Golden Hearts | Rafe Cameron [1]

53

July 29

The sound of a door loudly closing downstairs wakes me, and I immediately understand that it must be my dad coming home from that sudden work trip he had to take. Today is the day of the annual family party that the Morgans and the Camerons have together because of work connections.

I almost thought it wouldn't happen this year, but apparently, we're having the party even though our dads hate each other. However, I don't know how I'm going to avoid Rafe all evening, but we'll figure that out later.

I hear someone knocking on my bedroom door. "Come in," I call out. It could be my dad, but it could just as easily be someone else in my family wanting to talk.

The door opens, and my mom comes in. She looks much better today compared to when we got back from our vacation. She gives me a slightly pained smile. "Your dad is home. Come down and say hi to him. We're also heading over to the Camerons' for the family party. Put on the dress I laid out for you, please," she says, pointing to the light purple dress lying on the chair.

"Okay, I'll be there soon," I say, and my mom nods before leaving me in my room so I can change into the dress before going down to the kitchen where the rest of my family is. My dad looks up at me when I come down but says nothing and looks back at his phone.

"Let's go then," my mom says, who seems to be the only one actually trying to make us cooperate.

We walk over to the Camerons' yard where the party is. There are already lots of people there, and things are set up everywhere. Usually, our families organize the party together, but I guess Ward and my dad didn't want to this time. Still, my mom and Rose managed to do it together.

I see Rafe standing next to Ward, and we walk up to them. I meet his gaze and just wish we could leave instead of standing here pretending we didn't just get together a few days ago.

My dad is off somewhere else while my mom talks to Ward. Rafe's eyes are on me the whole time. "Adeline and Nathan, why don't you go around and see if there's anything you can help with?" my mom says to us.

"You don't need to do that. Absolutely not. Enjoy the party," Ward says, smiling at us. "Take Rafe with you too," Ward adds, placing his hand on Rafe's back to push him closer to me and Nathan.

I look at Ward in surprise, and Rafe's expression is equally astonished. What does he mean by letting us be together? Wasn't that exactly what we weren't allowed to do before?

We don't say anything and walk away together. Rafe is about to put his arm around my waist, but I remove it in case it makes Ward change his mind. Nathan goes in a completely different direction, leaving just me and Rafe.

I see Sarah and head over to her with Rafe. She looks at us in surprise too. "You two? Won't Ward kill you if he sees you?"

"It was his idea," I say with a smile. Sarah smiles back before handing me a glass of wine. "Take this."

"What about me?" Rafe asks.

"You're old enough to get your own," Sarah says.

"But Addie and I are—"

"Girls support girls," Sarah says before walking away.

"There's something I need to talk to you about," Rafe says when Sarah leaves us. He looks at me seriously, which makes me think he might regret that we got together.

"If you don't want to be together anymore—"

Rafe looks at me like I'm out of my mind and shakes his head. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know, I just thought—"

"I talked to Dad today," Rafe says, making me curious about what he's going to say, "and we kind of agreed that we can be together."

I look at Rafe in surprise and smile happily at him. "Really?!"

"Yeah, he said it hurt him to keep us apart or something, I don't know. Apparently, your mom and Rose convinced him, so we should thank them. But if there are any problems with us being together, he'll speak against it," Rafe explains.

I throw my arms around Rafe's shoulders in joy. "You're the best!"

"You're the best, Addie," Rafe says, smiling before giving me a kiss on my lips.

"The fact that we can kiss in front of everyone now makes me so happy," I say, smiling even more at the thought.

Rafe smiles at me and is about to lean in for another kiss when a loud noise catches our attention. We turn and see JJ and John B running around among all the adults and their children. Pope stands uncertainly, watching. What on earth are they doing? What are they even doing here? Don't they know they're in trouble if they come here?

"What the hell..." Rafe whispers before starting to walk away from me, but I quickly catch up to him, trying to stop him from approaching them because it'll only cause problems. Of course, he's too strong for me.

"Rafe! Leave them alone!" I shout, and thankfully, Topper comes over and stops Rafe.

"Man, come on, let your dad handle it," says Topper, placing his arm on Rafe's shoulder.

Sure enough, Ward is yelling at John B and JJ, while my dad talks to the security guards, who soon move in on them. I don't even know what they were thinking coming here. If they wanted to ruin the party, it's pretty hard when there are so many powerful adults here. It's almost impossible.

When I look away from Ward and my dad, I see that Rafe is gone, but Topper is still standing there. I look at him hopelessly. "Where did he go?!" I shout.

"I don't know, I looked away for a second, and he was gone," says Topper, looking surprised at how Rafe could just disappear like that.

"You're useless!" I say and start hurrying in one direction, hoping to find Rafe, but there are so many people everywhere that it's going to be almost impossible to find him.

I do know that he probably followed the security guards who kicked out the Pogues, but I didn't see which way they went. Where else would he go? I notice Topper hurrying behind me and I sigh loudly. Can he ever just try to help without messing things up?

"I think they went that way," Topper says, pointing to the side of the Cameron's house. "On the other side of the house, I mean."

"Okay," I say flatly before starting to run there. Topper sighs loudly behind me.

"My stamina sucks, just so you know," he says, but I don't have the energy for his comments right now.

But he was right. Behind the house are Rafe and the Pogues. Rafe is standing right in front of JJ, saying something to him. Pope looks scared and watches, and I don't know where John B is.

"Take care of your psycho boyfriend!" JJ shouts as soon as he sees me and Topper rounding the corner, making Rafe turn around. While he's turning, JJ punches Rafe straight in the face, causing his nose to bleed. I back away a little. I just know that must have hurt.

"So you want violence, huh?" Rafe says in an aggressive voice and hurries forward to grab JJ's shirt tightly. He punches JJ right in the face, and I've had enough.

I step between Rafe and JJ, and just as I do, I feel a hard hit straight to my face. When I look up, I see that it was Rafe who punched me. My mouth is wide open, and I just stare at him as he begins to realize that he actually hit me.

"Addie, I didn't mean to. I didn't think you'd get between me and JJ. Addie, I'm really sorry," Rafe says, sounding stressed.

I don't care if he meant it or not. I just want to get away. Away from everyone. Away from them at least. Topper comes over to me and lifts my face, and I can tell from his expression that it doesn't look good. It hurts so much.

"Let me take care of you, Addie," Rafe says, placing his hand on my back, but I immediately brush it off.

"Leave me alone!" I scream, which makes Rafe back away a bit, surprised.

"Come on, I'll help you home," Topper says, and for some reason, I let him take me home.

A/N:
Guess who's going to the eras tour Stockholm N2 and N3 hihihihi?💕💕