𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

τρία ; 3

song of the chapter:
LIKE A TATTOO ; sade

Margarita woke up to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, sunlight streaming through the open curtains of her room. She stretched, the events of the previous night replaying in her mind. The bonfire, and the tension with Rafe. Seemed so distant now, but something still nagged at her.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her out of her thoughts. She reached for it and saw a new notification.

You've been invited to "Rafe Cameron's Yacht Party."

Her heart skipped a beat. Why would Rafe invite me to his party? She thought, knowing he barely acknowledged her in person but had liked her Instagram stories recently. She stared at the screen, unsure of what to do next.

Margarita stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over the RSVP button. The invitation from Rafe Cameron wasn't something she'd expected. It felt strange, considering their lack of interaction in person, but ever since he swiped up on her Instagram story, she'd felt his presence lingering. Still, a party on Rafe's yacht? That screamed drama waiting to unfold.

She bit her lip, unsure. What would Sarah think? she wondered, knowing how complicated things were between her and her brother. And JJ... she could already picture his reaction.

With a sigh, she tossed her phone onto the bed and grabbed her swimsuit from the chair. Maybe the water will help me clear my head. She needed to focus on something else, if only for a little while.

Heading downstairs, she slipped through the back door, walking toward the family dock where her paddleboard was tied up. The cool breeze hit her face, and for a moment, she allowed herself to forget about Rafe's party.

Her phone buzzed again in the pocket of her hoodie. She rolled her eyes, already knowing it wasn't anything important. But then curiosity got the better of her. Margarita pulled it out.

Another notification from Instagram.

RAFE CAMERON (rafecam): u gonna rsvp or what?

Her heart raced. Now there was no ignoring it. He was pushing her-he wanted her there.

She stared at the message, her thoughts spinning. Was this some kind of trap? Or was it something more than that? Did he really want her there?

Just as she was about to type a response, her phone lit up with an incoming call from Sarah.

"Hey, Mags!" Sarah's voice was bright and excited, cutting through Margarita's confusion. "You around today? The boys are planning something fun at the beach, and we're all meeting up later!"

Margarita hesitated, Rafe's message still open on her screen. "Yeah, I'm around," she replied, keeping her tone light. "What time?"

"An hour or so! You in?"

"Yeah, I'm in," Margarita said, her voice more enthusiastic now. The beach with her friends felt like a much safer option than stepping into Rafe's world.

As she hung up, though, her eyes drifted back to Rafe's message. Part of her was curious, wondering what would happen if she went. But another part warned her that getting close to Rafe could mean trouble.

She closed her eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. She'd deal with it later. For now, she had the beach and her friends. And that was enough... or at least, it should be.

Margarita walked away from the others, finding a quieter spot on the beach. She laid her towel down and sat facing the ocean, sitting down, she hugged her knees to her chest, letting the breeze carry away her thoughts, enjoying the solitude as the sun warmed her skin. The sound of the waves crashing was calming, and she let out a deep breath, thankful for the peace.