Last Summer

River

My mom's eyes widened at my utter disrespect. It happened so fast as her hand came up and collided with my face. Rafe pulled me backwards and pushed me behind him.

"What the fuck?" He screamed. My dad quickly stood in front of Rafe, facing my mother.

"Veronica, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" My father clenched his jaw, trying to keep his composure.

I looked past Rafe's arm to see my mother going manic. Ward stood behind my parents, looking completely confused.

"My mother is bi-polar." I whispered to Rafe. I watched his face turn hard and cold as he kept his hand on my waist. Sarah and Harper were standing behind us, I could hear Harper's crying.

My mother stormed off the dock, her red hair flowing behind her.

My father turned to Ward and apologized.

"Dad." I said coming out from behind Rafe.

He pulled me into a hug, "I'm so sorry, honey."

"I think I'm going to get a house over here. I can transfer offices." He whispered in my ear.

I pulled back so quickly, a smile taking over my face.

"Pops, are you serious?" You could hear the glee in my voice.

He nodded and I squealed.

I pulled out of the hug and turned to Rafe, "Rafe, I want you to meet my dad, Parrish." My dad stuck his hand out to the blue eyed boy.

Rafe smile and stuck took his hand, "Sir, it's nice to meet you."

I looked back at Harper and giggled. She was probably shitting her pants.

"I guess I have to introduce you to my dad now." Rafe said into my ear and chuckled. He took my hand and walked me over to Ward.

"You must be River." He said, smiling at me.

"Yes, sir." I nodded, "It's nice to formally meet you."

I looked up at Rafe, he was radiating. You could almost feel the happiness coming off his body.

..........................................................

A week after the incident on the dock, Rafe and I spent days with my dad, checking out houses. He found one on the South side of the island, the Cut. Home of the Pogues. Harper hated it just because it's on the Cut.

"Do you like it?" Rafe asked as he wiped a paint brush on the wall of my new room.

"I love it. Plus, you're 10 minutes away." I replied, rolling the roller brush in the paint tray.

"Oh shit, babe. What is that?" Rafe suddenly looked concerned coming towards me. It was too late before I realized the cold, wet paintbrush coming down, across my face.

"Rafe! You're dead." I laughed, rolling the gray paint across his left arm.

"Oh, you cheater! Your brush is so much bigger than mine." He protested, flinging paint at me blindly.

"Listen here, Kook King. I happen to be the top paint fighter in the Southeast." I was laughing so hard, my words barely came out correctly.

He just laughed harder.

"Hey, you kids want pizza?" My dad popped his head into the room and when he saw us, his eyes widened. "Oh Jesus." He laughed.

"Yes, Pops. We'd love pizza." I replied, catching my breath.

"Okay." He laughed, "Do you want to see if your sister wants to come?"

I nodded, "I'll text her."

After my dad left, Rafe looked at me.

"You're not going to tell him what Harper said?" He asked.

I shook my head, "No. He just got here, I don't want to upset him. Plus, she might change her mind in August once school comes around."

My sister decided she wants to stay with my mom full time, that would absolutely crush my father.

"Hey." Rafe's voice pulled me out of my thoughts, "We never went out on our real date."

"Oh, you're right." I confirmed, "Do you want to do that tomorrow?"

He nodded, "Put on your best dress, Maxwell." He winked at me and I felt my heart drop.

"Rafe." I warned.

He smirked and held his hands up innocently.

My dad returned with the pizza rather quick, we sat at the kitchen table, all of us grabbing into the box of pepperoni.

"So Rafe, how old are you?" My dad questioned.

"I'm 19, sir." Rafe replied, between bites.

My dad nodded, "How long have you lived in Outer Banks?"

"My whole life."

"Do you work?"

"I do oddball jobs every now and then."

"What was your GPA in high school?"

"3.5."

"Have you ever been to jail?"

"No, sir."

"Where did you go to high school?"

"Okay, dad. Jesus. Ask for his Social Security Number, why don't you?" I teased, becoming overwhelmed with all the questions.

My dad chuckles a bit before looking back to Rafe, "In all honesty, son. My daughter is risking a lot to be here with you. Don't fuck it up."

My heart started to beat rapidly. Was Rafe going to get offended? Was he going to start a fight?

"Of course, sir. I completely understand." Rafe replied, smiling and nodding.

I smiled shyly and picked the pepperoni off my pizza.

"River, grab that ranch behind you?" My dad pointed to the fridge.

"Sure, pops." I replied, leaning back and grabbing the ranch out of the door of the fridge.

"Thanks, hun."

I heard Rafe clear his throat and look at my father, I looked up quickly.

"Sir," He began, "I'd like your blessing to ask River to be my girlfriend."

I started choking on the water I was drinking causing both men to rush to my side.

Rafe is patting my back when I finally stop coughing.

My dad looked at him over the top of me and said, "You have my blessing, son." He stuck his hand out once again to Rafe, who shook it, strongly.

I started smiling.

All I have done is smile for the past week.

Was I falling in love with the Kook King himself?

Rafe fucking Cameron.