But suddenly it feels like a table’s been turned right in front of me, because no matter how good Rayne fucked me the other night…
I’m the one here.
Hiding in the shadows.
I’m notallowedto walk around the fall lantern fair with my arm on Rayne, acting like he’s my real prize.
I don’t do well with rules.
I’m behind a row of food stands, and the sweet smell of frying funnel cake fills the air as I keep parallel with Wes and Rayne as they head down the walkway.
I have the hood of my black sweatshirt up, and the crowd is dense enough that I can hang out in the periphery and not be seen.
They take their time.
They stop at every booth, checking out the shelves full of stuffed animals and trinkets they could win at the ring toss, and looking at some stands full of Crimson College merch.
Rayne smiles.
Points out a particular stuffed animal shark to Oliver.
Does a little dance when one of his favorite songs comes on.
He’s acting so…normal.
In a way he never does when he’s with me. And I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about that.
Rayne’s been avoiding me since that night.
He won’t say it, but he is.
I’ve tailed him around campus as much as I can, but as the semester ramps up, I also need to study more for my European History class, because I’m not about to let my grades slip and get kicked out of Crimson.
Rayne’s been hanging out with Wes more this week than any other in the semester so far.
Like he’stryingto get back to normal.
And like he’s trying to only end up in our room late at night to catch some sleep and then head out early again the next morning.
I watch the guys head over to a stall selling fresh apple cider.
And then I watch as Wes slides a flask out of his back pocket and pours brown liquor into his cider cup, then offers some to Rayne.
Rayne gives himself a heavy pour of the alcohol, and they touch the paper cups together before taking a big swig.
So that’s the kind of night it’s going to be, huh, Rayne?
I’m only going to watch over him more closely if he’s planning on partying like that.
The guys loop around toward another row of games, and I walk beneath the canopy of trees nearby.
I keep my distance in the thick crowd ofpeople, finding a tree to lean against as the guys start a round at the ring toss table.
“Hunter?” I hear from beside me and my skin prickles as I realize I’ve been noticed.
I turn and see Oliver, smiling sweetly and waving at me.
He heads down the little dirt path and stands next to me beneath the tree. Paper lanterns hang above us, casting a warm glow over his face.
