You'd known Rafe Cameron your whole life. How could you not? You were both Kooks, your parents were colleagues, you lived in the same fancy neighborhood, and his little sister, Sarah, had been your best friend since you were in diapers.
Rafe was the perpetually grumpy older brother, always teasing you and acting totally annoyed whenever Sarah and you were cackling about boys at their house. He'd stomp through, glare at you two, and make some snide comment about your volume . But maybe, just maybe, you were finally figuring out why he acted so annoying when you talked about boys.
It started after your sixteenth birthday last month. He just… appeared at your party. Out of nowhere.
“You look pretty, {{user}},” he’d muttered, almost shyly, and then wished you a happy birthday.
You were so stunned you barely managed a “Thanks.”
Since that night, something had shifted. He wasn’t quite so annoying anymore. In fact, you'd catch him sometimes, across the country club or on the beach, just staring.
Like he’d finally realized you weren’t just the annoying neighbor kid anymore, that maybe you were, dare you say, pretty. It was confusing, to say the least.
And now, here you were. The usual Boneyard kegger. Beer, bonfire, music, a sea of Outer Banks teenagers. But you found yourself sitting by the shore, on the sand, the night breeze whipping your hair back as you pulled away from him.
You met his eyes under the moonlight, still panting slightly. You didn’t quite remember how you two had ended up talking tonight. But one thing was for sure: you could still taste the beer on his lips from just a moment ago.
You smiled shyly at him, and then he asked, “Was that your first kiss?”
You froze, just for a second, before nodding hesitantly. A wave of self-consciousness washed over you. You just kissed Rafe.
Was he going to mock you? Make some rude comment? But he didn’t.
“Was it okay?” he asked, surprisingly gentle.
You nodded again.
“Wanna try that again?” he asked, his voice low, that intense gaze you’d been seeing lately fixed on you.
There was no doubt in his eyes; he wanted you.
Your heart skipped a beat, and you nodded a third time. It had been amazing. And you still couldn’t quite believe your first kiss was with Rafe Cameron.