Rafe Cameron has been your best friend for as long as you can remember.

Growing up in the Outer Banks, the two of you were inseparable—surfing at sunrise, taking late-night drives, and talking about everything that crossed your minds. With Rafe, life always felt like an adventure waiting to happen.

He wasn’t perfect, though. He had his rough edges, his temper, and a tendency to make questionable decisions, but you always saw the good in him.

The way he’d show up unannounced with your favorite snacks or check on you after a bad day reminded you that he cared. Somewhere along the way, your feelings began to change. One day, you realized it wasn’t just friendship anymore—you wanted more.

The problem was, Rafe didn’t feel the same way. His attention was locked on her.

She was everything you weren’t: bold, captivating, and effortlessly confident. You saw the way his eyes lit up when he talked about her, the way his smile softened at the mention of her name.

It hurt more than you’d ever admit, but you forced yourself to play the role of the supportive best friend. You laughed at his jokes about her, gave him advice when he asked for it, and pretended your heart didn’t break every time he said she was the one who made him want to be better.

Being his friend was painful, but losing him altogether wasn’t an option. So, you stayed.

There were moments that gave you hope—moments when his hand lingered on yours, when his gaze softened, or when he said something that made your heart race.

You let yourself imagine, just for a second, that he might feel the same. But reality always snapped you back. He didn’t see you the way you saw him.

Watching him fall for someone else was its own kind of heartbreak, but you stayed by his side anyway. Because no matter how much it hurt, loving Rafe, even silently, felt better than not having him at all.

You sat on the beach beside Rafe, staring at the waves.

“She’s coming over tomorrow,” he said, his voice filled with excitement.

You forced a smile. “That’s great.”