Always you

Chapter 14

The sun was warm and golden, casting a shimmering light over the pool in Marie's backyard. Sasha drifted lazily on an inflatable lounger, her fingers trailing through the cool water, as she enjoyed the rare quiet moment. The weekend had been a whirlwind of events, beach bonfires, and family dinners, and the peace of floating alone felt like a small luxury.

But that peace was short-lived. The faint hum of a motorcycle echoed from the driveway, followed by the distant sound of a gate swinging open. Curious, Sasha lifted her sunglasses, squinting toward the driveway as a figure approached.

It was Rafe.

He walked around the edge of the pool, a lopsided grin forming as he took in her relaxed state. He wore a worn leather jacket slung casually over his shoulder, paired with jeans that clung just right, and the confidence he exuded was both familiar and alluring. Sasha sat up on her lounger, a playful smile already tugging at her lips.

"Looking for a swim partner?" he teased, pausing to stand just at the edge of the pool. "Or are you too relaxed to entertain a guest?"

She laughed, tilting her head. "I didn't think you'd go for a swim willingly, Cameron."

"Maybe not, but I might make an exception for you," he shot back, his tone warm but undeniably flirtatious. He looked around, as if he hadn't been planning to find her here. "Actually, I was looking for Daniel, but I guess I stumbled upon a better surprise."

Sasha rolled her eyes, though her heart did a little flip. "Daniel's probably inside with Alex. You could've tried the front door, you know."

"But then I wouldn't have run into you," he replied, shrugging as he leaned down, resting his forearms on his knees. His gaze softened, but there was a glint in his eyes that Sasha couldn't ignore.

They shared a brief silence, the air thick with an easy tension that seemed to follow them. Finally, Rafe cleared his throat and straightened up, his eyes scanning her again.

"So," he said with a smirk, "there's this motorcycle race happening over at Porter's Ridge later. Figured I'd ask if you wanted to tag along."

Sasha's eyebrows rose in surprise. "A motorcycle race? Sounds a bit... intense."

"Oh, come on," he teased. "Live a little. It's not like you'll be doing the racing."

She laughed, but the invitation was tempting. A thrill like that would've been fun on any other day, but she had a list of things to get done that her parents had sent over. She'd planned on checking a few off while she had the house to herself.

"Tempting," she said slowly, "but I'm gonna have to pass. My parents left me some work to finish."

"Work?" He raised an eyebrow, folding his arms in a show of mock disapproval. "You're choosing work over an afternoon with me? Sasha, I'm offended."

Sasha rolled her eyes, smiling as she lifted her legs out of the pool and swung them over the side. "If it were any other day, maybe. But I promised them, and I actually need to keep my word on this one."

He let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, fine. I guess I'll have to make do without your company."

"Guess you will," she said, a hint of playfulness in her tone.

But Rafe wasn't done yet. He leaned closer, his voice dropping slightly as he held her gaze. "Are you sure I can't convince you? I'm a pretty persuasive guy, you know."

Sasha felt a rush of warmth at his closeness. She wanted to say yes, to throw caution aside and spend the day with him, feeling the rush of the wind and the thrill of being out there on the road. But she shook her head, holding firm.

"Nice try," she said, her smile teasing. "But not today, Rafe."

He grinned, looking defeated but amused. "Alright, I'll let it go... this time."

Just then, the sliding door opened, and Alex and Daniel appeared, both of them laughing and talking as they joined them by the pool.

"There you are," Daniel said, giving Rafe a nod of acknowledgment. "Thought you got lost on the way to the door."

"Nah, just found better company than you two," Rafe replied, tossing a wink at Sasha.

Alex rolled his eyes, clapping Rafe on the shoulder. "Come on, lover boy. We've got places to be."

Rafe chuckled, giving Sasha one last lingering look before turning to follow his friends.

"See you later, Sasha," he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

"Bye, Rafe," she replied, her voice soft but steady, though her heart was racing.

She watched them walk away, feeling a pang of disappointment as they left. Shaking her head, she slipped back onto the pool lounger, willing herself to focus on her work and not on the missed adventure. But she didn't get far before her phone buzzed.

It was a text from Rafe.

Rafe: You sure about that "work" excuse? I'm telling you, it'd be a lot more fun if you were here.

Sasha bit her lip, her fingers hovering over the screen as she tried to think of a response. She could feel the allure of the offer, the temptation to go along with him and spend the afternoon caught up in something spontaneous and thrilling.

Me: I'll take a raincheck on the motorcycle adventure. Next time, maybe.

Rafe: I'll hold you to it. And believe me, I'll be making sure there's a next time.

She laughed, feeling her cheeks warm as she typed back.

Me: I'll keep that in mind. Just don't get into too much trouble without me.

Rafe: No promises. Trouble seems to follow me, even if you're not around to see it.

Sasha couldn't help but smile, and she let out a sigh as she locked her phone and leaned back against the lounger, staring up at the sky. There was something about Rafe that was impossible to ignore, an edge that made her want to lean in, even if every instinct warned her that he was exactly the type to lead her into the kind of trouble she'd sworn off.

For the rest of the afternoon, she tried her best to focus on her work, but every few minutes, her mind would wander back to Rafe and that lopsided grin of his, the way he'd looked at her by the pool. And as the hours wore on, she couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, wondering what she was missing out on, wondering if maybe she should've gone with him after all.