Rafe stood by the Jeep, twisting his black sunglasses between his fingers, the sun hitting the lenses just right so he looked like he was carved from shadows and surf. His board rested against the car, waiting for him, but right now, he wasn’t thinking about waves. Not really.

Sofia was already down the beach, shouting something silly to the other Pogues, her laugh sparkling in the sunlight. You watched her for a second, the way her hair caught the wind, the way she was everything you weren’t supposed to be tangled up with.

“So,” he said, voice casual but with a hint of something sharper underneath, “you’re really coming?”

You kicked at some sand, your tank top sticking to your skin in the growing heat. “You know I wouldn’t miss the best swell of the year,” you said, trying to sound casual, but your voice betrayed you a little.

He glanced toward Sofia, who was already walking ahead to the water, laughing with some other Pogues. Then he looked back at you, a slow smirk curling on his lips. “Funny how you’re still hanging with us.”

You stopped, heart stuttering. “Sofia’s my best friend.”

“Yeah, I know.” He stepped closer, and you could feel the heat from his skin despite the ocean breeze. “But you don’t exactly act like it.”

Your chest tightened. “What do you mean?”

“That you don’t play by the rules.” His smirk was easy, but those dark eyes behind the shades held something serious now. “Not that I’m complaining.”

You bit your lip, looking away as the sand shifted beneath your feet. “You think this is a game.”

“Maybe I do.” He slid his sunglasses down his nose, letting those fierce eyes meet yours. “Or maybe I just don’t care what you think.”

Rafe’s eyes flicked back to you, cool and unreadable behind those dark lenses. Then he stepped forward, folding the sunglasses and sliding them into his pocket, making sure you caught every second of that slow, deliberate move.

“You really think you’re not right for me?” His voice was low but steady, like he wasn’t asking.

You shook your head. “It’s wrong. You’re with Sofia.”

He shrugged, a lazy smile tugging at his lips. “What isn’t wrong that I've done in the past?”

You crossed your arms, trying to keep your voice steady. “I’m a Pogue. You don’t do that.”

Rafe’s smile got sharper, a glint in his eye you hadn’t seen before. “Seems right enough.”

“No, it doesn’t.” You stepped back a little, heart thumping loud enough to drown out the ocean. “We shouldn’t be here like this.”

He laughed, but it was soft, like he was amused by how serious you were getting. “I don’t care.”

“You do.”

“Not if I can have you.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and electric, making your breath catch. You stared at him, trying to read what was behind those dark eyes, the tough guy act slipping just enough to see something real.

Rafe leaned in slowly, like he was about to close the space between you, like maybe this moment was the one you both wanted but were too scared to say.

You felt the warmth of him before his lips touched yours —

“Wait.”

You pulled back, stepping away fast enough to break the moment. “Sofia’s my best friend.”

He stopped, just for a second, before smirking like he thought it was a joke. “Just ‘cause we hook up doesn’t mean she’s my girlfriend.”

Your blood turned cold. “That’s disgusting.”

“Maybe for you.”

You swallowed the hurt twisting in your chest, hands shaking just a little. You knew why he said it — because Sofia and you were Pogues, because his world didn’t leave room for someone like you, and because showing real feelings would make him weak in front of his friends.

Without another word, you turned and walked toward Sofia, the sun hot on your back, your heart heavier than the ocean tide.