Jackson came downstairs, slinging his arm around Becks to brush his lips across hers before looking at the spread Rafe had laid out. He arched a brow. “Maybe we should keep you at home more often.”
“Funny. Shut up and eat.”
Kal was the last one downstairs. “Hot damn. Becks made breakfast?”
She laughed as she took her plate to the table. “Not me. Rafe.”
“What? Is it the apocalypse?”
Rafe rolled his eyes. “Come on. It’s not like I can’t cook.”
“No,” Kal said, “but you usually don’t. And besides, I’m the best cook out of all of you. Other than Becks, of course.”
Becks blew him a kiss.
“Hey, this is good,” Jackson yelled from the table. “You’re on cooking duty for your entire house arrest.”
“Screw you, Jackson.”
Rafe filled his plate and joined the others at the table.
At least they’d been home with him last night, so he’d had some company. Today they’d start a twenty-four-hour shift at the station, and Becks would be at her tattoo shop until after eight, so he’d be completely alone. Not that he couldn’t handle being alone; it would just up the boredom factor.
“I don’t know, man,” Kal said. “If I had five days off to just lie around, I’d catch up on some sleep, float around in the pool, watch some TV and play video games.”
“The TV and video games make my head hurt.”
Kal grimaced. “Sucks for you.”
Becks gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry this is so hard for you. Hopefully, you’ll start feeling better soon.”
“You don’t have much downtime left,” Kal said. “You’ll be on next shift.”
Rafe was so ready for that.
Jackson took a swallow of orange juice. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Fine. Though it was hard to fall asleep.”
His brother shot him a look of concern. “Headaches?”
Rafe shook his head. “No, I think it’s more the inactivity. I’m used to working out or running or being on shift. Even on my days off I’m active. So my body was restless. But no headache.”
Jackson nodded. “That’s good. Not that you couldn’t sleep, but that it was attributed more to restlessness.”
“Yeah. I’ll get through it. I feel less sore this morning, so I’m healing.”
“Good,” Jackson said. “Try to walk if you can. Just getting the blood going a little will help with healing.”
“I plan on it.”
After breakfast, everyone else headed upstairs and Rafe did the dishes. At least he felt like he was doing something. Jackson and Kal came down and headed out to work. Becks wasn’t due in to the shop until ten, so she hung out with him on the sofa in the game room.
“Maybe you could call one of the women you date and go do something with them,” Becks said.
“Not really seeing anyone right now.”
She smiled at him. “It doesn’t seem to be a hardship for you to find someone to go out with, Rafe.”
He wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or an insult. “Are you calling me a manwhore?”
She laughed. “No. I’m saying women like you. You’re charming.”
“Thanks. I asked Carmen out the other day.”
“You did? I didn’t know you were interested in her.”
“I am. I know you two didn’t exactly have the best first meeting.”
“Hey.” She laid her hand on his forearm. “It was just a miscommunication, and we settled it. She seems nice, and you obviously like her.”
“Doesn’t matter. She turned me down.”
“Oh. Well, maybe she’s seeing someone.”
“She’s not. I asked. And, anyway, her reply when I asked her was . . .”
She drew her knees up to her chest. “Was what?”
“I don’t know. She seemed . . . horrified. And then she apologized and stumbled all over herself complimenting me.”
“Huh.” She frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. You should ask her to clarify.”
He laughed. “I’m definitely not asking her again.”
“Why not? Maybe you caught her off guard and she wasn’t prepared for the question. Maybe she was flustered and didn’t know how to answer.”
“And maybe she’s just not interested.”
“Maybe she’s not. But if you’re interested, you should ask her again.”
“I don’t know.”
She nudged him with her shoulder. “I realize being turned down is new territory for you, Rafe, but if you like her, ask her again. Or at least ask her to explain her answer.”
There was no way in hell Rafe was going to push things with Carmen. They lived next door to each other. If things went bad, they’d have to see each other all the time. It would be awkward—forever.
Nope. Not gonna happen.
“And you know, Becks, I get turned down all the time.”
She laughed. “Sure you do.” She slid off the couch. “I have to go get ready for work. But if you want to talk about this some more, I’m always here for you.”
He watched her walk away.
He trusted Becks. She’d been part of their group when they were homeless kids. They’d been close. She was like a sister to him. When she and Jackson had fallen in love, it had made Rafe so damn happy he could hardly hold it all in. Becks was family.
But on this? She was way off base.
Though after Becks left for work, he thought about it some more. Had he misinterpreted Carmen’s response? Rafe knew no meant no, in all things regarding women. His mom had taught him that early on when he’d first started dating, and that was the way he’d always operated. So the thought of pushing Carmen on this seemed like a bad idea.
He decided the best way to handle it was not to handle it at all. He put on his tennis shoes and decided to go for a walk to stretch his muscles and clear his head.
He did three miles and wished like hell he could have run those three miles, but until he got the all clear from the doctor, he knew he had to obey the edict. At least he was moving. As he walked past Carmen’s house, he noticed Jimmy, Carmen’s grandfather, sitting in his wheelchair outside. Jimmy waved to him, so he walked up to the porch.
“Morning, Jimmy.”
“Rafe. Out for a walk?”
“Yes, sir. How are you doing today?”
“Just fine. Catching a little hot summer air. You doin’ the same?”
Rafe smiled. “Seems that way.”
“I was about to grab some iced tea. Can I interest you in a glass?”
“That sounds great. Thank you.”
Rafe held the door while Jimmy wheeled himself inside. His electric wheelchair offered him decent mobility, which was good. In the kitchen, he noticed that Carmen put everything in the lower cabinets within Jimmy’s reach, but then he saw Jimmy park the wheelchair and stand.
“Hey, look at you,” Rafe said.
Jimmy nodded. “I’m workin’ on it. My physical therapist is a bastard. Making me stand and move around with the walker and the cane.”