Secrets in the Dark

Chapter 2

The rest of the night seemed to stretch on forever. Ava tried her best to act normal, to pretend everything was fine. JJ had moved back into the crowd after their brief conversation, and Ava could feel his hand on the small of her back as they mingled with friends, laughing, dancing—just trying to forget.

But she couldn't forget. Rafe's eyes were always there, like a shadow in the corner of her mind. He had a way of making her feel like everyone in the room could see the secret she was trying so desperately to bury.

She found herself glancing over her shoulder every few minutes, only to find Rafe standing in the same spot, his smirk never faltering. His eyes followed her like a hawk, every move she made, every word she exchanged with JJ.

She'd told herself she was done with him. That last summer was a mistake—a stupid, reckless mistake. But now, as Rafe watched her like he was waiting for something, it felt like that mistake was still alive, haunting her every step.

"Having fun?"

Ava flinched, turning around to find Rafe standing right behind her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile, but the effort felt hollow.

"I didn't know you'd be following me around all night," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the tension in her voice gave her away.
Rafe tilted his head, his eyes glinting with something she couldn't quite place. "I'm not following you, Ava. I'm just... keeping an eye on you."

His voice was smooth, almost too smooth. It sent a chill down her spine.

Ava took a step back, but he mirrored her movement, closing the distance. Her stomach clenched with unease. "What do you want, Rafe?"

His smile widened, and he stepped even closer, his breath warm against her ear. "What do I want? I just want to remind you of what you're about to lose, Ava. The good thing you've got going with JJ? You're about to throw it all away, just to keep pretending like last summer never happened."

Her pulse raced. He was playing with fire, and she was the one holding the match. The way he looked at her—like he knew her better than anyone, better than JJ—made her blood run cold.

"Don't," Ava said, her voice barely above a whisper, but there was an edge to it. "Just... don't do this."

Rafe chuckled, stepping back slightly but keeping his eyes locked on hers. "What's the matter, Ava? You're scared someone will find out? Scared of losing him?"

Ava took another step back, this time more resolutely. "I'm not scared of anything." Her voice was trembling despite her attempt at defiance. "You're nothing. You mean nothing."
Rafe's eyes glimmered with something dark and twisted. "Is that what you tell yourself every time you look at him? Because it's not true. You're scared, Ava. You're terrified of him finding out what we did, and you're terrified of losing the one thing that made you feel something real... something I gave you."

Her throat tightened. She could feel the weight of his words, the truth of them sinking in like poison. The feelings she had for him last summer—they weren't gone. They couldn't be. And deep down, she hated herself for that.

"I don't want you anymore, Rafe," she whispered, barely able to keep her voice steady.
"I'm with JJ. And that's the end of it."

Rafe smiled again, a slow, knowing smile that made her blood run cold. "I don't think it's over, Ava. Not until you make it right." He took a step closer again, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You can try to play the perfect girlfriend all you want. But I know what you are. I know what you did. And one of these days, you'll slip up, and JJ will find out."

Ava's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She had to get away from him. But before she could turn to leave, she heard JJ's voice behind her.

"Ava, everything okay?"

She turned to see JJ, his face full of concern, but there was a hardness in his eyes now. She could see it—the suspicion creeping in, the doubt. Rafe had made sure of that.

Ava quickly moved toward him, her chest tight, and reached for his hand, desperately trying to steady herself. "Yeah, everything's fine," she said quickly, forcing the words out, but JJ wasn't buying it. His gaze flickered to Rafe, who had taken a few steps back, seemingly innocent, but his smirk was still there.

"Rafe," JJ said, his voice flat. "You've been standing there all night."

Rafe met JJ's gaze, unfazed. "Just enjoying the party," he said with a lazy shrug, his eyes flicking back to Ava with that taunting gleam. "But I should go. Don't want to interrupt your perfect night."

He turned to leave, but before he did, his voice cut through the air one last time, dark and dripping with meaning. "But don't worry, Ava. I'm not going anywhere. We both know how this story ends."

Ava's heart dropped to her stomach, and she felt a cold sweat break out across her skin. She tried to breathe, tried to keep her composure, but the weight of Rafe's words, of the truth he held over her, felt suffocating.

She was in too deep.

JJ's hand tightened around hers. "Ava," he said softly, his voice more serious now, full of concern. "What's going on?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. She could see it in his eyes now—the way he was looking at her, the doubt creeping in, the suspicion that was becoming harder to ignore. She was losing him.

"I... I don't know," she said, her voice small, and suddenly she felt more vulnerable than she ever had before. "I swear, JJ, nothing's happening. It's just... he's messing with me. I swear."

But JJ was watching her closely, his brow furrowed. "He's not just messing with you, Ava. That much is clear. I can't keep pretending like everything's fine when it's not."

Ava's stomach twisted painfully. She could see the doubt in his eyes, and it was like a knife in her chest. He was pulling away, and all she could do was watch as the distance between them grew.

"I... I need some air," Ava muttered, suddenly desperate to escape. She pulled away from JJ gently, her heart breaking as she saw the way his expression shifted—a mix of confusion, hurt, and distrust.

"Ava—" JJ started to follow her, but she shook her head.

"Just give me a minute," she whispered, and without waiting for a response, she turned and walked toward the back door, needing to breathe, needing to escape.

As soon as she stepped outside, the cool night air hit her skin, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside her. She walked quickly down the porch steps and out toward the beach, trying to clear her head.

But as she reached the water, she heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"Running away?" Rafe's voice was right behind her, his tone amused. "You can't outrun the truth, Ava. You know that."

Her heart sank.

This wasn't over...