#Chapter 50 – An Encounter

Luca freezes for a moment before scowling at me and dropping his hand from my shirt, crossing his arms over his chest before he sinks back into the couch cushions, glowering. “No!” I say, throwing myself over the arm of the couch and stumbling my way to the door, my face still pale from my shock. “Um, sorry – it’s good to see you, Jackson! I’m glad you could come.” I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Ben and Rafe coming over. Luca, perhaps predictably, stays on the couch, though he’s moved to lean against the far arm of it so that he can watch the goings-on at the door, his arms still crossed. “You’ve got a really nice setup here,” Jackson says, his eyebrows raised as he looks around the room. “Thank you,” Rafe responds, reaching out a hand. I see the corner of Jackson’s mouth twitch upwards at Rafe’s relative warmth as he shakes my brother’s hand. But it’s gone in a flash. “Where is your room located?” Rafe asks. “I’m closer to this guy,” he says, nodding to Ben. “Really?