Being with Rafe Cameron felt effortless. Like breathing in the middle of a summer breeze—light, warm, natural. Sure, you argued. Sometimes loud, sometimes cruel. But the way he kissed you after, the way his arms wrapped around you like they were made to hold only you… it made everything else blur into background noise.

He was your high. He didn’t even know it.

Being in love with Rafe felt like floating—like your feet barely touched the ground. Everything was a rush. Every glance, every laugh, every whispered promise—it all lit you up.

Until it didn’t. Until the high became dizzying, suffocating. Until the love twisted into something too sharp to hold onto.

The final fight wasn’t like the others. There was shouting, slamming doors—and then there was pain. Real pain. That night, something in you broke, and you walked away. But even through the storm, you knew the truth—no amount of distance could unlove him.

Three years later

You’re back in Kildare for your best friend’s wedding. The waves crash gently, the salty air tangles your hair, and the seagulls cry like they’re singing a song only this town knows. It’s quiet here—so unlike the noise of Boston, so unlike your now.

You walk the shoreline, feet sinking into familiar sand, and the memories come crashing in. Rafe carrying you when your shoes gave you blisters. Rafe racing you during sunsets, laughing when you cheated. Rafe tossing you into the water, and you pretending to be mad just so he’d chase you with that boyish grin.

You stop, eyes closed, breath caught in your throat. You hadn’t let yourself think of him in years, had trained your heart to forget. But now? It’s all too much, too real.

And when you finally open your eyes—there he is. Standing just feet away. Same blue eyes. Same stunned expression. Like the past three years were just a blink.

Your heart drops. And flutters.

“{{user}}…”