Page 246 of Across His Line

I watch the four them of walk towards the entrance as I watch Rafe with my bag. I catch up before anyone can question what I’m thinking.

The stairwell smells like it always does, like radiator dust and somebody’s old pizza. Koda walks up to the fifth floor.

“It’s been fun,” he says and goes.

The four of us step onto the third floor. The carpet still smells like wet dog, but I think it’s just musty.

Kylie stops at our door, and Nash goes to his three doors down. I glance at the distance. In August, that was the most important distance in my life. I knew it in my sleep. I laid awake listening to it.

Now he’s walking down it ahead of me with my bag on his back. He puts my duffel down outside my door. My tote on top of it. He doesn’t come in. He just puts them down and looks at me for a second and then goes back down the hall to his own door.

Kylie’s already inside with her bags. I look at Rafe one more time, wondering what the future holds. I don’t know what it’ll be like now that we’re…something.

The second I close the door behind us, Kylie turns around and looks at me.

“Koda asked Rafe if you two were together.”

“What?”

“And he said yes.”

I stare at her.

“He said yes?”

“Yes.” Kylie stares at me. “Are you?”

I take my coat off because suddenly I’m hot. “I think we’re... something.”

She rolls her eyes and laughs. “I cannot with you.”

Later that night, Kylie comes in but leaves the door open behind her. She passes me a cup of something.

“A milkshake?” I smile.

“With Oreos just how you like it.”

“Thank you.”

Nash walks in and doesn’t close the door behind him. Then Rafe walks in.

I look at Kylie, who’s staring at her milkshake with raised brows.

“Hi,” I say, confused.

“I invited them over to watch a movie,” Kylie says as Rafe closes the door behind him.

Kylie glances at me like see, nothing to be scared about.

Kylie says, “And I’m sleeping at Nash’s, so Rafe you have to figure out where you’re sleeping tonight.”

Rafe sits down next to me and sips my milkshake. He starts drinking way too much.

“Rafe!”

He smiles up at me.

Twenty minutes into the movie, Nash and Kylie are making out on their bed. I shift uncomfortably and clear my throat.