Last Summer

River

I looked at him and knew exactly what I was doing. I was making him squirm, not physically, but mentally. I had never been this confident with a guy before, but for some reason, toying with Rafe was exciting.

"What's your game? Why were you staring at me in the cafe?" He questioned. He studied me intensely, twisting that gold ring on his finger.

"You're Rafe fucking Cameron. You're used to it. Everyone stares when you walk into a room. My question is why did you stare back at me?"

He smirked. I wanted to melt into this stranger's hands like butter. Everything about him was attractive, but I wasn't going to let him know that without effort.

"You caught my eye. I've never seen someone like you before." He confessed. My heart jumped into my throat. What did he just fucking say?

"Hmm." I hummed and pursed my lips. I watched him take in my appearance as I took in his.

"Would you want to hang out sometime?" He blurted, a smile forming on his lips, showing his perfect smile.

I nodded softly, letting myself smile, "Yes."

"Are you busy tomorrow?" He looked like a little kid, excited.

I shook my head, feeling my face warm and he reached into the pocket of his suit, removing his phone, handing it to me to put my number in. I did the same with mine.

"So, do you live here?" He asked.

"Kinda," I replied, "I spend most of the year at my dad's in Oregon. But the summer, I have to spend with my mom."

He looked completely interested in what I was saying, something I wasn't used to.

"Oh. That's cool. But that means you'll only be here until August?" He questioned. With every word he said, I was becoming more hooked. I didn't know this guy, nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I wanted to reach out and touch his face. It took everything in me not to.

I hadn't answered his question due to be lost in thought about touching his face. He tilted his head at me, smirking again.

"River?"

"Sorry, what?" I snapped out of the trance he unknowingly put me in.

"You're only going to be here until August?" He restated.

I nodded quickly and bit down on my lip.

I watched as his eyes traced my face, as if he was taking every detail in.

We sat there, studying each other in silence.

"River, are you ready to go?"

Like I said before, the serenity never lasts long.

My mother's voice pulled our gaze apart.

"Um, yeah. Be right there." I smiled at my mother and stood up, Rafe following my lead. The interruption making the space fill up with the awkward silence again.

My mother eyed me as she slipped back inside. I turned to Rafe, embarrassment spread across my face. I smiled and laughed a little bit.

"I will uh, see you tomorrow?" I chuckled, fumbling with my hands.

He nodded and laughed, pushing his hand through his hair. I looked up at him standing next to me and my heart fluttered. He looked down at me, a smile spreading across his face.

"I'll text you my address." I assured and slipped through the door.

"I hope you do." He called after me, smiling wildly.