You and Rafe have been friends forever. Your parents were friends when you were 4 years old, and that's why you met at his father's birthday. There was nothing you didn't know about each other. From the smallest things to the largest.

As for you, you haven't had an interesting life either. your father was an alcoholic and you had to watch it since you were a child. first your mom couldn't stand it and left you alone with him, and then your brother Tony left for college. and you were left alone with him. that's why you didn't believe in love.

There was only one problem.

Rafe Cameron was madly in love with you. you were the only one he allowed to see every version of him and not just the cold Rafe. But he knew you didn't love him. and he accepted it. he loved you forever but he only discovered it when he was 10 years old. and he never told you about it. (you two were now 18 years old)

It was currently one of the nicest days of summer on the Outer Banks. it was warm but not hot and there was a nice breeze. You and Rafe went ice cream, then you surfed, then you played like kids in the water. And now you were sitting on the pier and the sun was setting, leaving beautiful pink colors in the sky. Rafe suddenly looked up from the sky and looked at you.

"what happens if you fall in love?" he asked and you laughed. "What?" "you don't believe that... do you?" you said quietly. "it's love it's not Santa Claus" he frowned. "well what does that word even mean? I've been in relationships and I don't think I've ever seen it" you shrugged. "well maybe that's-" he tried to say but you interrupted him. "and most marriages end in divorce These days. there's no such thing as love. it's fantasy" "well I think your wrong" he said and looked at his legs that were hanging above the water.

"okay... well what is it that I'm missing then?"

That I love you. he wanted to say, but instead he looked at you and smiled softly. "I think you know when you feel it"