I See Light In All Your Darkness // Rafe Cameron

thirty-three

Midsummer part one

"All I'm saying is you should give him a chance, Kie." I called out to Kiara as I tried to run a brush through my wet, tangled hair. I felt anger bubbling in my stomach as the brush caught in the knots. I slammed the brush on the counter in front of me and pinched the bridge of my nose.

Kiara came up behind me and grabbed a wide tooth comb. She grabbed the ends of my hair and slowly started to detangle the strands. "You know I'm not made for the Kook lifestyle."

I sucked in a deep breath when a sharp pain spread across my scalp as she worked on a larger knot. "Maybe Top needs some more Pogue in his life."

Kiara rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I am so sure."

My body tensed as she finally worked through the last knot, "They have chilled out a lot since I've been around. He would do anything for me or Rafe or anyone he cares about. We've all hung out, you were there!"

Kiara grabbed the brush and dragged it through the length of my hair to ensure all the tangles were gone. "I don't think it's a good idea."

I turned and puffed out my bottom lip, "Just try? It's my dream for my two best friends to fall in love."

Kiara placed her hands on my cheeks and squished my face between her hands, "No."

I let my shoulders drop and dropped my gaze, "Okay, fine. I'll drop it. But don't come crawling to me when you meet some asshole guy when you could've had a literal angel on earth."

Kiara grabbed a tube of mascara and turned to the mirror, "If he's so great why didn't you date him?"

I lightly smacked her arm, earning a mischievous laugh from her full lips.

My hand found the hair dryer and flicked the switch on. I flipped my damp hair over and began to wave the dryer over the long strands. I felt my neck begin to cramp from the uncomfortable position and my thoughts began to wander to try and keep myself occupied.

My thoughts came in a hurricane of worries and anxieties. I went through the mental checklist I had been reciting to myself for weeks.

Hair and makeup. Outfit and shoes. Accessories. Hit the pen. Rafe and Topper pick us up. Rafe and I walk in together. We talk to investors and colleagues. Be sure to smile and be polite to everyone. Look in love but don't give too much PDA. Don't dance too much, you want to look serious and professional. Play middle man between Rafe and Ward. Leave at a respectable time. Say goodbye to everyone.

I hoped that reciting the itinerary and rules would calm the nerves that bubbled up in my stomach but all it did was cause bile to rise in the back of my throat. I set the dryer down and shakily ran a hand through my hair. Tremors wracked my entire body as anxiety coursed through my veins.

Tonight was one of the most important nights of my life and all eyes would be on me and Rafe. It was our official debut as a couple. Most people that went together at our age got married. People would be watching, expecting an engagement sooner or later.

I gripped the counter in front of me and closed my eyes tightly, willing the lightheadedness to take over and knock me unconscious.