𝔅𝔬𝔯𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔢 - Rafe Cameron

①⑨

...

Jazmine woke up suddenly from a nightmare, her breathing still unsteady in the early morning quiet. She sat for a moment, trying to calm herself before heading upstairs. When she reached Rafe's room, she found him going through his closet, different jackets and shirts scattered all over the bed.

Leaning against the doorframe, Jazmine watched him quietly, a faint smile on her lips. Rafe was obviously trying to decide on something important—probably for that meeting with the buyers.

"That blazer doesn't go with that shirt," she remarked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rafe looked over his shoulder, a half-smirk on his face. "Really? I thought I pulled it off." With a sigh, he tossed the blazer aside, walking back to the closet with a bit of a grumble. Jazmine moved to sit on his bed, picking up a watch from an open box beside her. As her fingers traced its metal surface, her eyes stayed on him, catching the tension in his stance.

"Everything alright?" she asked gently.

His voice was muffled from within the closet, coming out tense. "Yeah, it's fine."

But Jazmine caught the faint hesitation in his tone. "And with your dad?" she probed softly.

Rafe emerged with another jacket, his face unreadable. "We talked." He shrugged it off, looking down.

Jazmine tilted her head. "And?"

His eyes darted to the side before he shrugged again. "It... happened, that's all."

A small frown crossed her face, her tone softening. "You seem nervous."

Rafe laughed a little, trying to brush it off as he tossed the jacket beside her. "Nah, I'm used to it." He paused, the faintest glimmer of vulnerability flickering in his gaze. "Alright, maybe a little. Can't lie."

Jazmine nodded slowly, watching him with a warmth that softened her usual guarded expression. "We've been careful this time," she murmured. "I didn't want... another incident like last time."

She trailed off, the weight of the memory settling between them. "That day... I thought—"

Rafe stepped closer, his gaze unwavering as he cut her off gently. "That's behind us, Jaz. Don't think about it."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, words were unnecessary. Jazmine gave him a small nod, though worry lingered in her eyes. "We were both there, but just imagine if you'd been alone."

Rafe smirked, reaching out to brush a stray hair behind her ear. "I'm a big boy, Jaz. I can handle myself."

A ghost of a smile appeared on Jazmine's lips as she looked at him, unconvinced but touched by his attempt to reassure her. "I know you can," she whispered.

Rafe's gaze softened, something almost unguarded in his expression. "We haven't really had much time together lately..." His voice was quiet, almost vulnerable. "I miss it."

She gave him a teasing smile. "You're usually the one out."

Rafe chuckled, his eyes not leaving hers. "So are you." He leaned against the closet door, a rare, serious look crossing his face. "Honestly, I liked it better when it was just us. It was simpler."

Jazmine tilted her head, her eyes searching his. "If you want to be as important as your father, you'll have to get used to people... even if they're not always your favorite."