Rafe tightened his grip around his glass of bourbon, leaning back against the couch while he tried to pretend that watching you dance with JJ wasn’t killing him. His knuckles were practically turning white and he was surprised the glass hadn’t shattered in his hand yet. This was torture.

It was bad enough that he had to watch you smiling and laughing, enjoying your night. But to watch JJ be the reason you were smiling? That caused a white hot fury to spread inside him. Fucking JJ. How the hell did you prefer the company of JJ, a Pogue, to him? How had you ever chosen him?

JJ’s hands moved over your hips, tugging you closer against him, and Rafe had to close his eyes. That should be him. He should be the one pressed up behind you. He should be the one with his lips pressed against your neck, with his hands on the curve of your ass. And he would’ve been if he wasn’t so damn stubborn.

He’d known you weren’t happy. Had known that you wanted things from him that he didn’t know how to give you. He’d given you his time, his money, and as much of his heart as he’d ever been able to give anyone. But you wanted more. You wanted him to let you in all the way. Wanted to know that he loved you and wanted a future with you. And he just couldn’t do it. So you’d walked away, and he’d lost the only person who’d ever truly seen him. And now he had to watch you dance with this fucking loser.

He’d told himself that he was fine. That he didn’t need you. He’d quickly brought other girls to his bed, drowned himself in alcohol, drugs and girls; anything to forget you. It had been easier to convince himself it was working when he didn’t have the reminder that you were moving on right in front of his damn face. He’d never admit to anyone that he was jealous, he had a hard time admitting it to himself, but damn if he didn’t want to be him in this moment. Maybe he wasn’t the right guy for you, but there was no way in hell that JJ was either.

You tilt your head back in laughter as JJ whispers something in your ear. Rafe thinks he’s going to snap and lose the last thread of self control he has, when you finally extricate yourself from JJ’s embrace. Thank fuck. If he’d had to look at that scene for another second it might’ve killed him.

He quickly gets up from his spot on the couch, walking over to where you’re rifling through a pile of cd’s. He takes a moment to just appreciate how gorgeous you look, your short dress clings to your body and his eyes roam over your curves. Pressing up behind you, he leans his head down to your ear.

“You can do better”