You had absolutely no reason to feel guilty. You had to keep telling yourself that tonight. While you were getting ready, when JJ picked you up, when you’d arrived at the party. You were doing what he wanted. Rafe had told you over and over again that he wasn’t interested, and you needed to listen to that.

It didn’t matter that he called you when he needed someone to talk to, that you spent long nights sitting up and talking with him, that you’d fallen asleep in his arms so many times now that you’d lost count. None of it meant anything. You could be there for him in every way possible and it wouldn’t be enough. Rafe Cameron was just incapable of really letting someone in. He had a blackened heart that was never going to beat for you.

You’d misread his feelings. When you’d gone to kiss him a few nights ago, he’d dodged it. The two of you got into an argument with him yelling that he would never want you. The embarrassment was still fresh, like a wound that was slowly healing and likely to reopen. Tonight you’d see how strong you were, if you could get through the night with minimal contact with Rafe, it would be a success in your eyes.

JJ hands you a beer, slinging his arm over your shoulder and tugging you close to him. You tilt your head and smile at him. This was good, this was easy. It was a relief to be with someone that you knew liked you. Far better than being a lovesick idiot, pulling daisy petals asking if Rafe loved you or not. The answer was not.

Rafe can’t help but to search the crowded party for you. He shouldn’t have yelled at you the way he did that night. He wanted to see you to know that you were okay. He frowns when he sees JJ standing with his arm around you. That wasn’t right. You liked him. Since when was JJ a thing? He white knuckles his beer bottle and walks over to you.

“Come outside with me” he practically growls at you, and he realizes what he’s feeling. He’s jealous. He’s pissed as hell that JJ of all people, has his arm around you. That he’s the reason you’re smiling.

“Sorry, I can’t. I’m here with JJ, and we just got here” it takes all your strength to resist Rafe’s command. You’d usually always just blindly go along with what he asked.

“Ditch him” he replies, his eyes staring into yours intently. He doesn’t even bother glancing JJ’s way. To him, JJ isn’t worth acknowledging. You curse your traitorous heart that skips a beat from the way he’s looking at you. Damn him.