𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐄. | 𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧

013. another visitor arrives

THE RHODES GIRL IS the first to wake up before dawn. She cleans herself up real quick, changing into comfier clothes to keep her warm in this cold summer dawn. It's quiet around the Cameron house as everyone else is fast asleep. Tatum grabs a blanket, wrapping it around her like a burrito and heads outside to the pergola swing.

The one place to clear off her chaotic mind. She takes a seat, resting her legs on the remaining empty space of the wooden bench swing. Sun is about to rise as the dawn wakes up for a new day. Bits and pieces of last night floods into her mind, remembering the moment she had with Rafe.

"Tate, can we please talk about this?" Rafe takes big steps behind her, scratching the back of his head in concern. "Tate."

"No, Rafe. Just leave me alone, please!" Tatum picks up her heels from the tree and the rest hear the two yelling from afar, looking in their direction.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let myself get too close. Tate! Come back!" Rafe is quick to give up to give her some space on what just happened. He breathes in and out heavily, watching her run away back to the Country Club. "Fuck." Rafe curses to himself, covering his mouth with his hand.

Tatum flinches at the voices in her head. Her hands form into fists underneath the blanket wrapped around her. She sighs out a breath, closing her eyes to shut off her unending thoughts.

"Tate..." Rafe's voice is soft from behind as he calls her name. "Can we talk?"

The girl opens her eyes again, looking behind her to see Rafe still in his pajamas, waiting for an answer. She looks at him and nods her head. As Rafe walks over, Tate sits up to make room for him.

He lets out a long breath, wrapping his right arm behind the wooden swing, allowing Tatum to rest her head on his shoulder. "Why do we always seem to find each other here at the same time?" She asks him, placing some of her blanket over his legs.

"I ask myself that all the time," he lets out a small and soft chuckle. "Look, Tate..."

"No, let me say my piece first." She interrupts him. "Rafe, I'm sorry for doing what I did last night—I was drunk and not myself. I take the full blame. I'm so sorry."

"The only person who should be putting the blame on themself is me, Tate. Listen, I kissed you back." He shakes his head. "I don't know why I did that and I knew better not to. Fuck... I can't keep acting like I'm fine when I'm not. Especially since you came back. Everyday my mind is just spinning and spinning all around you and I have no idea how to stop myself."

Tate lifts her head up to look at him once again as he talks. Every word that comes out of his mouth he means deeply and she doesn't know how to feel about it.

"This is my fault and I'm the one who is truly sorry to letting myself get too close. I'm so stupid, you'd never go back to anything that you had here. You have a new life in New York and nothing here can compete with that." There's pain in his voice and it's obvious.

"Don't say that." She whispers, slightly dropping her mouth.

"No, Tate." Rafe uses his arms to adjust her position, sitting her up straight. "It is true. I ruined everything here for you and I live everyday ever since you left with regret for it. I don't know how else to ask for your forgiveness, but to let you live your life without any sign of me in it."

He purses his lips tight together, trying his best to keep his composure up for her. "I love you, Tate. You were the first girl I've ever fell in love with and will always love for the rest of my days. And I care about you so much it pains me to see you with someone else, but with me. And I can't control that part of your life anymore, but with knowing how happy you are again after everything I put you through, I'm thankful to God that you've got everything you ever wanted—even without me in it."