𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐈 ─────⋆⋅★𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯

𝟏𝟐. 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐳

Rafe drove Isla to the country club with his usual air of casual confidence, one hand on the wheel, his other occasionally brushing along the edge of his seat, as if he was half-conscious of his own movements. The drive passed in a comfortable silence, a quiet that held a strange substance, filling the space between them without needing words. Isla stole glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking, taking in the small, almost unguarded smile on his lips. There was a softness there she didn't often see, something that hinted at a side of him beyond his usual bravado.

When they slipped into a small booth tucked away in the corner, Rafe ordered her favorite curly fries without asking, leaning forward with that easy smirk of his. But his voice was gentler this time, as if he were letting her in on some quiet secret.

"Figured I'd better stay on your good side," he teased, sliding the basket of fries across the table when they arrived.

Isla raised an eyebrow, her tone matching his playful ease. "Oh, so that's what this is? Just trying to keep me around for the fries?"

"Maybe." He shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at his lips, but there was something unguarded in his gaze, a tenderness in the way he watched her that made her pulse quicken. "Or maybe it's more than that." He leaned back with his familiar slouch, but his eyes held a warmth she wasn't used to. "Figured it couldn't hurt to make you smile."

She paused, surprised by the quiet sincerity in his words. On impulse, she broke a fry in half, holding it out to him. "Here, peace offering accepted."

He took the fry, their fingers brushing briefly, his touch warm, lingering just a second too long. They fell into an easy rhythm, passing the fries back and forth, their usual walls seeming to lower, if only for this moment. She noticed the way he'd occasionally glance around, a protective instinct in his gaze that felt instinctive, even sweet. Every now and then, he'd look at her, then away, only to check again, as if he were tuned into her presence.

In the midst of their lighthearted conversation, Rafe's gaze lingered on her, a flicker of curiosity surfacing in his eyes. "So," he started, his tone shifting from playful to something more thoughtful, "why haven't you ever had a boyfriend?"

Isla froze for a second, feeling her heart skip at the question. She reached for another fry, twirling it between her fingers to buy herself a moment. "I don't know... guess I never really wanted one," she replied, forcing a casual shrug. "Or maybe it's just that no one's actually tried."

Rafe chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, that's not true, Blackwell. I know for a fact Kelce asked you to prom after spring break, and you shot him down."

She rolled her eyes, laughing to deflect the question. "Kelce was just being Kelce. He probably didn't mean it."

"Trust me, Kelce meant it," he replied, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're just... picky. But you've had options."

She laughed, brushing it off. "Or maybe I just haven't met anyone who felt right." She let the words hang, glancing away as if she hadn't just revealed something personal.

"Guess that makes sense," he murmured, his voice quieter, the playful tone fading. "You're too smart to settle for just anyone."

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, he looked at her like he'd been thinking about this more than she knew. She broke the silence with a small smile, nudging his arm. "You say that like you think I'd be wasting my time."

Rafe hesitated, his gaze drifting to the fries as if gathering his thoughts. Then, he looked back at her, his eyes searching, a quiet vulnerability seeping through. "Look, Isla... I know myself. And not all of us are... dependable." He let out a self-deprecating laugh, almost bitter, his voice softening. "You deserve someone who won't mess things up."