LITTLE SECRET | RAFE CAMERON

27: 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵

„What should I say to her?"

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head and jogged down the stairs without answering his question, closely followed by him and his hectic rush.

„No, don't just shake your head at me, what am I supposed to say?" He hissed quietly and grabbed her arm to stop her when they finally reached the end of the staircase. „does she even like me?"

„What do you mean does she even like me, you were here every day when we were kids" Alice chuckled and turned to look at him.

„I'm almost twenty, I haven't talked to her since - I don't know - I can't even remember the last time" Rafe gestured, the nervousness on his face making her narrow her eyes as a smile appeared on her lips.

„Why are you so nervous about this?"

„Cause' she's your mom" He said with a shrug. „and I know how much she means to you"

„Rafe, she likes you" She assured and grabbed his hand, making him look up at her. „and she called you a nice young man" She added in a sweet giggle as she led him down the hallway to the kitchen.

Their hands remained together, his fingers entwined with hers, as they entered the kitchen. Her thumb stroked the back of his hand as she squeezed him lightly to tell him not to worry.

Laurel looked up from her magazine, meeting them with speechlessness, while a lovely glimmer rose in her eyes.

„Wow, now look at you, someone has grown up quite a bit" She said referring to Rafe, who scratched the back of his head with a polite nod.

„Good morning, Mrs. Blakely, I'm sorry for showing up unannounced"

„Oh sweetheart, it's Laurel to you and it always has been" Her mother said and crossed her arms on the kitchen island. „don't you remember how you two used to run around here, making me hide every vase just in case"

A laugh in the form of an huff escaped Rafe and he leaned against the counter next to Alice, who looked at him with a soft smile gracing her lips.

It was so strange to look at him and his way of being in such a situation. How he acted now that he was talking to her mother, almost like a...boyfriend introducing himself to his girlfriend's family.

„How time flies, it feels like it was yesterday when you two constantly kept me on my toes and now..." Laurel remembered and paused for a moment as she looked at them. „...and now this is happening" She gestured between Rafe and Alice.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting while their lips were curved into gentle smiles. A sight so lovely that Laurel rested her head on her hand as she admired them.

„Oh, I always knew you two would fall in love one day"

„Mom, please" Alice shook her head with a rose blush spreading across her cheeks.

Rafe, however, said nothing against it, no denial from his side.

„Oh come on, we always said Ian and Sarah or Rafe and Alice, but I guess you two were a bit faster" Laurel laughed teasingly.

„Yeah, I think it's..." He shrugged, causing Alice to look up at him. „...the better one too" He finished.

It was the very first time Alice got to hear what he thought about this. What he saw in this chaos of their emotions and it almost sounded as if he felt so much more for her than he wanted to admit.

„All right kids, I don't want to bother you any further and Rafe, please make yourself at home, you are always welcome here"

„Thanks, Laurel, I appreciate it."