I Can Fix Him (no really I can) || Rafe Cameron

23. Hi. I'm Penelope.

The Outer Banks was buzzing. Everyone seemed to know before I did- Ward Cameron had pulled some strings and bought Rafe out of prison. Of course, he did. Money talks louder than justice ever could.

When Kiara told me, her voice was laced with the usual disdain she saved for anything involving the Camerons. JJ had let out a low whistle and muttered something about "rich people privileges," while Pope just shook his head, disappointment clouding his features.

But me? I didn't know how to feel.

Rafe was out. After 20 months of silence, 20 months of me not visiting, not writing, not even thinking about what I'd say if I saw him again. And now, he was back.

I'd imagined this moment a hundred times, maybe more. Would he still be the unhinged Rafe who tore our lives apart? Or would he be different? The Rafe I'd fallen in love with- the one who used to make me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe, who shared his world with me in ways no one else ever could?

I found out sooner than I thought.

The Pogues were sitting around the fire pit that evening, trading stories and half-baked plans for our next move when Kiara's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her face twisting.

"He's here" she said flatly, eyes darting towards me.

"What?" I froze, my heart racing.

"Rafe. He's here," Kiara repeated. "At Tannyhill. Sarah just texted me."

I didn't even think. I just stood up, grabbed my keys, and left.

The driveway to Tannyhill stretched out in front of me, as intimidating as ever. The house loomed, all grandeur and old money, but it didn't feel as suffocating as it used to. Maybe because I wasn't coming here for anything bad this time.

Rafe was sitting on the front steps, his elbows resting on his knees. He looked different- not just calmer, but older. There was no wildness in his eyes, no frantic energy humming under his skin. He looked...steady.

"Pen," he said, standing as I approached.

I stopped a few feet away, crossing my arms. "Rafe."

He shoved his hands into his pockets, his shoulders tense. "You heard, huh?"

"That you're out? Yeah. Not hard to. The whole island's talking about it."

He gave a small, humorless laugh. "Figures."

Silence stretched between us, heavy and awkward. I didn't know what to say. Did i think him for what he did, confessing and taking the fall? Did I call him out for everything he's put us through?

"I wanted to see you," he said finally, his voice softer than I remembered. "I didn't know if you'd come."

I looked at him, really looked at him. His hair buzzed, and there was a faint scar on his jaw that hadn't been there before. But his eyes- they were the same. The eyes of the boy I used to know.

"Why now, Rafe?" I asked, my voice shaking "Why do you care now?"

"Because I'm trying," he said simply. "I spent 20 months trying to figure out how to make things right. And I know I can't fix what I did- I know I screwed up more than I can ever fix- but I'm trying to be better. I want to be better."

I want to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him so badly. But this was Rafe Cameron. He was chaos wrapped in charm, danger wrapped in love.

"Better start with not dragging me down with you again," I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

"I know," he said, nodding. "And I'm not asking for anything. I just...I needed to see you. To tell you I'm sorry."

His words hit me like a wave, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.

"I missed you," he added, his voice breaking slightly.

I swallowed hard, blinking back tears. "I missed you too."

It was the truth, no matter how much it hurt to admit it.

He stepped closer, cautiously, like he was afraid I'd bolt. "I know I don't deserve it, Pen. But... do you think we could start over? Not now, not right away. But someday?"

I stared at him, my heart pounding. Starting over sounded so simple, so easy. But nothing about us had ever been simple.

"Someday?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

He hesitated. "Yeah. Someday."

I stepped closer, a small, wry smile tugging at my lips. "How about now?"

Rafe blinked, stunned into silence.

I extended a hand towards him. "Hi. I'm Penelope."

It was such a ridiculous gesture, so unlike me, but somehow it felt right. His lips twitched into a hesitant smile before he took my hand in his.

"Rafe," he said softly, like we were meeting for the first time.

And maybe we were.