It’s a hot summer night, and the party is in full swing. The music is loud, the crowd is wild, and you and Sarah are both completely wasted, dancing like no one’s watching. The alcohol has loosened you both up, and laughter fills the air as you spin and twirl, enjoying the freedom of the moment. But the energy between you and Sarah is electric—maybe a little too much. The way you’re moving together feels a little too close, a little too playful.

As you laugh, you catch Rafe’s gaze across the room. His expression is hard to read at first, but then you realize it’s a mix of concern and something else. You don’t have time to process before you see Topper walking toward Sarah, clearly not pleased with what he’s seeing. Without saying much, he pulls her away, her drunken protests muffled by the loud music.

Before you can even turn to see what’s going on, Rafe is right behind you, his hand on your back, guiding you away from the crowd. His grip is firm, but his voice is surprisingly calm when he speaks.

“Hey, let’s get some air,” he says quietly, his tone more serious than before. “This is getting a little too much.”

You glance back at Sarah, now with Topper at her side, looking confused but too drunk to care about much else.

“Rafe…” you start, but he cuts you off gently.

“We’re leaving the crowd. You and Sarah need a break,” he says, walking you away from the chaos and toward the quieter backyard area.

As the music fades, you start to feel the weight of the situation. The carefree fun had its limits, and both Rafe and Topper knew it. They both had their eyes on their girlfriends, ensuring nothing more than innocent fun happened between the two of you.

You look up at Rafe, still walking beside you, and for the first time tonight, the tension between the two of you feels thick, the playful mood from earlier gone.

“Let’s just chill for a bit. You’re good, yeah?” he asks, his concern now clear.