You always liked Rafe. Since the first day he came over for Christmas at Riley’s place. He was her uncle — the younger brother of her dad. Pretty young for an uncle, actually. Seventeen, while you were fourteen.

He always tried to make you understand it, to see the lines you shouldn’t cross. But you didn’t care. Not really.

One day, you sat together on the couch at Riley’s. The TV was on, voices filling the silence between you. Rafe let out a sigh, glancing your way. “You do understand that I’m too old for you.”

You nodded, trying to keep your voice steady. “I do, Rafe. I know that.” You sighed, too.

He kept staring at you, like he knew you had something more to say.

“Good,” he muttered.

But you couldn’t help yourself — a smirk tugging at your lips. “But I’m in for the long game.”

That made him huff out a laugh, shaking his head like he couldn’t quite believe you.

It’s been a year since then. And all through that year, you never stopped reminding him, always saying, I’m in for the long game.

Then, that day came. You don’t even remember what started it — maybe the way he looked at you, or the way your heart wouldn’t settle when he was near. He pulled you into a quiet room, just the two of you. The air between you felt heavy, full of things unsaid.

For a while, neither of you spoke. Until finally, he did.

“You once said you were playing the long game.”

You met his gaze, serious this time. “I like you, Rafe. It’s you I like.”

Something shifted in his eyes. “I like you, too,” he said, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it. “I’d never want you not to be in my life. So how about we try this—”

But you jumped in, your excitement spilling out before you could stop it. “Boyfriend and girlfriend right now.”

He shook his head, a tiny smile on his lips. “No.”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend eventually.”

He fell quiet. The smile didn’t go away, though. And that silence — it felt like hope.

“You’re not saying no,” you teased, heart thudding. “You have to say something.”

“I’ll play the long game,” he said at last. “Live your life. I’ll live mine. I know you’re out there… and I’m out there too.”

Then he held out his hand to you. “Someday?”

You looked at it, then back at him, your chest tight in the best kind of way. And you took his hand. “Someday.”

You didn’t let go, even after a few seconds.

He smirked. “Let go—”

“Someday,” you whispered, your grin unstoppable.

And in that moment — someday felt close enough to touch.