Just Colleagues

22. The Aftereffects of a Mid Summer

Briar's POV:

I arrive back at the Cameron house late at night, exhausted from the long day. We had just come back from the hospital, and I was relieved that Pope was going to be fine. The initial scare of seeing him swarmed by bees had turned into a long, tense wait at the hospital, but the doctors had assured us that he was okay.

I glance at my phone, hoping to see a message from Rafe, but there's nothing. I had texted him a few times from the hospital, apologizing for having to leave Midsummers so abruptly, but he hadn't responded. Normally, he's quick to reply, especially to my texts, so the silence feels unsettling.

Pushing the front door open quietly, I tiptoe inside, not wanting to wake anyone. The house is still and dark, a stark contrast to the noise and activity of the night. My mind is still racing from everything that happened, but my body is heavy with exhaustion.

As I head upstairs to my room, I can't help but replay the night in my head. The way Rafe had looked at me during our dance, the near-kiss, and then the sudden chaos with Pope. I feel a sting of guilt for leaving Rafe like that, but I had no choice. Pope needed help.

In my room, I sit on the edge of the bed and check my phone one more time. Still no response from Rafe. A small part of me starts to worry.

What if he's upset with me? Or worse, what if something happened to him?

I shake my head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts.

"Maybe his phone died," I mutter to myself, trying to find a reasonable explanation.

I decide to send one last text:

"Heyy, I'm back home. Everything's fine w Pope. Hope ur okay. Miss u. Goodnight."

Sighing, I place my phone on the nightstand and change into my pajamas. The bed feels incredibly inviting after the long day. I slide under the covers, feeling the cool sheets against my skin, and close my eyes. Despite my tiredness, my mind keeps wandering back to Rafe.

"Maybe he's just tired too," I whisper to myself, trying to find comfort in the thought.

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Rafe's POV:

It's the Monday after Midsummers, and I sit in the living room, ready to start work on my laptop. The weekend had been a whirlwind, and I still haven't quite sorted through all my feelings about it. I can't stop thinking about the hospital incident, my argument with Topper, and the nagging jealousy that keeps creeping into my thoughts.

Briar comes down the stairs, looking as fresh and beautiful as ever, and my heart tightens. I remind myself to act nonchalant. If Briar would rather be with Pope, then I need to play it cool. I can't let her see how much this is eating me up inside.

"Morning," I say casually, not looking up from my screen.

"Morning," she replies, her voice cheerful but with an undercurrent of uncertainty.

She sits next to me on the couch, opening her laptop as well. There's a tension in the air that wasn't there before. I can sense she knows something is off, but she doesn't ask. Instead, she tries to make small talk.

"Did you sleep well?" she asks, glancing at me with those curious eyes.

"Yeah, pretty well," I lie, forcing a smile. "You?"

"Same," she says, though I can tell she's trying to gauge my mood. "I'm glad Pope is okay. That was a scare, huh?"

"Yeah, it was," I reply, keeping my tone light. "Good thing you were there."