𝔅𝔬𝔯𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔢 - Rafe Cameron

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...

Mike had finally dropped her off at the ferry terminal. The night felt stifling and oppressive, the storm rolling in, turning the world into an unsettling silence. The rain poured heavily, and the place was deserted.

Jazmine found herself under a flimsy shelter, her bag hanging off her shoulder, glancing nervously at her phone, searching for a signal. The dim glow of the screen offered no comfort.

She was drenched, her clothes sticking to her skin, the cold settling deep into her bones. Her hair was tangled and dripping down her back, a mess. All she wanted was to curl up in bed, to wash away the exhaustion with a warm shower.

She longed for the comfort of her routine—her familiar bath with all her skincare products, the cozy kitchen, the living room with the big screen, the terrace where she could sit for hours, lost in thought.

But more than anything, she wanted Rafe. The thought of him blurred everything else, as though he was the only thing that made sense. She kept twisting her necklace between her fingers, her heart racing with each touch of the cool metal, as if it could somehow calm the storm inside her.

Those missed calls echoed in her mind, each one pulling harder at her heart. Was he okay? Was he hurt? Was he somewhere, needing her?

She kept reminding herself that he wasn't her responsibility anymore, but each reminder hurt a little more. She couldn't let him go. Deep down, she didn't want to.

She tried to convince herself that she shouldn't feel guilty for leaving, or even sad. She'd probably be happier away from here, right? She'd have her own little space, her own quiet life. She could come home to silence, buy food without worrying about anyone. Everything would be calm.

But was that really what she wanted?

Her gaze drifted to the horizon, to the faint glow of the ferry lights in the distance, flickering in the darkness. Once she stepped on board, there would be no turning back. She'd leave everything she'd built here behind. Maybe it was the right choice.

But her heart? Her heart wasn't so sure.

The truth was, her heart only asked for one thing. Rafe had been the first person she'd trusted, her only refuge, the one person who made her feel safe. She had taught herself never to become too attached, to never love someone too much. Happiness, she knew, was always fleeting.

Just then, she heard it—a faint echo of footsteps on the wet pavement.

"Jaz."

Her heart stopped. She turned and saw Rafe standing there in the rain, soaked through, with an intensity in his eyes and blood on his hands. His shirt clung to his skin, his eyes red-rimmed, as if he'd been crying or maybe just desperate. He looked lost, undone.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "What... what are you doing here?"

Rafe didn't answer at first. He just looked at her, but the words wouldn't come. Everything about him looked raw, vulnerable, as if he were clinging to his last bit of hope.

"Rafe," she pressed, her voice a little stronger, "what are you doing here?"

"Don't go, Jaz."

The words hit her like a punch to the chest. She shook her head, trying to stay strong. "Go home, Rafe. It's raining, you're soaked."

Rafe's eyes held hers with a desperation that wouldn't let her look away. "I can't go home without you."

Jazmine looked at him, at a loss for words. "Just... go back. Leave me, Rafe."

"No." His voice broke as he choked out the word. "You, Jaz. You're my home. Everything I am, everything I want... it's because of you. I can't do any of this without you."

A tremor ran through him as he took a shaky breath. "Four months, Jaz. Four months in that house. They've been the best months of my life. I've never felt more alive, more... whole than I do with you. You gave me something I thought I'd lost forever—a reason. A reason to wake up. A reason to fight."

She watched him, stunned by the rawness of his words.

"Before you," he continued, "everything felt numb. Every day felt like I was just... surviving. But you, Jaz, you made everything feel real again. I'd give up everything for you. I already have. You're my reason for breathing."

She felt the weight of his words pressing into her, but she fought to ignore it. "How can I believe you, Rafe? All you've done is lie to me."

"I know," he said, his voice thick with desperation. "But Barry's gone. He's left the island. I took care of it. There's nothing he can hold over you now, Jaz. And if he ever tries... I swear, I'll protect you."

The ferry lights grew closer. Jazmine's heart pounded, her thoughts scattering. She knew she should leave; staying was a risk.

Rafe reached for her hands, gripping them tightly. "If you get on that boat, I'll find you. I can't just let you walk away, Jaz, even if you ask me to."

"You said if I wanted you gone, you'd leave," she murmured. "Another lie?"

Rafe's gaze held hers, unwavering, even as the rain poured down, mingling with his despair.

"I swear, I'll become a better man, a better partner—whatever you want, Jazmine."

Tears mixed with the rain on her face as she stood there, caught between her mind and her heart. "Please... give me one more chance. Let me be the one who stands by you. Let me fight for us, no matter the cost."

In that moment, the world around them faded, and she felt herself standing on the edge of something terrifyingly real.

Then, she looked at him, really looked at him. "You lied to me, Rafe," she whispered. "You hid so many horrible things you've done."

"I know," he whispered back.

"You could have told me everything," her voice trembled. "I... I would have never done anything to hurt you."

That was the sad truth—no matter what Kiara had told her, no matter what Rafe could have said, nothing was going to change.

"I know. I know," he repeated.

"I thought you..."

The words wouldn't come, but they both knew what she meant.

Jazmine was now crying, her tears blending seamlessly with the rain falling around them. The ferry was right there, just a step away, all she had to do was turn and board.

But then, why did it feel so impossible?

He moved closer, gently holding her hand and brushing away a tear that had fallen on her cheek. "I'll change, Jaz. I swear I will."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, just her, him, and the storm.

"Please... give me another chance. Let me be by your side, no matter what it takes."

THE END

🖋️ : Sooo, that's the end of season 3 ! I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it! Feel free to let me know what you thought of this first part, do you like the character of Jazmine, what do you want to see next, with who...

I've already started writing the next part, so see you soon!