Me and the Devil

12.

⚠️Sexual Content Warning ⚠️

I jump into my jeep as soon as we get back to the Chateau. With invites to Kook parties being rare for me, I don't want to seem ungrateful by skipping out, no matter how out of place I might feel.

"Where ya going so fast?" JJ calls after me.

"I got invited to a kook party at Kelce's.What, you think I'd look this good just for you?" I wink and tease.

"I was hoping so," he teases back . "Have fun tonight and be safe!"

I laugh, but there's an edge to his words. As I pull away from the Cut, a pit forms in my stomach. His words echo in my mind, twisting into something I can't quite shake. Maybe it's guilt. Maybe it's excitement. Maybe it's both.

I take a detour, turning down the familiar little, winding gravel road to Barry's. I need something to calm my nerves before I dive into the madness of a Kook party, where I'll probably feel like a fish out of water. I walk up to Barry's run down trailer, ready to forget the doubts swirling in my mind.

Before I can knock, the door swings open, slamming right into my face.

"Ow!"

"Sorry, pretty girl." The voice croons. I glance up, hand on my face, and meet the cold eyes of Luke Maybank.

"Hope you're not bringing your lot back to my son. He's already fucked up enough."

"Thanks to you." I snap, shoving past him

I take a few anxiety pills from Barry before heading to Kelce's. AS I approach the house, the booming bass from trap music and the sound of drunken laughter fills the air. Part of me considers turning around. Booze, drugs, kooks - I could be doing anything else right now. But I'm here, and a small part of me wants to prove I can handle this. I park the jeep and step into the fray.

People crowd the yard, smoking and dancing. I spot Sarah and Topper on the roof of the house, looking over the pool. The people below start chatting. "Jump!" "Jump!" "Jump!" Topper picks up Sarah and to my disbelief, leaps off the roof into the pool below. A huge splash sends the crowd cheering again.

"Coolest chick in the OBX!!" Topper yells. Sarah sees me. "y/n!" she waves me over. "You made it! You gotta get in the water's great!"

I wasn't expecting a pool party, but I did come prepared. Beneath my clothes, I'm wearing a bikin - though not one I'd usually wear for something like this. It's black, nearly see-through mesh, a little too revealing, but it's the only one clean.

"Be right back!" I yell. I move to the edge of the party to stash my stuff and pull off my tank top. I'm about to unbutton my shorts when I feel someone behind me.

"Need help with those" Rafe's voice cuts through the noise, low and teasing. I turn to see him standing there, too close, with that signature smirk.

"Real charming," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

He steps closer, his breath warm against my ear. "I didn't get a chance to respond yesterday after you spat in my face."

Before I can respond, his arm snakes around my waist, spinning me to face him. His eyes red-rimmed from either alcohol or something stronger, glisten with an intensity I haven't seen before.