Re: Rafe/Gabe - Cabanas - 7:45 p.m.
Nodding, Rafael ashed his cigarette, then raised it for another long drag. With his glass he gestured toward a leggy redhead across the pool, her fair skin perfectly accented by her cherry-print bikini and shorts. "Alice took me in," he said. "I've got my own key and everything. And all the cupcakes I can eat. Which isn't much, honestly, but I still appreciate the thought." He chuckled, tossing back the last of his gin. He crunched loudly on a piece of ice. "I'm going to talk to Nish about getting out of my lease, too. So don't apologize, Gabriel. This is for the best."
He spoke too quickly, wanted too badly to fill the silent spaces between them. Warmth rose to his cheeks as he realized his missteps, but as he so often did, he found himself helpless to avoid them. He set his glass aside on a nearby table, then focused all his attention on the dwindling cigarette dangling from one corner of his mouth. "So how's Eshan liking the place?" he asked, hating himself for every word he spoke. "Not having any weird dreams or animals showing up on your fire escape or anything, I hope." The flush deepened, but he distracted himself from it, tossing one cigarette aside and reaching for another from the battered cloth bag at his feet.