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Chapter 28: It's Not Supposed To Be Like This
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The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 29: In Over My Head
Rafe doesn't answer me. But our gazes are still locked in the reflection of the mirror, and I swear, I see his walls begin to fall. Just a little. His hands tighten almost imperceptibly on my waist.And then a knock sounds on the door, making us jerk apart. The doorknob wiggles.I look up at Rafe in a panic. I should have expected someone to come looking for the bathroom at some point. But there's no way for us to leave without it being obvious exactly what was going on in here.Rafe just shrugs, his usual, wicked smile returning to his face. The man who was staring back at me in the mirror a moment ago - the man who I met at the river - is gone, and the more guarded Rafe is back. That Rafe doesn't seem to care if his family knows what we were doing.My eyes dart around the bathroom. There aren't any windows to escape through. No shower curtain to hide behind. If we stay in here long enough, maybe whoever's out there will give up and go find another bathroom, but we can't count on
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 30: A Brief History of Rafe
Someone comes up behind us. "Where'd Rafe run off to?"It's Luca, and he grins and hangs an arm around Ashlyn's shoulder, watching his brother's back disappear down the hallway. "Is he on the phone?""Weird, right?" Ashlyn says. "I was just telling Edie how strange that is. She has no idea what he's up to, either.""To be fair, I don't know him that well." Even if I'm having his baby. Admitting that around his family - who may or may not know the whole story - makes me blush harder, and I silently curse myself. I need to learn how to control myself around these people. I can't turn into a tomato every time I'm slightly embarrassed. I wish I could be more like Ashlyn - self-assured and confident, even around these celebrities. I feel like everyone here can see right through me.If Luca notices how red I am, he doesn't rub it in."Well, if you want to learn more about Rafe, you've come to the right place," he says. "Have I got some stories for you. Did he tell you about the time he
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 31: Under The Stars
Rafe stays by my side for the rest of the night. He's always touching me, sometimes in small ways - a light brush of his finger down my arm, or a quick sweep of my hair behind my ear - and sometimes in more possessive ways. He likes to keep his hand on my lower back, his fingers spread and his palm pressed firmly against my spine, and I find I like that, too. More than once I find myself wishing I was wearing the same dress I had on the other night, where my back was almost completely exposed, so I could feel his skin right against mine.No one comments on our sudden intimacy - not even Rafe's parents - though I catch Ashlyn watching me carefully all night. I notice a few curious glances from Orlando, too, but he doesn't say anything to me. At one point, when I sneak away to actually use the bathroom, I return to find Orlando and Rafe deep in conversation, but Orlando walks away before I return to Rafe's side.I want to hear more stories about Rafe's childhood from his family. But Ra
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 32: Am I Just Another One of His Conquests?
My eyelids are growing heavier by the second. In the warmth of his embrace, it's hard to fight it."You should have looked," I whisper. Or at least I think I do. I'm pretty sure I fall asleep, because the next thing I'm aware of is Ashlyn's voice."There you are."I open my eyes. Everything is dark, but I can make out a silhouette coming toward us. Groggily, I sit up, and Rafe lets out a gasp of air as I accidentally elbow him in the stomach."Sorry," I say, trying to sit up the rest of the way. I have no idea how long we've been out here. Golden light spills out onto the terrace from the open french doors, and I can still hear laughter coming from inside."What time is it?" I ask.Ashlyn is beside us now. "About one. Dante and I are ready to leave, if you are."Instantly, Rafe's arm slides around me. He raises himself slightly on the chair, pulling me against his side."I'll look after her tonight," he says. His tone makes it clear exactly what sort of looking after he intends
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 33: Researching Rafe
Even though I'm still exhausted, I'm wide awake now. I know I won't be able to sleep until I answer some of the questions I have.Unfortunately, I have no idea how to answer any of my questions about the mysterious man I saw at the party. Without a name or any other identifying information, it's impossible to research him. Instead, I start with a simple search for "Raphael Fontaine." It pulls up some things I know and some things I don't. It also brings me to his official website. Curious, I click on the link.And instantly wish I hadn't, because it just makes me heartsick with longing.The main page of his website features a number of professional photos of him, each one more stunning than the last. One of them shows off his muscled chest to perfection. The next showcases his strong, hard jawline, with that exquisite dusting of stubble. The next shows him flexing his arms, and even the artful tattoos up and down his biceps don't distract from the well-formed muscles.Finally, ther
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 34: The Day I Have To Say Goodbye
I wake to the sound of an engine revving. Loudly.For a moment, I think I'm back home. It reminds me of my neighbor Wallace and his giant pickup truck - I always knew when he had a girl over because he used to sit in his driveway and rev his engine to show off. The first few times it happened, it woke me up - you sleep odd hours when you work the night shift - so the third time, I threw on some clothes and walked over to ask him to stop. He apologized with some peanut butter cookies his cousin had sent him, and they were so good that I couldn't be mad anymore. After that, any time he had one of his car-revving sessions, baked goods often showed up on my doorstep soon after. Usually it just ended up being chocolate sandwich cookies from the Corner Mart, but it's impossible to be mad when you have cookies.My stomach rumbles as I think about cookies. How can I be so hungry again? I blame you, sweet one.I roll over, too sleepy to get out of bed just yet. The revving outside continues,
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 35: One Date
Sometime later, Rafe pulls into the parking lot of a fancy-looking building right on the beach. My eyes skim right past the shiny sign - apparently this is the Silver Heron Club - to the view beyond."The Club owns this stretch of beach," Rafe says. "Only members have access to it, and we should have the beach to ourselves at this hour."I don't answer. I'm too busy grinning at the expanse of ocean in front of us. The sight of it still fills me with unbridled joy. And it looks absolutely glorious today under the morning sun - I see a million shades of blue and green, plus silver and gold where the light hits the water. Waves create an endless rippling pattern across the surface, stretching as far as I can see. I always imagined the ocean as a large, flat body of water, but in reality it's alive - alive and in constant motion, swelling and shivering, reflecting the sunlight back in a thousand ways, changing every minute.Isn't it marvelous, sweet one?"Edie?"His voice makes me jum
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Mystery of You Chapter 36: Picnic on the Beach
We walk back up to the picnic. He helps me sit down on the blanket, then takes the spot next to me. He flips the top of the basket open and begins pulling out the food inside.My mouth waters and my stomach growls as I catch sight of all the food - there are tons of pastries and muffins, a big bowl of fresh fruit, and shiny yogurt with golden granola. Underneath is an earthenware container clearly meant to keep things warm, and inside there's sausage and eggs and herb-dusted potatoes. I'm drooling.Before I dive head-first into the food, Rafe grabs a bottle from the side of the basket."There's coffee," he says, "but what do you say we start this off with something a little more fun? Bloody Mary or mimosa? Pick your poison."This time, I remember. "I, uh, probably shouldn't be drinking," I point out."Oh. Right." He has that odd look again for the briefest of seconds, then tosses the bottle of vodka aside. It rolls and settles in the sand. The bottle of champagne ends up next to i
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