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

24. Old Habits?

The air on Figure Eight was warm and still, carrying the faint hum of cicadas as Rafe and I walked side by side. The quiet between us felt comfortable- something I hadn't expected after everything. He wasn't gripping my hand too tightly, wasn't trying to force the moment into something it wasn't.

And then Topper's voice cut through the peace like shattered glass.

"Yo, Rafe!"

I glanced up to see him leaning against his car, arms crossed, his signature smirk already in place. Kelce wasn't far behind, looking like he'd just wandered out of a frat house.

Rafe slowed, the tension in his body palpable. "What's up?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

Topper's gaze shifted to me, and his smirk widened. "Didn't know we were letting Pogues back in the club. What'd the deal, Penelope? Did all your little island rats run out of boats to steal?"

I stopped walking, my stomach twisting. it wasn't the first time Topper had come at me like this, but I wasn't sure how Rafe would handle it now.

"Topper," Rafe warned, his voice calm but firm.

"What?" Topper laughed, holding up his hands. "It's a joke, man. Relax."

Kelce snorted. "Yeah, seriously. Didn't mean to offend your girl."

Rafe tensed beside me, his fists clenching.

"She's not a Pogue," he said evenly, though I could hear the edge in his voice.

Topper raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on Rafe. You can't seriously be back with her. After everything?"

"Yeah, I am," he said, his tone sharper now. "And if you've got a problem with that, maybe you should keep it to yourself."

The smirk on Topper's face faltered for a second, and I saw the briefest flicker of surprise before he covered it with a laugh. "Damn, man. No need to get touchy. I'm just messing around."

"Don't," Rafe snapped.

Kelce exchanged a look with Topper, clearly caught off guard. "Alright, chill," Kelce said, holding up his hands. "We'll back off."

But Topper, of course, wasn't done. "Just saying, Rafe," he added with a shrug. "Don't forget where your loyalties are."

Rafe's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might lose it. But he took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax.

"I know exactly where my loyalties are," he said coldly, grabbing my hand and pulling me away.

We didn't speak until we were out of earshot, his grip still firm but not painful.

"Thanks," I said softly.

He glanced at me, his expression softening. "You don't have to thank me."

"Still," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "You didn't have to stand up for me like that. Not with them."

He stopped walking, turning to face me. "Pen, I meant what I said. I'm not going back to who I was."

"And Topper?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He let out a dry laugh. "Topper will get over it. Or he won't. I don't care."

I studied his face, searching for any sign of the old Rafe- the one who would've laughed along with Topper, who would've let the insults slide. But he wasn't there. At least, not right now.