Beautifully Wrong - Rafe Cameron

VI

Saturday arrived with a cloudless sky, but Indiana's mood was anything but bright. She trudged up the long driveway to the Cameron estate, already feeling the day's weight. John B had asked her to cover his job, and despite her reluctance, she couldn't afford to turn down the money. The orthopedic boot on her foot was a constant reminder of the accident earlier that week, but she pushed through the discomfort, focused on getting the work done.

She was busy cleaning the boat's deck, lost in her thoughts, when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Looking up, she found herself staring into the blue eyes of Rafe Cameron, who seemed as surprised to see her as she was him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, a slight smirk playing on his lips, though his tone carried an edge of condescension.

"Working," Indiana replied flatly, returning her attention to scrubbing a stubborn spot on the deck. "Not everyone has rich daddies and gets to sit around all day."

Rafe's smirk widened, though his eyes darkened a shade. "Guess not."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Indiana could feel his gaze on her, but she refused to look up, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her discomfort.

"You sure you can manage all this with that boot?" Rafe asked after a beat, his tone mocking.

Indiana finally glanced up, meeting his gaze with a glare. "I don't need your help, Cameron."

"Didn't say you did," he replied coolly. "But if you're limping around the whole time, it might take you twice as long."

"I'll manage," she snapped, her patience thinning.

Rafe shrugged, taking a step back. "Suit yourself."

He leaned against the side of the boat, watching her work with an air of detached curiosity. The silence stretched between them, and Indiana tried to focus on her task, but his presence was grating on her nerves.

After a few minutes, Rafe spoke again, his tone casual, but there was a sharpness to it that she didn't miss. "You ever think about going to Midsummer?"

Indiana paused, her hand stilling on the scrub brush. She looked up at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would I think about that?"

Rafe's eyes narrowed slightly, his smirk less friendly now. "I'm just asking. Figured someone like you might want to see how the other half lives."

Indiana huffed, shaking her head. "I've got better things to do than play dress-up for some Kook event."

"Yeah?" Rafe's tone was dismissive, almost like he'd expected her answer. "Could've been fun, though. But if you're too busy..."

"Exactly," Indiana said firmly, resuming her work. "I've got actual responsibilities."

Rafe didn't reply immediately, but she could feel his eyes on her. After a moment, he sighed theatrically, as if finally giving up on the idea.

"Fine," he said, pushing off the boat and shoving his hands into his pockets. "If you change your mind about doing something fun, there's a party at one of the houses tonight. Thought you might want to know."

Indiana glanced at him, suspicion flaring in her chest. "again, why would I want to go to a kook party?"

Rafe shrugged again, turning to walk away. "It's your call. Just thought you might need a break from all this hard work." The way he said it, with that infuriating smirk, made it clear he didn't believe she'd show up.

As he walked off, Indiana muttered under her breath, returning to her task with renewed frustration. The audacity of Rafe Cameron, showing up out of nowhere, trying to act like he was doing her a favor. The idea of going to a party thrown by his crowd was laughable, and she dismissed it as quickly as it had been brought up.

By the time she finished her work, the sun was starting to dip below the horizon. She made her way to the gate, reaching into her back pocket to pull her phone and call an uber.

"You've got to be kidding me," she groaned,
She cursed under her breath, as she realized the battery was dead. Could this day get any worse?

Reluctantly, she made her way back toward the house, hoping to find someone who'd let her use a phone. Unfortunately, the first person she ran into was Rafe, who was leaning against his Jeep, talking on his own phone.

He ended the call when he saw her approaching, raising an eyebrow. "lost something?"

Indiana bit back a retort, knowing she didn't have the luxury of turning down help. "My phone is dead, so i can't call an uber. vai i use yours to hit percy?"

Rafe didn't reply right away, just handed her his phone with a smirk that made her skin crawl. She quickly dialed Percy's number, trying to ignore Rafe's piercing gaze.

"Percy, it's me. My phone's dead. come pick me up?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way," Percy replied. "Hang tight."

She handed the phone back to Rafe, who was still watching her with that same irritating expression. "Thanks."

"No problem," he said, though his tone suggested he found the situation amusing. "I'll wait with you until he gets here. Wouldn't want you to get into any more trouble."

Indiana glared at him, but she knew she had no choice. "Fine."

The two of them stood in awkward silence, Rafe occasionally glancing at her with a mix of amusement and something else she couldn't quite place. She crossed her arms, wishing Percy would hurry up so she could get out of there.

When Percy finally arrived, Indiana practically sprinted to the truck, eager to put as much distance between herself and Rafe Cameron as possible.

"Thanks for the ride, Percy," she muttered as she climbed in.

"No problem. Everything alright?" Percy asked, glancing back at Rafe, who was watching them drive away with that same inscrutable expression.

"Just one of those days," Indiana replied, leaning back in the seat. "Let's go home."

As they drove off, Indiana couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The day had been long and frustrating, and Rafe's unexpected appearance had only made things worse. The prospect of dealing with him again, whether at Midsummer or a house party, was the last thing she wanted.