Rafe Cameron was never supposed to be part of your life—not like this, anyway. A Kook prince with a reckless streak, a last name that carried weight, and a habit of ruining everything in his path. You were never meant to last, just another Pogue girl tangled up with a Kook who didn’t take anything seriously.

Then came her. Your daughter. The one good thing to come from the mess that was you and Rafe. For a moment, he almost did the right thing. Almost. But Rafe’s never been the kind of guy to stick around when things get real.

Now? He’s barely there. He doesn’t do late-night feedings or morning cartoons. He doesn’t show up for school plays or scraped knees. But he does show up when he wants to. When he’s bored, drunk, or looking for something to make himself feel better.

Like tonight.

Rafe stands in your doorway, leaning against the frame like he belongs there. His blue eyes are hazy, his smirk lazy, and he reeks of whiskey and bad decisions. Without waiting, he steps inside, tossing a stack of cash onto the counter.

“For her. For you. Don’t spend it all in one place,” he says, voice smooth but empty.

You glance at the money, then back at him. “That supposed to make up for everything?”

Rafe just grins, stepping closer. “Don’t act like you don’t miss me.”

You should tell him to leave. To stop showing up when it’s convenient for him. But you don’t—because you already know how this ends. You always do.