𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐄. - 𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧

012. the kiss...

MIDSUMMERS IS THE BIGGEST hit ever in the county of Outer Banks. Everyone here is either mingling, drinking, or dancing. And Tatum was doing all of that with her group of friends. She's laughing, having the time of her life as she dances around with the girls while the boys do their own movements next to them.

"Do you guys wanna sneak off and head to the beach? Just like old times?" John B whispers to the girls, looking around if any parents are listening to them to be sure.

"Hell yeah!" Sarah throws up a fist in excitement, she's also quite drunk.

Tatum giggles at her reaction, turning around to ask Rafe if he's going. "Are you gonna come with as well?" The girl raises her eyebrows, waiting for him to give her an answer. It takes a second for Rafe to decide when he finally says, "yeah, why not?"

"Okay, let's go this way." JJ waves his hand to his friends, leading the way to sneak out.

The mixture of Pogues and Kooks walk towards the back exit normally until when it's a clear coast, they make a run of it. John B takes Sarah's hand, going with her as she laughs. While JJ pulls Kiara on his back, piggyback riding her down the road.

It's Rafe and Tatum in the back for everyone else as Pope and Cleo run in front of them. Tatum is quick to take off her heels, running barefoot on the cold grass beneath her. "We're almost there!" JJ screams from the front.

When they finally get to the beach, the waves a stronger than usual, cold and dark. The moon shines above them as their feet make contact with the grainy sand. By this time everyone's out of breath, but this won't stop them from dipping into the water. JJ dives in with Kiara and the rest joining.

John B has other plans, taking Sarah to a secret place behind the trees a couple of meters away. This just leaves Rafe and Tatum alone. The fashion designer is catching a breath, dropping her heels on the sand. "I—I can't breathe."

Rafe takes a step back to check up on her. "Come, let's go over here to take a seat." He helps assist her down the shore up to another tree. Tatum leans her back against the big trunk as Rafe sits down next to her.

"I don't remember the last time I've ran like that." She snorts out, giggling more than usual since she's got alcohol in her system once again. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm so giddy."

Rafe chuckles to himself, smiling at her. "You're really drunk." Tatum almost slides herself off from the tree when she leans are arm down to prevent herself from hitting her head against the ground. "Careful—but I like happy drunk you."

"Do you really or are you just saying it just to say it?" She tilts her chin down, looking straight into his eyes to get a serious answer from the boy in front of her.

"Yes I do, Tate." Rafe's voice is slow and clear. He's drunk as well, but can handle alcohol better than Tatum can which is clear since she's more cheerful than normal tonight.

Faint playful screams and laughing come from meters away in the water. The Pogues are quite occupied with each other, splashing one another nonstop. Tatum locks her eyes with his, looking from left to right. She can't tell, but they're both extremely close to each other.

Rafe can smell her expensive perfume from where he's sitting. He can see her eyes dilate from the moonlight shining over her face through the branches of the tree above them. His heart beats loudly, hesitating on what his next move might be.

"We should take a walk along the shore. I don't feel like ruining a perfectly good suit." He clears his throat, looking away from her. Rafe's afraid if he kept his eye contact with her a second longer, he would've done something he'd regret instantly.