's actually gorgeous they'd have behaved properly.