ᯓ★ Everybody thought you and Rafe Cameron made no sense together.

You were soft sweaters, handwritten notes, baking cookies at midnight.

Rafe was parties, football games, loud laughter and trouble wrapped in expensive cologne.

But somehow—he liked you.

Or at least, that’s what he kept telling you.

⋆˙⟡ —

At first, dating Rafe felt unreal.

He’d pull you into his lap during parties like he couldn’t stand being far away from you.

Walk you to class with one hand around your waist.

Call you “baby” in that lazy voice that made your stomach flutter embarrassingly every single time.

And when he looked at you?

God.

It felt real.

The problem was—his ex still existed. And not just existed. Lingered.

Her name was Madison Clarke. Pretty, blonde, rich—the kind of girl that looked like she belonged beside Rafe Cameron naturally.

People still talked about them constantly. “She’s definitely his type.” “They’re probably getting back together.” “You know he never loved anybody like Madison, right?”

You tried ignoring it. Mostly because Rafe always reassured you. “She’s old news.”

Then he’d kiss you until you forgot why you were upset in the first place.

⋆˙⟡ —

But Madison still texted him.

Still showed up around him.

Still touched his arm too comfortably whenever she laughed.

And worst of all?

Rafe never really stopped her.

⋆˙⟡ —

The fight finally happened during a beach party.

You had spent almost twenty minutes looking for Rafe after he disappeared halfway through dancing with you.

At first you figured Topper dragged him somewhere.

Then you found him outside near the dock.

Madison sat beside him wrapped in his hoodie while Rafe listened to her talk quietly.

Too quietly, too intimately, your chest tightened painfully.

Because he looked comfortable.

Familiar. Like this was normal.

Rafe noticed you first and stood immediately.“Baby—”

You laughed softly. “Oh my God.”

Madison glanced between both of you awkwardly before standing too.

“She was upset,” Rafe explained quickly.

“And?”

His brows furrowed.

“And I was helping her.”

“You left me at a party to sit alone with your ex.”

“It ain’t like that.” The words came out sharper than you intended.

Rafe ran a hand through his hair already looking annoyed.

Because of course now you were the difficult one.