It’s always been this thing. You and Rafe. Unspoken, painfully obvious, and a little bit ridiculous.

You’ve known each other forever — same zip code, same friend circles, same over-the-top parties with too many lights and too little substance. You were both Kooks, technically. But not like them. You never bragged about your dad’s vintage Porsche or wore your wealth like a badge. Neither did Rafe. Not really. He was different around you. Quieter. Softer. A little less Cameron.

But god, it was awkward.

Like, full-on choke-on-your-drink, blush-until-your-skin-burns awkward.

You’d pass each other at school and everything inside you would just pause. And then, instead of saying something normal like “Hey”, you’d forget how to talk altogether. One time he dropped his pen in chemistry and when you handed it back, your fingers brushed and you swear he stopped breathing for a whole second.

It was like that constantly. And people noticed.

Sarah teased you. Kelce teased him. Hell, even your math teacher gave you this look once when you and Rafe got paired for a group project and didn’t speak for the first ten minutes except for mumbling “yeah, sure” and “uh, okay.”

And now it’s summer. Which makes everything even worse. Or better. You’re not sure yet.

Tonight, you’re on your yacht — a warm July night with just enough wind to make you wrap a blanket around yourself. It smells like salt and sunscreen and someone’s expensive cologne. You’re curled up on the white leather lounge deck with a few of your friends, laughter echoing, music low and lazy in the background. The ocean is inky black around you, stars reflecting like shattered diamonds.

And Rafe’s here.

Across from you, sitting on the lounge. He tried not to look at you—really tried—but he couldn’t help it. The way you were curled up under that blanket, the gentle sway of the yacht, the quiet hum of the water around you—it all pulled his gaze back.

But it was your eyes that undid him. Something about them was different tonight. The night sky stretched above, scattered with stars, the boat lit softly by dim, golden light—and there you were, looking like he could fall right into you and never find the bottom.

You met his gaze without a word. Half your face tucked under the blanket, but your eyes… your eyes were there. Watching him.

Heat crept into his cheeks, and it had nothing to do with the summer air.

Then Kelce bumped his shoulder, and Rafe looked away, blinking like he’d just come out of a trance.

But the question lingered, unspoken, hanging quietly between you both.

What if?