You hadn’t meant for this to happen.

One second, you were walking along the docks with Rafe, his hand resting lazily on your hip, his touch warm and familiar. The next, you heard voices—their voices.

“Hey! Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Your stomach twisted.

You turned slowly, and there they were—the Pogues. John B, JJ, Kie, Pope, Cleo… and Sarah.

For a second, none of them seemed to realize what they were looking at. Then their eyes dropped to where Rafe’s hand was still on your waist, and the shift in their expressions was immediate.

Sarah’s brows furrowed first, her lips parting slightly in confusion. John B’s jaw clenched, Pope glanced at JJ, and Kie’s arms crossed over her chest.

“You wanna explain this?” JJ finally asked, his voice lighter than usual—too light, like he was waiting for the punchline to a joke.

You swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of how quiet Rafe had gotten beside you. “I… It’s not what you think.”

JJ scoffed. “Not what we think? ‘Cause I’m thinking you’ve been sneaking around with him.”

Your silence only confirmed it.

Sarah’s voice was softer, hesitant. “For how long?”

“A while,” you admitted, unable to meet her eyes.

The hurt was clear on her face, a flicker of something almost like betrayal crossing her features. “And you didn’t tell me?”

John B exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Damn. So you’ve just been lying to us.”

“It wasn’t like that,” you said quickly, glancing at Rafe, whose expression had darkened.

Pope was quiet, studying you. “Why?”

And that was the part you didn’t have an easy answer for.

Kie’s voice cut through the tension. “You know who he is, right?”

Rafe finally spoke, his tone sharp. “Who I am?” He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, I know exactly who I am. Maybe you don’t know her as well as you think.”

JJ shot him a glare. “Nobody asked you, Cameron.”

Rafe tensed beside you, and you could feel the anger brewing under the surface, the way his grip on you tightened slightly.

Sarah’s voice softened again. “Why didn’t you tell me?”