For as long as you’d known Rafe Cameron, he was never the type to settle down with one girl. He’d earned his reputation as a love em and leave him type, not to mention the bad boy title after all the fights and shady things he got himself involved in. You’d never thought of him as a good guy. Your best friend, Sarah, who was also his sister, certainly didn’t think he was. She was always telling you stories about how bad of a guy he was. She stayed far away from him and had always advised you to do the same. And you’d always thought that would be easy.

But then a few weeks ago, when your boyfriend had dumped you at a frat party and abandoned you there, Rafe had been the one to come to your rescue. He’d picked up on the tears you were trying desperately not to let fall. He’d offered you a ride home on his bike, and sitting on the back with your arms wrapped around him, body pressed against his muscular frame, you’d felt something. There’d been a spark there that you couldn’t ignore. And you’d never felt so free as you had with the outer banks whipping by you and the wind in your hair. You’d ended up sitting in your driveway, talking to him about your asshole ex. And while he didn’t say much, he’d listened. And when he’d left, he’d told you that you deserved so much better than your ex. You’d fallen asleep that night dreaming of him.

You hadn’t spoken to him since. You didn’t even have his number, and there was no way you could ask Sarah for it, she’d think you’d gone insane. You were back at the frat tonight for a party. Rafe’s frat. You hadn’t seen him yet, didn’t know what you’d do when you saw him. But you had this excited feeling of anticipation. You had to remind yourself to keep cool. You and Rafe would be complicated for so many reasons. And there was the undeniable truth that he didn’t do relationships, while you dreamed and fantasized about finding love. You were sunshine and light. He was pure darkness.

You sipped slowly from a Red solo cup, sitting packed in on the sofa, next to Sarah and your other friends. You were kind of hard to see, surrounded by so many bodies. But you had a great view of the open concept floor, making it so you’d easily be able to spot Rafe. You keep glancing away from your friends to look at the doorway for a glimpse.

“Why are you watching the door like a hawk? Who are you waiting for? Oo, did you and Matt work things out? I know he acted like a dick, but you were good together” Sarah asks curiously.

“I’m just people watching. And no, Matt and I are completely over.” You reply, trying to keep your voice casual and not bely the nervous butterflies you had whenever you saw a dirty blonde head. Where was Rafe?

“Well, I don’t think he got that memo. He’s headed over here right now.” Sarah gestures with her cup, to where Matt is now making his way through the crowd to where you’re seated. Fantastic. The last thing you wanted was to see or talk to him. These two weeks without him had made you feel more like yourself, instead of the perfect version of you that Matt expected. Just as Matt gets closer to you, you feel a strong arm tug you up from the couch. Rafe. Your arm tingles from where his hand touches your skin.

“Come on princess, no one puts you in the corner.” His big hand wraps around your lower back, tugging you closer. He’s basically using his large frame to hide you from Matt’s view, and you breathe out a sigh of relief. You didn’t know what this thing with Rafe was, but this was now the second time he’d played rescuer for you. If he’d never saved you two weeks, you’d probably be stuck in relationship purgatory with Matt. You let him lead you away, thankful that he’d come for you.