JJ didn’t plan on talking to Rafe Cameron.

He planned on drinking, pretending he didn’t care, and going home before his thoughts got too loud.

But plans had never really worked out for him.

The bonfire on the beach was dying down—embers glowing, music low, people drifting away in pairs. JJ stood near the shoreline, beer dangling loosely from his fingers, staring out at the dark water like it might explain how everything slipped so fast.

That’s when he saw Rafe.

Alone. Of course.

Rafe was sitting on a piece of driftwood a little ways down the beach, staring at his phone like he was waiting for something—or someone. JJ almost laughed. Same girl, different problems.

Before he could talk himself out of it, JJ walked over.

Rafe looked up, annoyance flashing across his face. “You serious right now?”

JJ shrugged. “Relax. Party’s basically over.”

Rafe stood, brushing sand off his hands. “Say what you need to say.”

JJ hesitated. Then sighed, staring past Rafe instead of at him.

“I get why you like her.”

That made Rafe pause.

JJ went on, words spilling out like he’d been holding them back for weeks. “She’s got this way of making chaos feel normal. And yeah—” a bitter half-smile “—I’ve always had a soft spot for brunettes.”

Rafe crossed his arms. “You done?”

JJ shook his head. “What I don’t get is why she likes you.”

The air shifted.

Rafe stepped closer, voice low and sharp, like he wanted every word to cut. “’Cause you haven’t had sex with me.”

JJ stared at him.

For a second, his brain just… stopped.

Then he laughed. Not because it was funny—because it was easier than admitting how bad that stung. “You really think that’s the difference?”

Rafe didn’t smile. “I think it’s one of them.”

JJ’s chest tightened. “You don’t know her.”

Rafe’s eyes hardened. “I know she stopped coming to you.”

Silence.

The waves crashed behind them, steady and unforgiving. JJ ran a hand through his hair, anger bleeding into something heavier.

“You know what?” JJ said quietly. “If that’s what you think she wanted… you already lost.”

Rafe scoffed. “She’s with me.”

JJ finally looked him dead in the eye. “For now.”