Vanessa Bowen and Rafe Cameron.
Something happend 2 years ago that changed everything.
Now, she can't stand the sight of him, but not many people know what the exact reason is for her hate towards him.
In a world filled with secrets, privilege...
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♥︎
The morning sun filtered through the trees as Rafe and Vanessa drove down Fourth Street. The air was cool, crisp, but heavy with unspoken thoughts. Vanessa stared out the window of Rafe's Range Rover, her fingers gripping the edge of her seat.
Her mind wandered back to the accident, the sudden violence, and the lingering fear. Her truck was still sitting where it had been left, a stark reminder of the chaos that had unfolded almost 2 days ago.
As they approached the spot, Vanessa's stomach twisted with unease. Her gaze fell on the abandoned truck, looking eerily undisturbed, save for the marks on the pavement from where everything had spiraled out of control.
"Feels weird, doesn't it?" she said quietly, more to herself than Rafe.
Rafe glanced at her from the corner of his eye, sensing the tension in her voice. "Yeah, but it's over now. We got through it," he said, trying to ease her nerves. "Just take a deep breath. Everything's going to be okay."
Vanessa nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. One man had gotten away, the one who had caused less damage but she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't done. Who knew what he was planning? Where he was lurking? She shuddered, trying to focus on the present, but her mind kept circling back.
They pulled up next to her truck, and Rafe hopped out first. "I'll check it over real quick, make sure everything's good," he said, looking over the vehicle like it was just another task on his to-do list. For him, maybe it was.
For Vanessa, it was so much more.
She stayed seated for a moment, watching him inspect the truck's exterior. He was calm, steady, the way he always was when it came to protecting her, and that helped, even if only a little. Finally, she took a deep breath and got out of the car. Her boots crunched on the gravel as she walked over to him.
"All clear," Rafe said with a slight grin, tossing her the keys. "Now, just follow me to your trailer. We'll grab some clothes, and you're still staying with me, alright?"
Vanessa hesitated. "Rafe..."
"I mean it," he cut her off gently, his voice firm but reassuring. "I'm not letting you stay there alone. Not yet."
She didn't argue. The idea of staying at her trailer alone terrified her, even if she didn't want to admit it. "Alright," she finally agreed. "I'll follow you."
As they drove, her mind drifted back to the tension between them, the tension that had been building for weeks. Topper almost exposed what had happened between her and Rafe to the pogues.
She'd overheard them talking about her. Every word had felt like a punch in the gut. But more than anything, she knew she had to talk to Rafe. She couldn't keep avoiding the conversation forever. The thought of it made her throat tighten, tears threatening to rise. What if she broke down again? What if she couldn't keep it together?
