The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting orange streaks over the ocean. You weren’t watching the sky. Your eyes were locked on JJ, who was tossing a frisbee around with a couple of Pogues, that laid-back grin spread wide on his face like nothing could touch him.

You and JJ had grown up together. You trusted and cared for him as a friend. But Rafe? He hated JJ. Just the fact that JJ was a Pogue, made his blood boil.

But enough about Rafe. Hanging out with JJ was the perfect distraction.

Yesterday had been a big mess. You and Rafe had a huge fight. You caught him with Sophia at a Kook party. Her hand on his chest, her stupid, perfect laugh right in his ear. And Rafe? He hadn’t exactly shoved her away. The image was burned into your skull. You start to remember the fight.

“What the fuck was that!?” you demanded.

“It’s not what you think,” Rafe said, voice rough and low.

“That didn’t look like nothing Rafe” you snapped back.

The fight had ended with slammed doors and heavy silence between you. You were very upset with him.

JJ threw the frisbee your way bringing you back to reality.

“You wanna catch?” he asked, smirking.

“Sure. Why not?” You grabbed it, tossing it back with a playful grin.

Then you let out a big sigh. You hear Rafe’s car drive through the sand recklessly. He turns off the engine and steps out, jaw locked, face unreadable, storm in his stride.

The happy atmosphere changed.

JJ’s smirk faded just slightly as he spotted the figure storming down the beach.

You didn’t turn. You already knew.

Rafe Cameron.

He moved towards us, hands clenched at his sides. The sun behind him cast his shadow long across the sand, like even the light wanted nothing to do with his mood.

Topper and Kelce trailed behind him, not even trying to hide their amusement.

JJ let out a dry laugh. “Speak of the devil,” he muttered under his breath.

You stayed calm. Pretending like your pulse wasn’t hammering in your throat.

Rafe didn’t slow down. His shoes kicked up sand as he cut across the beach and stopped right in front of you and JJ.

His cold blue eyes didn’t leave you for a second.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

JJ raised his brows. “Nice to see you too, Cameron.”

Rafe didn’t acknowledge him. His gaze stayed locked on you, and there was a whole damn monologue in that look.

You lifted your chin. “Something wrong?”

He barked out a humorless laugh. “You tell me. Yesterday I’m dragging Sophia off me at a party, and today you’re out here… what? Playing games with this Pogue like you forgot who the fuck you belong to?”

JJ tilted his head, jaw flexing. “Back off, Rafe.”

Rafe finally turned to face him. His expression twisted, like just looking at JJ was enough to piss him off. He stepped closer, crowding into JJ’s space, not caring about making a scene.

“You been waiting for this, huh?” Rafe hissed. “Waiting for me to fuck up so you could swoop in like some golden retriever?”

JJ didn’t move. Just looked at him with that calm, dangerous grin the one that said, I’ve seen worse, and I’m still standing.

“You fucked up all on your own, man,” JJ said coolly. “Don’t blame that on me.”

Rafe shoved him.

Hard.

Topper started to step forward, but Kelce grabbed his arm, both of them clearly living for the drama.

JJ stumbled back a step, then chuckled. Chuckled. The exact thing that would send Rafe over the edge.

“You wanna go?” JJ asked, tossing the frisbee to the sand. “Let’s go. I’ve been waiting to knock that smug Kook face into the ocean.”