Rafe Cameron Imagines

The Coastal Venture🤍

The salty wind whipped through your hair as the boat rocked beneath your feet. You stood near the edge of the deck of the Coastal Venture, leaning over to get a better look at the waves crashing against the side. The entire trip had been tense—Rafe had been on edge ever since the mess he found himself in with the Kooks and the Pogues, and you knew that no matter how much he tried to hide it, it was eating him alive.

Rafe Cameron wasn't a man who liked to show weakness, but you'd seen it before—flickers of doubt in his eyes when no one else was looking. You, his childish girlfriend, had learned how to navigate those moments.

You knew that under the tough exterior, there was a guy who needed distraction. Someone who could get lost in something simple, something carefree, just to forget about everything that haunted him.

And that's where you came in.

You pranced up behind him, poking him in the side with an exaggerated gasp. "Hey! What's wrong with you?" you chirped, bouncing on your heels. He didn't flinch, but you saw his lips twitch into a smile. "You look like you're gonna strangle someone. You should smile more."

Rafe's eyes flicked toward you, narrowing slightly. He was quiet for a long moment. Then he scoffed, shaking his head. "You think I'm in the mood to smile, huh?"

"Oh, absolutely." You grinned, leaning up to playfully tug at his shirt. "You've got this whole brooding prince thing going on, and it's getting old. You need to lighten up."

"You're impossible," Rafe muttered, but the edge in his voice softened. He glanced at you, a brief flicker of amusement lighting up his expression. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"

You gave him your most innocent look. "Nope. It's much more fun this way."

Before he could respond, you grabbed his hand, yanking him toward the railing. "Come on, we're racing to the front! I bet I can beat you."

Rafe didn't have the energy to argue, and honestly, you knew he wasn't going to win a foot race even if he tried. As much as he was pretending not to be entertained, you could tell his mind was starting to slip away from the heavy weight it had been carrying.

You ran ahead, laughing as you dodged through the crew members on board. The wind carried your laughter far over the ocean, the tension starting to ease in your chest. You glanced back to see Rafe trailing behind, his long legs effortlessly closing the gap.

"You're gonna lose, Cameron!" you teased, sticking your tongue out at him.

"You're getting cocky for someone who's about to lose," he shot back, his voice filled with mock indignation. The chase went on for a few more minutes before you reached the front of the boat, your hands resting on the edge as you breathed heavily.

Rafe jogged up beside you, leaning against the rail as he smirked. "Told you I'd win."

You rolled your eyes, a grin tugging at your lips. "I was just letting you catch up."

"Sure you were." Rafe chuckled, looking out over the water. His expression turned distant again, that familiar brooding feeling returning. You could see the weight on his shoulders, and your smile faded slightly.

You decided to push your luck a bit. "You know, you're way more fun when you're not trying to be all tough and scary."

Rafe looked at you, raising an eyebrow. "I'm scary?"

"Yeah, you've got this whole 'I'm gonna murder you' vibe going on," you said, mimicking his usual intense stare, which only made him laugh.

"I don't murder people, baby," Rafe said, smirking. But even as the smile lingered, you saw the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.