The Calling (Darkness Rising 2)

"Not if I get them first."

After breakfast, Rafe distracted the others while I led Daniel into the garage.

"It's about Rafe, isn't it?" he said as we settled on the garage steps.

I nodded. "I have to talk to you and you're not going to like it."

He exhaled. "Yeah, I already know what it's about."

"You do?"

"I'm being a jerk to him. He tried to talk to me about wrestling at breakfast, and I blew him off. We all keep complaining that we don't know him, but when he tries to get to know us, we shut him down. I'm sorry."

"That's not--"

"I have nothing against the guy. I don't know why I keep..." He rolled his shoulders and rubbed the back of one as he made a face.

"Bad sleep?"

"Yeah. But we're all stressed and worried and tired, and that's no excuse for being a jerk to Rafe."

I stretched my legs, then took a deep breath and said, "Actually, I might know what's setting you off with Rafe. That's what I wanted to talk about."

He didn't answer, and when I glanced over, he looked shocked. Shocked and ... something else. Before I could get a better look, he turned away.

"I don't have a problem with Rafe, Maya."

"Well, I do," Sam said as she opened the door.

Daniel clambered to his feet.

"You do have a problem with Rafe, Daniel," Sam said. "We all do."

"This is a private discussion," Daniel said.

"Not if it's about Rafael. Everyone's pussyfooting around and I'm tired of it. The guy is an asshole and--"

She followed our gaze and turned to see Rafe standing behind her, arms crossed.

"What?" she said. "You don't think I'd say this to your face? I will. You're a self-centered jerk, Rafe Martinez. You've got everyone convinced that you sacrificed yourself for Maya and Daniel, but that's crap. You didn't let go. You slipped. Maya wanted to believe there was more to it, so she convinced Daniel--"

"She didn't convince me of anything," Daniel said, his voice low. "I was there, too, Sam. He let go."

"So? He's not actually dead, is he?"

Rafe sputtered a laugh. She glowered at him, then at Corey, who'd joined them, grinning as he heard. Even Daniel had to wipe away a smile.

"What?" she said. "He isn't."

"The, uh, fact that he survived his heroic sacrifice really shouldn't be held against him," Daniel said. "Look, I'm fine with Rafe--"

"No, you're not. Heroic sacrifice or not, he's still a jerk. He waltzed into Salmon Creek and stole Maya."

"Stole?" I said.

"It's not your fault. You two are both skin-walkers. It's animal magnetism. You can't help yourself." She glared at Corey, who was cracking up behind Rafe. "Stop that. You know it's true. Maya's too smart to fall for an arrogant, self-centered--"

"Enough," Daniel said.