I Love You, Baby

Chapter Two

Rafe pulled up to the Cameron estate, the grand house looming over him like a reminder of every mistake and expectation that had ever been etched into his life. The air was thick with tension as he stepped out of his car, the gravel crunching beneath his shoes. He took a moment to steady himself, trying to mask the turmoil that roiled in his chest.

The door opened before he could knock, and there stood Ward Cameron, impeccably dressed despite the late hour, eyes narrowed with impatience. "You took your time," Ward said, his voice smooth but edged with the authority that made Rafe's jaw tighten instinctively.

"Yeah, well, I had things to handle," Rafe shot back, trying to keep his voice level as he stepped inside.

Ward's gaze flicked over him, assessing, dissecting. He turned and walked into his study, expecting Rafe to follow. The room smelled of old books and the faint, sharp scent of whiskey. Ward sat down behind the massive mahogany desk, folding his hands as he looked at his son with the kind of cold scrutiny that made Rafe feel like he was 10 years old again.

"So," Ward began, tilting his head. "You want to tell me what's been going on with you? Because your lack of focus has been affecting more than just you, Rafe."

Rafe felt his pulse quicken, his anger and nerves threatening to collide. He opened his mouth to deflect, to spin a lie that would keep the truth buried just a bit longer, but the weight of it all, the weeks of holding everything in, made his resolve crack.

"It's not just that," Rafe said, his voice catching. He cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "I've got something I need to tell you, and you're not going to like it."

Ward's eyes narrowed further, but he didn't say a word. The silence stretched, brittle and suffocating.

"I'm going to be a dad," Rafe blurted out before he could stop himself. The words hung in the air, sharp and startling. He braced himself for the explosion, for the accusations, the disappointment that he had anticipated since the moment he found out.

But instead, Ward's expression didn't harden. It didn't twist with rage or disgust. If anything, it softened, just slightly, with something that looked almost like... recognition? Ward leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as he studied Rafe with a look that was unreadable.

"Well," Ward said after a beat, his voice surprisingly calm, "I didn't see that coming."

Rafe blinked, caught off guard by the lack of anger. He had played this conversation over in his mind a hundred times, and not once had he pictured his father reacting this way.

"I thought you'd lose it," Rafe said, the tension in his chest loosening just a fraction.

Ward's mouth twitched into the faintest smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Don't get me wrong—I'm not thrilled that you're jumping into something this big, this recklessly. But I also know what it's like to feel like you have something to prove, Rafe. I know what it's like to have to grow up faster than you planned."

Rafe's eyes widened. He wasn't used to this version of his father, one that spoke with understanding instead of judgment. "So... you're not going to tell me I've ruined everything?" he asked, half in disbelief.

Ward's gaze grew colder, more calculating, as he leaned forward again. "That depends on what you do next. This changes things, Rafe. Your choices from here on out will define whether this is another mistake or the making of a man."

Rafe swallowed, the weight of the words sinking in. But behind the initial fear was a spark of determination. He could do this. He had to.

"I won't let you down," Rafe said, the words holding more conviction than he felt.

Ward's expression shifted again, a slight nod signaling some measure of approval. "Good. Because if you're serious about this, you're going to have to step up. And that, son, is where we'll see what you're really made of."

The room fell silent, and for the first time in years, Rafe felt like he wasn't just standing in his father's shadow. There was a new path ahead, and though it was riddled with uncertainty, it was one he was determined to walk.

Rafe left his father's study with a mix of relief and unease, Ward's final words echoing in his mind. The weight of the conversation hadn't completely lifted, but it felt different now—less suffocating, more like a challenge. One he knew he had to face. The chill of the night greeted him as he stepped outside, and he took a deep breath, letting it center him. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

Ivy answered on the second ring. "Rafe?"

"Hey," he said, his voice softening. "I told him."

A pause. "You did?" He could hear the tension in her voice, the edge of fear.

"Yeah. It went... not how I expected," Rafe admitted, a hint of a smile in his tone. "He didn't freak out. He's not exactly happy, but he said it's up to me to prove I can handle this."

There was a moment of silence, then a sigh of relief. "That's better than I thought. How do you feel?"

Rafe glanced up at the stars, a sense of determination threading through him. "I feel like I'm ready to try. For real. I'm done being the guy who runs from everything."

He could hear the emotion in her breath, the way it caught before she said, "I'm proud of you, Rafe."

The simple statement made something tighten in his chest. "I'll be over soon," he said, the warmth of her words lingering.

When he pulled up to Ivy's house, the front porch light cast a soft glow across the yard. She stood waiting at the door, arms wrapped around herself against the chill, but when she saw him, her expression shifted to something that made him feel seen in a way he wasn't used to.

"Hey," she said, closing the door after he stepped inside. The warmth of her place, the familiar scent of her vanilla candles, wrapped around him like a welcome embrace.

"Hey," he replied, eyes meeting hers. There was a moment where they stood there, the weight of what they'd just started settling between them. But instead of the suffocating fear he expected, there was a spark of excitement—uncertain but alive.

"Did he really not lose it?" she asked, a hint of disbelief mingled with hope.

Rafe shook his head, a small grin breaking across his face. "He didn't. I think he actually... respects that I'm trying to step up. It was weird, but I'll take it."

She reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. "This is going to be hard," she said, eyes searching his. "But if we're doing this, we're doing it together."

"Together," Rafe echoed, squeezing her hand. The truth of it settled into him, grounding him in a way he hadn't felt in years. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and pulled her into his arms. The world outside was still spinning, full of challenges and unknowns, but in this moment, there was peace. There was hope.

And that was enough to start.