Drew Starkey Imagines

Held in Love

The moment you walked through the front door of Rafe's house, he knew something was wrong. He had been waiting for you, stretched out lazily on the couch, flipping through channels without really paying attention. But when he saw you, all of that faded into the background.

You didn't greet him with your usual teasing smirk or playful sarcasm. You didn't roll your eyes at whatever mindless show he had on. Instead, you let out a small, tired "hey" and sank onto the couch beside him with a sigh.

Rafe frowned, sitting up. His arm draped across the back of the couch as he studied you carefully. You looked... drained. Not physically, but emotionally—like the weight of the world was pressing down on you.

"Alright," he said softly, nudging your knee with his. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," you mumbled, avoiding his gaze as you picked at the hem of your hoodie.

Rafe let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah, no. That's not gonna fly with me."

You exhaled sharply, shaking your head. "I don't know, Rafe. I just feel... off. Like sad, but I don't even know why."

His jaw tightened slightly—not in frustration, but because he hated seeing you like this. Rafe wasn't always great with emotions, but when it came to you, he noticed everything. And right now, everything about you screamed that you were barely holding it together.

Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled you into his arms, shifting so you were nestled against his chest. His strong hands moved slowly up and down your back, his touch warm and grounding.

"That's okay," he murmured. "You don't have to explain it. Just let me be here."

You melted into him, closing your eyes as his steady heartbeat filled your ears. The warmth of his body, the way his arms wrapped securely around you—it made the heaviness in your chest feel just a little lighter.

After a few moments, Rafe rested his chin atop your head and sighed. "Wanna go for a drive?" he asked softly. "Windows down, music up, just us?"

You tilted your head to look up at him, your tired eyes meeting his. "Maybe," you admitted.

He smirked. "Maybe? Babe, you love my terrible driving."

A small laugh escaped your lips, and Rafe grinned like he had just won the lottery. "There it is," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. "I've been waiting for that all day."

His fingers traced gentle circles on your back as he continued, "How about this—you pick the playlist, and I promise to drive like a responsible citizen."

You raised an eyebrow. "That's a lie."

"Okay, yeah," he admitted with a chuckle. "That was a lie. But I'll try."

You let out another small breath, but this time, it felt lighter. Even if you didn't feel completely okay yet, being here with Rafe made a difference.

Then, after a beat of silence, he spoke again. "Hey... can I pray for you?"

Your eyes widened slightly, surprised by the request. Rafe wasn't the guy people typically turned to for things like this, but you knew he had been working on his faith—trying to trust God more, trying to be better.

You swallowed the lump in your throat and nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Rafe shifted slightly, wrapping both arms around you more firmly before bowing his head. "God, I just wanna lift up Y/N right now. I don't know exactly what's weighing on her, but You do. I ask that You bring her peace, that You remind her she's never alone in this. That whatever's making her feel down, You help her through it. And Lord, if there's anything I can do to help, show me. Just... be with her. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Your eyes stung with unexpected tears as you tucked your face against his chest. "Thank you," you whispered.

"Always." Rafe pressed a lingering kiss to your forehead before leaning back with a smirk. "Now, come on, let's go. A drive, some worship music, maybe a stop for ice cream? I know it won't fix everything, but I'm not gonna stop until you're smiling again."

You smiled softly, lacing your fingers through his. "That actually sounds perfect."

And with that, he led you out the door, reminding you that no matter how hard things got, you were never alone—not with him, and not with God.