Sunset games. Rafe Cameron

twenty three

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
[23]
"thinkin bout you" frank ocean

Olivia's eyes fluttered open, but her head still pounded, making everything feel fuzzy. She looked around, blinking a few times before she recognized that she wasn't in the roof - she was in Topper's guest bedroom. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together the night before, vaguely recalling how Rafe had walked her to the roof after a long night of partying and everything that had happened up there.

She climbed out of bed, still feeling a little disoriented, and noticed a note on the nightstand with Topper's handwriting. The message read, "Rafe left you here because he knew your parents would be furious if you showed up drunk. We went golfing, but there's breakfast in the fridge." Olivia  felt a warm smile creeping onto her face. It was strangely thoughtful of Rafe to think ahead like that.

After freshening up, she made her way downstairs, feeling the empty quietness of the house settle around her. She padded into the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out the breakfast that Topper had mentioned. She decided on toast and coffee, something simple to ease the leftover headache. As she moved around the kitchen, she finally looked down and realized she was wearing Rafe's shirt. The oversized fabric hung on her loosely, smelling faintly like his cologne. She felt her cheeks grow warm as the realization sank in, feeling suddenly vulnerable as she recognized her feelings.

This was more than just an old crush or a fling.
Somewhere between the late nights, the laughter, and the shared looks, she'd fallen for Rafe. Truly and deeply. The thought made her heart pound with a mix of excitement and fear.
Was this really something she wanted? Was it smart to feel so much for him, especially knowing everything that came with loving a Cameron? She hadn't allowed herself to feel like this in ages, especially with someone who wasn't exactly known for making people feel safe. She was letting herself hope in ways that felt risky.

She couldn't sit with her thoughts any longer, so after finishing her breakfast, she reached for her phone and called Leah. Sarah wasn't answering, which was a little unusual but wasn't something she could dwell on. Leah picked up after a few rings.

"Liv?" Leah's voice sounded groggy, and Olivia couldn't help but laugh, thinking about how wild last night had been.

"Hey," Olivia said, smiling. "How's the hangover treating you?"

"Oh, don't even ask. I swear, I'm not drinking again for, like, ever," Leah replied, groaning.

Olivia chuckled softly, then felt herself hesitate.
After a moment, she finally asked, "Can I tell you something?"

"Of course. Spill, Liv," Leah said, her tone softening.

Olivia took a deep breath. "I think I'm really falling for Rafe. It's terrifying, honestly!"

There was a pause, then a laugh on the other end. "Olivia, I can't believe you're only now realizing that. I've seen the way he looks at you. You both have something... I don't know, it just seems different. But you're safe with him, I can tell."

Olivia smiled at that reassurance. She hadn't realized how much she'd needed someone else's perspective to make it all feel a little less daunting. "Thanks, Leah. That means a lot. I just... I don't know. It's confusing."

"Just give it time," Leah replied. "And stop overthinking. You both deserve to be happy."

They wrapped up the call, and Olivia felt a renewed sense of calm. She spent a little more time wandering through Topper's house, feeling nostalgic. She had always felt at home here, like she was part of the family. Finally, she texted Topper, letting him know she was heading home and that they'd catch up later.

Once she got home, her mom was waiting, concern etched on her face. "So, how was the party?" her mom asked, raising an eyebrow as if she knew exactly how late Olivia had been out.

Olivia shrugged, a small smile on her lips. "it was good, Mom. Nothing too crazy."

Her mom nodded, seeming satisfied, but there was a glint in her eye that said she knew more than Olivia thought. "Just be careful, Olivia. Okay?"

Olivia smiled, nodded, and excused herself to her room. She collapsed on her bed, her head still spinning slightly, and allowed herself a nap to let the last of the hangover slip away. When she finally woke, she felt refreshed, and the late afternoon sun filtered through her window. She decided to go out, to clear her mind and shake off the restlessness that lingered. Grabbing her bag, she walked down to a nearby frozen yogurt place, ordering her favorite flavor and savoring the quiet moment.

As she was leaving, someone called out, "Olivia!" She turned, squinting into the sunlight to see Topper walking toward her, his usual confident grin in place.

"Hey, Top!" she said, feeling her mood lift as he approached,

"So, what's up?" Topper asked. "Want to hang out at the club for a bit?"

She nodded, and they climbed into his car, the drive filled with their usual banter, teasing each other and laughing at ridiculous things. Olivia felt herself loosening up even more, like the last piece of the puzzle had fallen into place. They arrived at the country club, where they found a table on the terrace, ordering drinks and chatting.

Topper glanced at her with a knowing look.
"So... Rafe, huh?"

Olivia's cheeks turned a shade darker. "What about him?"

"Don't 'what about him' me," Topper said, chuckling.
"I see the way you two look at each other. And I haven't seen Rafe this... I don't know, different."

Olivia smirked, then admitted, "Yeah, he's... he's definitely different with me. And I'm different with him."

They spent the rest of the afternoon laughing, their conversation flowing easily, and she couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so comfortable. Four hours passed without them even realizing it, and as the sun began to set, Olivia checked her phone. "Hey, would you mind dropping me at my dad's office?" she asked.

Topper agreed, and a few minutes later, they pulled up to her dad's office. She thanked Topper, giving him a quick hug, then stepped out. She hesitated at the door, glancing out toward the dock, taking in how good it felt to reconnect with Topper and all the memories they shared. But as she looked closer, she spotted something strange by the boats - J.J. and Pope were there, hovering near Topper's boat, and her eyes narrowed in confusion.

Then, before she could react, she watched in horror as Pope jumped onto Topper's boat and did something to the hull, causing it to sink slowly. Rage filled her as she realized what they were doing.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" she shouted, storming toward them.

J.J. glanced at her, a brief flicker of recognition crossing his face, but he quickly turned away, pretending not to hear her. Olivia couldn't believe it. She'd once thought these people were her friends, and now they were openly sabotaging Topper, her childhood friend.

Fuming, she made her way back into her dad's office, trying to get a handle on her emotions. She found him at his desk, looking up with mild surprise as she entered.

"Dad, if you saw someone doing something wrong to a friend of yours, would you call them out on it?" she asked, her voice tight with anger.

Her dad studied her face carefully. "Of course, Honey. Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it's necessary. Why? Is everything okay?"

She shook her head, trying to let go of some of the anger burning in her chest. "It's fine. Just wanted to know what you'd think."

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, forcing a smile, and quickly left, her mind racing.
She stormed out, heart pounding, determined to confront J.J. and Pope. She had a lot to say, and she wasn't going to hold back this time.