The sun was setting over the Outer Banks, casting a warm glow through the large windows of Tannyhill as laughter filled Rafe's room. You sat on the bed, scrolling through your phone while Rafe, Topper, and Kelce were in the middle of an animated conversation. The three of them had been joking around for a while, but every now and then, Rafe's gaze would flicker to you, checking on you, making sure you were okay. He always did that when his friends were around—his protective side went into overdrive.
You didn't mind it; in fact, you found it kind of cute. But today, you felt like pushing his buttons a little, just to see how much of that protectiveness would shine through. You'd been quietly listening to their conversation, feeling playful as you watched Rafe's eyes track your every move.
"Rafe," you called out sweetly, drawing his attention. His head turned immediately, his protective instincts kicking in even before you said anything more.
"Yeah, babe?" he asked, his voice softening as he looked at you.
"I'm hungry. Can you get me a snack?" you asked, twirling a strand of your hair between your fingers as you gave him your best puppy-dog eyes.
He stood up without hesitation. "What do you want?"
"Surprise me," you teased, biting your lip to hide the smile that was forming.
Kelce chuckled from the couch, throwing his head back. "Bro, she's got you running errands now?"
Rafe shot him a look, but there was no real anger behind it. "And? I don't mind." He turned back to you with a softer expression. "Stay here. I'll grab you something."
Topper smirked, leaning back in his seat. "Man, you're whipped, Rafe. What happened to you?"
"She happened," Rafe replied easily, a little grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He wasn't ashamed in the slightest.
You giggled, enjoying the banter. But before he could walk out of the room, you hopped off the bed and quickly crossed over to him, wrapping your arms around his waist. "Wait, wait! I want to come with you," you teased, knowing full well that he would object. You just loved seeing how far you could push his protective side.
Rafe's hands immediately settled on your waist, holding you in place. "No, babe. Stay here," he said, his tone gentle but firm. His fingers tightened slightly on your hips, a silent reminder of how serious he was. "You don't need to get up. I've got it."
You gave him an exaggerated pout, crossing your arms like a child being told no. "But Rafeeee..."
Kelce and Topper were both grinning at this point, clearly enjoying the way you had Rafe wrapped around your little finger. "Dude, she's so cute when she does that," Topper commented, shaking his head in amusement.
Rafe glanced over his shoulder at his friends, and you could see the shift in his demeanor. He wasn't mad, but his protectiveness flared up a notch. "Yeah, well, don't get any ideas," he muttered, turning his focus back to you as he brushed a piece of hair behind your ear. "You're staying here," he repeated softly, giving you that look—the one that always made your heart flutter.
You rolled your eyes dramatically but smiled at him anyway. "Fine, but you better hurry," you teased, tugging playfully at his shirt.
He grinned, leaned down to press a soft kiss against your forehead, and then headed for the door. "I will."
Once Rafe was out of the room, Topper and Kelce turned their attention to you, both of them grinning like they had a secret. "You've got him on a leash, huh?" Kelce joked, shaking his head in disbelief.
You shrugged, not bothering to hide your smile. "What can I say? I guess he's just really good to me."
Topper chuckled, leaning forward on his elbows. "I've never seen him act like this with anyone else. You must be special."
You beamed, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. "I like to think so."
Before they could say anything else, Rafe came back, holding a small bowl of fruit and a bag of chips. He placed them on the bed for you and sat down beside you, immediately pulling you into his side. His arm wrapped around your shoulders, his hand finding its place on your leg as he leaned back, keeping you close. "Here you go, baby."
You smiled up at him and took a bite of the fruit, leaning into his embrace. "Thanks, Rafe."
Topper and Kelce exchanged knowing looks, but it was Kelce who spoke up first. "Man, you're like a bodyguard. She's fine, you know. We're not gonna steal her or anything."
Rafe's jaw tightened just slightly, and his grip around you tightened a bit too. He glanced over at them, his voice steady but serious. "I know. I just like keeping her close."
You giggled softly, enjoying how protective he was, and looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Does that mean you're gonna keep me close forever?"
Rafe's expression softened instantly, and without missing a beat, he leaned down and kissed your cheek. "You know it, baby. Forever and always."
Kelce groaned playfully, covering his face with his hand. "God, you two are so mushy."
Topper smirked, shaking his head as he watched the interaction. "Yeah, dude, she's turned you into a softie."
Rafe rolled his eyes, but he didn't let go of you. If anything, his arm tightened around you even more, like he was proving a point. "You'll understand when you find someone like her," he replied, not even bothering to hide the pride in his voice.
You blushed, hiding your face in his chest, but Rafe's hand found the back of your head, gently playing with your hair as he held you close. "Ignore them, baby. They're just jealous."
Topper and Kelce shared a laugh, but they dropped the teasing after that. Rafe was protective, sure, but it was clear to everyone that he was like that because he cared—because he loved you.
And as you leaned into his warmth, the sound of the waves crashing outside, you couldn't help but feel lucky to have someone like him. Overprotective or not, Rafe Cameron was everything you could ever want, and more.
