You plaster a fake smile as you look up at Topper from your seat on the restaurant patio. He won’t notice that it’s fake, he doesn’t know you well enough yet. You try to tell yourself that it’s been a good date. The guy has been charming and the perfect gentleman. The kind of nice guy you’d used to dream about when you were younger. He’s the guy you should want to be with.

All your friends had been jealous when you’d told them about the date, and you’d tried to make yourself feel that excitement, but you just couldn’t. It felt like too huge of a betrayal to who was actually in your heart. Rafe the wild and crazy boy who would probably always have your heart.

Rafe strode through the patio doors, his eyes scanning the other patrons of the beachfront restaurant, before landing on you. In a few long strides of his legs he was standing in front of your table.

“Get up. We need to talk” He growls, ignoring Topper completely.

“Could you be more rude? I’m on a date!” You say through gritted teeth, painfully aware that he’s already causing a scene.

“A date?” He sneers looking between you and Topper. “You seriously expect me to believe you like this ass clown? You and me are endgame”

“No!” You jump up from your chair, and you grab Rafe’s arm tugging him away from the crowd and onto the beach. “You and I are nothing!” You hear thunder boom overhead as you stare him down.

“Nothing?” He growls, grabbing your wrist tightly, forcing you to look at him as the sky opens above you. “Fine! Tell me that you don’t love me. Say the words. And I’ll walk away”

“Fine! That’s what you need to hear?” You angrily push the wet strands of your hair out of your eyes.

but I miss screaming and fighting, and kissing in the rain

Rafe watches as water soaks through your hair and clothes, making your dress cling to your body. For a moment the sight distracts him enough to make him loosen his grip on you. In his distraction, he says one word, almost to himself- “Beautiful”

and that’s the way I loved you