Sunset games. Rafe Cameron

twenty two

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
[22]
"moon river" frank ocean

Olivia and Rafe made their way to the edge of the pool, dripping wet and laughing as they climbed up. Their friends looked at them, amused and a bit shocked.

"Y'all are crazy, I swear," Leah said, shaking her head with a grin.

Olivia and Rafe made their way to the edge of the pool, dripping wet and laughing as they climbed up. Their friends looked at them, amused and a bit shocked.

"Y'all are crazy, I swear," Leah said, shaking her head with a grin.

"Not my idea," Olivia shot back, rolling her eyes, which only made everyone laugh even harder.

They stayed in the pool for a while longer, swimming around lazily, laughing, and talking as if time had slowed down just for them. Olivia floated on her back, letting the cool water carry her, feeling like she hadn't been this relaxed in ages. The music played softly in the background, creating this carefree, perfect atmosphere that wrapped around them like a blanket.

Rafe climbed out first, and when he sat on the edge of the pool, Olivia followed, resting her head in his lap as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through her damp hair. She felt a wave of contentment wash over her, realizing that this was where she truly felt like herself. With the Pogues, things were different, more chaotic and constantly shifting, but here, with her old friends, it was like finding her way back to herself. She didn't want to be anywhere else right now.

Topper, always the organized one, came back from the house with an armful of towels, handing them out one by one. "Dry off, you two," he said, tossing a towel at Olivia's head with a grin.

They got out of the pool and wrapped themselves up, laughing and shivering a little as they made their way inside, where the warmth of the house welcomed them. Drinks were waiting, and the night picked up even more energy as they poured shots and mixed drinks. Leah pulled Olivia onto the makeshift dance floor, and the two of them started dancing, laughing, and spinning each other in circles. The boys stood back, entertained by their antics, cheering and shaking their heads as Leah and Olivia tried to copy each other's silliest moves.

As the night wore on, the energy around them buzzed, and Olivia couldn't remember a time when she'd laughed this much. At some point, she found herself and Rafe slipping away from the others, drawn back to the roof where the quiet felt like a comforting escape. They lay down side by side, gazing up at the stars, a blanket of darkness above them scattered with tiny, twinkling lights.

Olivia pointed upward, a bit of excitement in her voice. "You see? Right there is the Big Dipper."

Rafe squinted, trying to follow her finger but clearly missing it. "Here?"

She laughed, reaching over to guide his finger a little to the left. "No, not there," she corrected, moving his hand to the correct spot. "Right there. And then
those two stars in the scoop point to the North Star."

Rafe grinned, pretending he was impressed. "To the North Star, right?"

"Yeah," Olivia said, her voice soft as she looked back at the sky. "It's the only star that doesn't spin around the others, and...l don't know, I love it. It's like it's holding everything together."

"It's cool," Rafe said, but his eyes had drifted from the sky back to her.

"It's beautiful," she murmured, a bit lost in the sight above them.

"Yeah, I know,' he whispered, but his gaze was fixed solely on her, a look in his eyes that seemed to say everything he hadn't yet found words for.

They turned toward each other, their faces close enough that their foreheads nearly touched.
There was this charged silence, like all the air between them was filled with possibilities. Then, without another word, their lips met in a kiss that was both soft and urgent, filled with everything they had been holding back. Olivia felt her heart race, her hand slipping up to rest against his cheek as he pulled her closer. This kiss felt like a promise, a silent understanding that neither of them had to voice out loud. The world around them faded away, leaving only them, wrapped up in each other.

When they finally pulled away for a breath, their eyes met, a soft laugh escaping between them as if they couldn't quite believe it. But before she could even think about it, Rafe leaned in again, capturing her lips in another kiss. This one was slower, even deeper, like they were savoring every second, every quiet beat between them.

When they finally stopped, Rafe kept her close, tucking her against him as they lay back down.
The night air was chilly, but the warmth between them was more than enough.

After a moment, he brushed a gentle kiss against her forehead, making her feel both safe and a little breathless. Olivia looked up at him, a smile tugging at her lips.

"You're different from what I thought you'd be, Rafe Cameron," she whispered, a mix of wonder and admiration in her voice.

He chuckled, his fingers brushing softly through her hair. "I'm glad you like what you see, Vi."

They stayed like that, wrapped in each other's warmth, feeling like the rest of the world had slipped away. The stars above seemed to spin just for them, holding them in that perfect, timeless moment. Slowly, the quiet and the comfort lulled them to sleep, two souls wrapped up in each other as the night held them close.