Presque Vu

Chapter 33

Raina got Jared to set her up with a notebook and a laptop and while the guys went back into the lab to work on their song she settled in on the patio to enjoy more of the sunshine and work on tailoring her presentation to what she thought Emma might need. She researched the company as thoroughly as she could, and peppered Emma with questions when she had a few minutes to talk to her. She still wasn't convinced this was the best idea but she was warming up to it. It was only an internship after all and would be over in less than a year. If it did turn out to be a mistake she would be able to leave it behind her quickly enough. Besides, preparing the presentation gave her something to think about other than Shannon's odd behavior and her own anxieties.

Sometime around mid-afternoon, a young woman Raina was certain hadn't been there earlier in the day popped out to her spot on the patio to ask what Raina wanted to be picked up for lunch. She briefly considered asking for wine and pop-tarts, just to spite Jared, but then told the girl to just get her whatever the guys were having. Standing and stretching her stiff limbs she decided it was high time for a break and walked a few quick laps around the pool before moving to one of the loungers lying in the shade. She could hear music in the distance, muffled and halting, but no more arguing. Opening her phone she checked her email before texting Cassie to let her know she had sobered up just fine and would swing by and get her car later. She wished she had known she would be spending the day here, she could have used her own laptop and it would have been fun to work with the equipment Val had given her. It was a bit lonely out here on her own and she was stretching to find things to occupy her time and keep her mind busy.

Jared eventually joined her, kissing the top of her head before taking up residence on the lounger next to hers. "I'm sorry to have left you out here by yourself for so long," he apologized.

Raina shrugged. "I did at least get some things done. How about you? How's the song coming?"

Jared smiled. "I think we're over the hump. It's starting to sound more like an actual song instead of four people playing instruments in the same vicinity as each other."

That brought a chuckle from Raina. "And Shannon?"

"Is settling back down too. So do you want to tell me more about this conversation that you had last night that has everyone upside down? Did you guys mention another woman? Is he serious about someone else? He hasn't said anything to me and he usually talks to me about those sorts of things."

"I don't think we should discuss that without him. Besides, I don't really think it was the conversation that did it, Jared. What did you guys fight about?"

"The usual. Just stupid brotherly crap. It's the same argument we've been having our whole lives, just dressed up differently for whatever day it is. It was nothing."

Raina stretched her arms over her head and rolled over to face Jared. She really didn't understand the dynamic between siblings much herself but she had watched Brenda and her sister war at each other and makeup often over the years and she just accepted that it was a normal part of the relationship. "Okay then. .So I've been out here patiently waiting while you guys did your thing. How about you tell me why now. What did you want to talk to me about?"

"You aren't going to cut me any slack, are you?" Jared asked. Raina chuckled and shook her head. "There's just been something that's been on my mind a lot lately and it feels like the right time to discuss this."

Raina could feel the frown seep its way onto her face. "Okay, now I'm a little worried."

"Don't be. I'm the only one this reflects badly on." Jared told her. His voice was softer than usual, some of his customary bravado missing. He cleared his throat before continuing. "I guess, at least in the beginning, I didn't think there was going to be a lot of discussing going on. Really, I'm surprised things have gotten as far as they have between the three of us, considering that this all started with us being far less than honest with each other."