Always you

Chapter 13

The evening was electric with energy as the group made their way down to the beach, their laughter and voices carrying through the salty night air. It was the perfect way to cap off the Fourth of July, with the ocean stretching out before them in a dark, tranquil expanse and a bonfire blazing, crackling, and sparking as they fed it pieces of driftwood.

Alex, Topper, and JJ were the first to start gathering wood, piling it high to build the bonfire. Once it was roaring, they settled in, pulling out blankets and setting up a small area with snacks, drinks, and a Bluetooth speaker to fill the night with music.

Sasha felt the warm glow of the fire on her skin and leaned back on her hands, glancing around at the faces of her friends, all alight with laughter and mischief. Rafe sat across from her, his usual smirk softened by the warm flickering light. When their eyes met, his lips curved into a half-smile, and Sasha felt a flutter of excitement.

As the night went on, they passed around a few drinks, with JJ and Topper doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of antics. JJ had somehow found a ukulele and was serenading Layla, belting out an off-key rendition of "Surfin' USA" that had everyone in stitches.

"JJ, please!" Layla laughed, playfully covering her ears. "For the sake of all of us, leave the singing to someone else!"

JJ, undeterred, grinned and plucked a few dissonant chords on the ukulele. "I'm just getting started, Layla! You haven't even heard my 'Hotel California' cover yet!"

Alex rolled his eyes, but there was a grin on his face as he tossed a marshmallow at JJ. "You really know how to ruin a classic."

They fell into a rhythm of laughter and teasing, passing around marshmallows to roast over the fire and taking turns trying to catch them in their mouths. Rafe, surprisingly, joined in the marshmallow-catching contest, catching one mid-air with a triumphant grin that lit up his face. Sasha found herself laughing until her sides hurt, enjoying the sheer simplicity of being there, surrounded by people who felt like home.

As the night deepened, the fire burned lower, casting a softer glow. Layla and Kiara had sprawled out on the sand, sharing whispered jokes and giggles. Topper was trying to convince JJ to swim with him, despite JJ's protests that the water was freezing.

"No way!" JJ argued, shaking his head. "I'm not getting hypothermia just to prove I'm brave!"

Topper snorted, clapping a hand on JJ's shoulder. "Come on, man! A little swim never hurt anyone."

Finally, with a resigned sigh and a lot of laughter, JJ allowed himself to be dragged toward the water, much to everyone's amusement. They could hear his shriek of surprise as he ran into the waves, followed by Topper's triumphant cheer.

Meanwhile, Sasha had found herself huddled close to Sarah, Kiara, and Layla as they traded stories and gossip. They were leaning against each other, laughing at some story Sarah had just told about Alex's disastrous attempt at cooking breakfast one morning, when Sasha noticed Rafe standing up and brushing off his jeans.

"Where are you sneaking off to?" she teased.

Rafe offered her a half-smile, his expression a little guarded. "Just going to grab something from the car. Be right back."

He disappeared into the shadows, leaving Sasha with a strange, nagging curiosity. For some reason, his departure felt abrupt, as if he were purposefully stepping away to avoid something. She brushed it off at first, letting herself get pulled back into the conversation with the others, but after a few minutes, she started feeling the chill from the ocean breeze and decided to grab an extra blanket from the car herself.

She stood up and made her way through the shadows toward the parking lot, her footsteps muffled by the sand. The cars were just visible in the dim moonlight, their shapes dark and quiet against the backdrop of the ocean. As she approached, she froze at the sound of raised voices.

Hidden by one of the larger SUVs, Sasha peeked around the side and saw Rafe standing with two men she didn't recognize. They looked rough, their clothes worn and their expressions harsh. Even from a distance, she could see the tension in Rafe's stance, his shoulders squared as he faced them.

"What did I tell you last time?" one of the men said, his voice low and angry. "You think you can just forget about our arrangement?"

Rafe held his ground, but Sasha could see the way his jaw tightened. "I haven't forgotten anything," he replied evenly, though there was a dangerous edge to his voice. "I told you I'd handle it. Just give me some time."

"Time?" The second man scoffed, stepping closer until he was nearly nose-to-nose with Rafe. "We're done giving you time. You either pay up, or we start collecting in other ways. And I'm sure your family wouldn't appreciate that."

Sasha felt a chill run down her spine as she watched Rafe's fists clench at his sides. The men were older, intimidating, and their threats seemed all too real. She could see the flash of fear in Rafe's eyes, though he quickly masked it with a steely glare.

"You don't touch my family," he said, his voice hard and unwavering. "I'll get you what you need, but you stay away from them."

One of the men laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "You're the one who got yourself into this mess, Rafe. Don't start making demands. Just make sure you keep your end of the bargain—or we'll be back."

Without waiting for a response, the two men turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows. Rafe stood there for a moment, his shoulders still tense, his hands clenched into fists. He seemed to take a deep breath, steadying himself before turning back toward the beach.

Sasha quickly ducked out of sight, her heart racing as she processed what she'd just witnessed. She stayed hidden until she heard Rafe's footsteps fade away, then took a few deep breaths to calm herself before walking back to the bonfire. She couldn't believe what she had just seen—the confrontation, the threats. It was like a glimpse into a world she'd never imagined Rafe being part of, a side of him she hadn't known existed.

When she returned to the bonfire, Rafe was already back, laughing along with the others as if nothing had happened. He caught her eye as she approached, giving her a small, easy smile that looked so genuine, so relaxed, that for a moment, she almost doubted what she'd seen. But the memory of those men, their voices full of venom, was still fresh in her mind.

Sasha settled back onto her blanket, trying to join in the laughter and conversation, but her mind kept wandering back to Rafe's encounter in the parking lot. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his life than he let on, secrets he kept carefully hidden beneath his charming smile and easygoing attitude.

As the night wore on, Sasha found herself stealing glances at Rafe, watching the way he joked with his friends, the way he effortlessly fit into the lighthearted atmosphere. He seemed completely unfazed, as if the confrontation she'd witnessed hadn't happened at all. But every now and then, she caught a flicker of something darker in his eyes, a hint of the weight he was carrying.

Finally, as the fire began to die down and the group started to drift off, Sasha found herself alone with her thoughts, the memory of that tense exchange replaying in her mind. She wanted to ask Rafe about it, to understand what he was dealing with, but part of her was afraid of the answer. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him, the connection that seemed to deepen every time they were together. But now, she couldn't help but wonder if getting closer to him meant stepping into a world of trouble she wasn't prepared for.

As she watched him laughing and talking with his friends, Sasha realized that there was a part of Rafe that she might never fully understand. And even though she felt herself falling for him, that uncertainty gnawed at her, a reminder of the complexities that lay beneath the surface.