#fwb!reader

⋆˚࿔ FINDING OUT THE CONDOM SNAPPED

— pairing: fwb!rafe x fwb!reader

— warnings: MDNI 18+, condom snapping, explicit language, post-sex convo, talk of pregnancy, friends with benefits

— word count: 1.4k +

— A/N: thank you so much for the request!! i had a lot of fun writing this.

it had been a few months of this—sex, sleeping over, laughing way too hard, ordering takeout you never finished, and occasionally making out like the world was ending. no labels, no feelings. just two overworked, over-caffeinated, emotionally-stunted twenty-somethings keeping it casual. or atleast trying to.

you were in his apartment this time. the lights were off, windows cracked open to the warm night air, the distant hum of the city below. the sheets were half on the floor, your legs still tangled, skin warm, both of you catching your breath in the quiet aftermath.

“solid performance,” you muttered, voice still hoarse.

he huffed a laugh. “you sound like you just reviewed me on yelp.”

“four stars. lost one for almost elbowing me in the face.”

“i was into it!”

you grinned, eyes still half-closed. “you’re lucky you’re kinda hot.”

he nudged you with his knee. “kinda?”

you chuckle, shaking your head. you were just starting to drift—barely coming down from the high, body melting into the mattress—when rafe suddenly shifted beside you.

and froze.

"...y/n?"

you blink, head turning slowly. "what?"

he sits up a little, frowning. the discarded condom's in his hand, and his expression drops fast. "fuck."

you sit up too, instantly wide awake. "rafe?"

he holds it up. there's a clean tear down the side — small, but definitely there.

you stare at it. then at him.

"rafe."

“okay,” he says quickly, already panicking. “don’t freak out—”

“you had one job!”

"it wasn’t me! it was the condom’s job, not mine!"

you groan, burying your face in your hands. “this is exactly why i thought this wasn't a good idea.”

he’s already scrambling to find his sweats, one leg in, hopping toward the bathroom. “do you have— like a plan b?”

“do i have a—” you mock him before launching a pillow at him. “why would i have one?!”

“i don’t know! you’re more responsible than me!”

"that's not a compliment right now!"

he disappears into the bathroom for a second, comes back out, hair a mess, face pale.

"okay," he says again, rubbing the back of his neck. "okay. i can run to the pharmacy. right now. five minutes max. i’ll get everything. snacks. emergency stuff. a new condom box. a plan b. plan c. all the letters."

"sounds like you're reassuring yourself more than me." you’re just sitting there now, still sheet-wrapped. rafe sighs. obviously it wasn't entirely his fault but you couldn't help but blame him. “did you… finish?”

rafe blinks. “you were there. what do you think?”

you glare.

he swallows. “…yeah.”

you fall back on the bed, hands over your face. “god, i’m gonna be pregnant with a sports editor’s baby.”

“okay wow,” he says. “that’s dramatic. it didn’t even break inside you— i think. maybe.”

you sit up so fast the sheet falls. “maybe?!”

he throws his hands up. “i’m getting the pills!”

and he actually sprints out the door in just his hoodie and sweats, wallet in one hand and phone in the other.

you sit there for a second, completely still.

“…i cannot believe this.”

you look over at the ripped condom still sitting on the nightstand and mumble under your breath,

“...one job.”

twenty-five minutes later, you’re still in bed, hoodie thrown on, staring at the ceiling like it’s gonna give you answers.

your phone buzzes beside you.

rafe: i got it rafe: i also got mini eggs rafe: and a blue gatorade

after your lack of response, he types:

rafe: did u want red instead?

you sigh, typing back:

you: just come upstairs, dumbass

you hear him fumble with the keys like he’s never opened a door before. the second he steps inside the room, he’s holding a plastic bag like it’s a sacred offering.

“peace treaty,” he says, gently placing it on the bed. “i got the good brand of...you know and some water for that, mini eggs, gatorade and backup condoms.”

you give him a look, staring at the pack of condoms. “you think there’s gonna be a next time?”

he doesn’t answer that. just shrugs and plops down next to you.

you pop out a pill and the water. rafe watches you like you’re defusing a bomb. you take a sip, place the pill in your mouth and chug it down with water. the two of you sit in silence, taking in what had just happened.

“you okay?” he asks, a little quieter now.

you glance over. “yeah. just… wasn’t expecting this, y’know?”

“yeah,” he echoes. then adds, “me neither. i thought that thing was on tight.”

you shoot him a look. “please don’t ever say that again.”

he laughs, rubbing a hand over his face. “sorry. just trying to lighten the mood.”

you twist open the gatorade and down half of it in one go.

rafe’s quiet for a second, then nudges your arm. “hey. if anything… happens, i’m not gonna bail. i’m not a piece of shit.”

you look at him, a little surprised. “i didn’t think you were.”

“just saying. i mean, technically, we did swear on the bible, even if it was on your ipad.”

that actually makes you laugh. “true.”

“plus, our kid would be hot.”

you stare at him.

“kidding. kidding!” he says, hands up in surrender. “too soon?”

“way too soon, carolina.”

you lean your head back against the wall, the pill box still in your lap. he’s sitting next to you now, shoulder touching yours.

“you sure you’re okay?” he asks again, this time a little softer.

you nod, chasing down the last bit of the gatorade.

then you sigh, loud and dramatic. “so much for just sex.”

rafe snorts. you let out a tired laugh, resting your head on his shoulder.

“next time,” you mutter, “you’re wearing two.”

he chokes. “that’s… not how it works.”

“don’t care. double it up. staple it on. i’m not taking chances.”

"yes ma'am" he’s still laughing when his head falls back against the wall too. “honestly— i'm happy i'm even getting a next time.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤSNEAKY LINK * MATT STURNIOLO

SUMMARY　::　where Y/N and fwb!Matt reunite again after some weeks, and the back home vlog caught their state after fucking

FEATURING　fwb!Matt Sturniolo x reader

WARNINGS　::　SMUT (mdni)

AUTHOR'S NOTE　::　that is my work, I DON'T authorize any form of plagiarism; copy, "inspiration" or translation! | english isn't my first language, so I'm sorry if there's any grammar error.

Matt’s heart raced as he laid beside Y/N, the faint glow of the setting sun peeking through the window blinds casting shadows across his childhood bedroom. The familiar scent of his cologne, mixed with a hint of her perfume, hung in the air; an intoxicating blend of familiarity and desire.

Being back in Boston brought with it a surge of emotions, but seeing Y/N again after weeks apart had his feelings on overdrive. His hand brushed softly over her bare back, fingers tracing lazy circles as the two of them caught their breath.

The faintest of smiles tugged at the corners of her mouth as she curled into his side, the soft hum of his breathing calming her.

"You know, I missed this." He murmured, his voice low, still laced with arousal, as he turned to look at her. His deep blue eyes softened as they met hers, his thumb grazing over her cheek. "Missed you."

Y/N smirked, leaning in to press a lingering kiss to his collarbone.

"You better have." She teased, feeling his chest rumble with a low chuckle. "It’s been weeks, Matt. I thought you forgot all about me."

He shifted, propping himself up on an elbow to look down at her, his face still glowing and eyes still dazed from the recent fucking they had.

"Forget you? Never." His voice was serious now, a flash of something deeper passing through his eyes before he covered it with a crooked grin. "Besides, you know I could never stay away from that pussy for long."

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Y/N asked, shaking her head as laughter escaped her mouth.

The moment lingered, both of them knowing there was more beneath the surface.

A loud knock echoed through the room, making both of them jolt.

"Matt! We’re about to film downstairs! You’re joining or what?" Nick’s voice called out from the hallway, shattering the bubble of peace around them.

Matt groaned, falling back onto the bed.

"Shit, I forgot about that."

Y/N let out a soft laugh, sitting up and quickly realizing the state Matt was in. His skin was still blotchy, and his hair was a wild mess, sticking up in all directions.

"You look like you’ve been through a storm." Y/N teased, running a hand through his disheveled hair as she attempted to smooth it down.

He chuckled, grabbing her wrist and pressing a kiss to the inside of it.

"Speak for yourself. You don’t exactly look put together either."

"Shit." Y/N muttered, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror across the room. "They’re going to notice..."

Matt’s grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Let them think what they want. It’s not like Nick and Chris don’t already have their suspicions."

Y/N rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her chest didn’t fade. There was something exhilarating about being back here with Matt, even with the possibility of being caught by his brothers. It was the thrill of sneaking around, the shared glances that held secrets, the unspoken connection that kept pulling the two of them back together every time they thought it was over.

Reluctantly, the two of them made their way downstairs, trying to make themselves look as presentable as possible.

Matt walked slightly ahead of her, his fingers brushing through his hair in a futile attempt to smooth down the mess Y/N had made of it upstairs. His back was straight, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced with an uncharacteristic stiffness as he tried his best to look composed.

Y/N, on the other hand, could feel the remnants of their recent activities painted across her face. A quick glance in the hallway mirror had confirmed it: her hair was wild and slightly frizzy from Matt’s hands pulling it, her eyes were glossy with that unmistakable post-sex daze, and her lips were plump and still tingling from all the fervent kissing.

She cursed under her breath, wishing she had taken more time to fix herself up, but now it was too late.

When they entered the living room, Matt immediately put some distance between the two of them. His hand, which had just moments ago been all over Y/N, now awkwardly shoved into his pocket. Y/N couldn’t help but smirk to herself at how hard he was trying to act normal.

He had moved to the far side of the room, picking up a random water bottle from the kitchen counter and taking a long gulp, clearly stalling for time. But it didn’t matter how much space he put between them. The evidence was still all over him.

Nick was already talking to the camera, barely glancing at the two of them, but Chris, sitting at the couch while tying his converse so they could go out, wasn’t as subtle. His sharp gaze flickered over Matt first, taking in his slightly crumpled clothes, the flushed red tint to his usually pale skin, and the way his hair was more messy than usual.

Then, Chris’s eyes drifted to Y/N, a knowing smirk already curling at the edges of his lips.

Y/N shifted under Chris’s scrutiny, attempting to fix her hair in vain, but there was no hiding. Her clothes, though she had tried to straighten them before coming downstairs, still looked slightly rumpled, like they had been tugged at and rearranged in haste. Chris didn’t say anything right away, but Y/N could tell he was mentally filing it away for later.

"So, uh, we’re back in Boston for the weekend, visiting family and all that... It’s been a minute since we’ve been home, so we’re filming a little ‘back home’ vlog for you guys." Nick’s voice broke the tension as he explained what they would be doing for the day, shifting into his more energetic on-camera persona. Matt stood awkwardly off to the side, attempting to stay out of frame for the moment, but it wasn’t long before Nick called him out. "Oh, Matt is finally here, too."

Matt took a deep breath as he noticed Nick pointing the camera at him, standing as casually as he could manage, though his body language was stiff, as if trying too hard not to look guilty.

"And Y/N too, y'all remember her, right? She was always with us..."

Y/N smiled awkwardly to the camera lens, waving slowly, still not used to being in a video frame - much less in those conditions -, trying to act as though everything was normal.

Chris leaned back on the couch, clearly relishing the opportunity. He gave Matt a sideways glance, his smirk widening as Nick kept talking to the camera, never one to miss an opportunity for a jab, cut in smoothly.

"Matt’s really been enjoying being back, huh?" His eyes flicked to Y/N briefly, but it was Matt who bore the brunt of his teasing. "What’ve you been up to, man? You look a little... red there."

Matt visibly stiffened, his face flushing even more at the comment. He shot Chris a warning glare, but Chris just grinned wider, clearly enjoying how flustered his brother was.

"Nothing, just... chilling." Matt muttered, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.

Nick, oblivious to the tension, carried on, but Chris wasn’t done yet. As Nick talked to the camera about their plans for the vlog, Chris leaned in slightly closer to Y/N - who was standing too close -, his voice low but just loud enough for the camera’s mic to catch.

"You too, kid." He said, eyes flicking over her with a teasing glint. "Missed us, huh?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm, and Y/N could feel her face heating up even more.

Y/N shot him a playful glare, trying to act like his teasing wasn’t getting to her, but it was hard to ignore the way her heart raced every time he looked between her and Matt. The two of them had done a good job of keeping their sneaky link under wraps for years, but it was clear Chris wasn’t buying the act anymore.

Nick, now noticing the back-and-forth, finally picked up on the vibe in the room. He paused mid-sentence, glancing between the three of them with furrowed brows.

"Wait, what’s going on here?" He asked, looking confused.

Chris waved him off, still grinning.

"Nothing, just messing with them. I mean, come on, doesn’t Matt look like he’s been... busy?"

Nick’s eyes flicked to Matt, then to Y/N, before his face lit up with realization. He tried to suppress a laugh, but it came out anyway.

"Oh yeah, you’re right. Matt looks like he just ran a marathon."

Matt groaned, running a hand through his hair as he tried to play it off.

"Can we just get on with the vlog?" He muttered, clearly desperate to change the subject, fishing his mother's car keys from the coffee table, ready to go to wherever they wanted to go without a complaint.

Nick finally gave in, though he was still chuckling under his breath as he turned back to the camera.

"Alright, let’s get back on track. We’ve got a lot to show you guys this weekend."

But even as the camera continued to roll and the vlog progressed, she and Matt exchanged a few glances, fresh memories of touches and pure pleasure running through their minds.

And sure enough, once the vlog was posted later that night, the comments started flooding in almost immediately.

"Y/N and matt look like they've gone through hell (or heaven) LMAO 😭"

"who knew matt had that in him"

"omg he looks so fucking hot like that 😩"

"HIS HAIR????? UGHHHH"

"post-sex matt just hits different (I'm so sure they had sex before that vlog)"

"chris is definitely the younger brother and I can prove it"

Y/N couldn’t help but laugh as she scrolled through the comments, feeling Matt’s arm wrap around her bare shoulders as the two of them lay on her bed, naked bodies only covered by thin sheets. Despite the teasing, despite how obvious it had all been, there was something thrilling about it; something that made sneaking around even more fun.

"Maybe next time we’ll be more subtle." Matt whispered in Y/N’s ear, his breath warm against her skin, his lips wrapping around the soft flesh of her jaw.

Y/N smirked, throwing her phone to the side and letting her head fall to the opposite side, opening way for his mouth.

"Or maybe we just won’t care."

© vanteguccir

welcome to my list of alternative universes, which you will commonly see my refer to as “ au’s “ !

SOLAR SYSTEM [ au’s with designated plots, characters, & introductions ]

NEPTUNE: IM A LOSER BABY, SO WHY DONT YOU KILL ME AU

loser!chris sturniolo & mean girl!reader

⤷ he’s been in love with her forever, she doesn’t give two shits about him unless they’re having sex or he’s selling her next fix. but when her life begins to crumble around her and she starts to drag him down with her, she realizes that she truly does care and needs to let go of him until she can fix herself.

casual ⊹ ࣪ ˖

lando norris x fwb!reader

15.07.24

୨ৎAfter ending a previous relationship, you weren't looking for anything serious, preferring a casual fling if the opportunity arose. But Lando changes everything. Despite your intentions, you find yourselves acting more like a couple, leading to emotional confusion and misunderstandings. As you navigate the thin line between friends and lovers, your casual arrangement becomes increasingly complicated.

୨ৎ back a page ୨ৎ back two pages

slight mention of fem!receiving oral

~~~~

MASTERLIST : HERE

words: 802 warnings: mentions of sexual stuff- no true smut.

~~~~

— pairing: fwb!rafe x fwb!reader

— warnings: MDNI 18+, smut, explicit language, protected sex, friends with benefits, p in v, teasing, praise, dom rafe (like sorta?)

— word count: 2.9k +

— A/N: this is my first time writing smut. like ever. don't mind this if it sucks.

the laptop was propped up on your bed, the duvet you and rafe were under crumpled beneath the large display of snacks laid out. it had been 2 months since rafe had started that job up at gq. a lot happened in those two months. you two grew extremely close. calling each other every night, sharing dumb memes, complaining about deadlines, having lunch between meetings like it was no big deal, partying in clubs, only to end up back at your place, tipsy, laughing and talking about nonsense.

you didn’t expect him to be the exact opposite of what lizzie had warned you about. he wasn’t brooding. he was warm, funny, gentle when you needed it, sarcastic when you didn’t. he was slowly becoming the friend you didn't know you needed. filling a hole you didn't know needed to be filled.

you look over at him now, stretched out beside you in sweats and a t-shirt, face lit up by the glow of the screen. you should be focused on the movie. but you’re not, you’re focused on him.

he catches your stare without even trying. “what?” he says, all low and lazy.

you shake your head. “nothing.”

“liar,” he says, shifting to face you. “you do that thing when you lie. your nose twitches.”

“no, it doesn’t.”

“does too.”

"how do you even know that?" you laugh, breaking the intense back-and-forth that was going on between you two. "i pay attention." he shrugs. "well— pay attention to the movie" you look away, hoping the dim lights hide the redness on your cheeks. "this is my favourite part."

his lips curve as he watches you rather than the screen.

on it, the love interest is pacing through a rainy street, yelling some dramatic, heart-spilling monologue. your face softens and without realizing, your lips start to move with the dialogue, matching every word. eyes glued to the screen, heart clearly all in.

rafe notices. of course he does. his gaze lingers. when the kiss happens, you let out the tiniest sigh. the credits roll a few minutes later. the room falls into that quiet, post-movie haze.

rafe breaks it with a smirk. “how many times have you watched this shitty production?”

you turn to him. “enough to memorize it,” you grin, unashamed.

he laughs, tilting his head. “you’re such a romantic.”

“am not.”

“you literally mouthed the entire love confession scene.”

you cross your arms, feigning offense. “so what if i like to love?”

he pauses. you don’t expect the next thing that comes out of your mouth. “i feel a lot, okay? like... i always have. i just don’t show it right away.”

rafe goes quiet. his smile softens. “yeah,” he says, voice low. “i know.”

you blink at him. “do you?”

he nods. “you think i don’t notice stuff about you? you wear your heart like armor. all sparks and sarcasm, but you still hope someone’ll hold it right.”

your breath catches for a second, chest tight in that weird, terrifyingly tender way. “jesus,” you mumble, laughing under your breath. “who let you psychoanalyze me like that?”

he shrugs again. “like i said— i pay attention.”

the silence settles. it's warm, charged and oddly safe.

then, so soft you almost don’t mean to say it “i miss it sometimes.”

rafe glances over. “what?” you inhale. “relationships. loving someone. like really loving them.”

you laugh a little to yourself, shaking your head.

“and?” he asks, nudging your knee with his.

you meet his eyes, smirking now. “but i think i miss the sex more.”

he stares at you for a beat— then breaks into a loud, caught-off-guard laugh, echoing through the room.

you’re laughing too now, heads tipped back, both of you wheezing from how true it is.

“god,” rafe exhales, wiping at his eyes. “you can’t just say that.”

“why not?” you grin. “it’s true. the college sex? kinda miss that.” you both fall back into the pillows, grins still tugging at your faces, the kind of shared laughter that leaves something lingering in the air.

“but i get it. i miss casual sex too sometimes.”

you nod. “right? no guessing games. no guy telling you you're too fucked in the head to be with.”

rafe pauses, head snapping toward you. “hold up. who the hell said that?”

you shrug, trying to play it off. “it’s not a big deal—”

“no, no. it is a big deal,” he says, already looking like he’s mentally rolling his sleeves up. “drop his name. i’ll beat his ass. i don’t even need a reason.”

you laugh, eyes wide. “oh my gosh, calm down.”

“i am calm,” he says, being the complete opposite. “i just think some people need to be reminded what consequences feel like.”

“what are you gonna do, show up to his apartment and full-on brawl him?”

“absolutely. no hesitation. gloves off.”

you grin, biting your lip. “you’re ridiculous.”

he leans back against the headboard, still watching you. “seriously though... you’re not fucked in the head. you’re just... a lot. in the best way. and if someone can’t handle that, it says more about them than it ever will about you.”

you stare at him for a beat. “that was kind of sweet.”

“don’t make it weird.”

“too late,” you smirk.

you both laugh softly, the kind of quiet laughter that fills the space but doesn’t quite erase the weight between you. your eyes flick to the two empty corona bottles on the table, already mocking how fast you’ve gone through them.

“want a refill?” you ask, lifting your bottle like a peace offering.

“hell yeah.” he passes you his bottle, and you push yourself off the bed.

your bare feet hit the floor, the cool hardwood grounding you as you head toward the kitchen. you reach for the fridge, the handle cool under your fingers. you pull the door open, and the light floods the small space. your hand dips inside, fingers closing around two cold bottles of beer. you pull them out, the glass slick and chilled. you close the fridge door with a soft click, twisting the cap off one bottle with a satisfying pop.

just then—

“y/n,” rafe calls from your room, voice way too casual for what he’s about to say, “let's have sex.”

you freeze, bottle halfway to your lips, eyes snapping toward the doorway.

“what?” you laugh.

he’s already jogging up behind you, that stupid golden retriever grin stretched wide, the kind of smile that usually means trouble—or exactly what he just said.

“i’m serious,” he says, leaning on the counter next to you like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

you set the bottle down on the counter, heart suddenly racing for reasons that have nothing to do with the beer.

“you don’t even like me like that.”

he shrugs, completely unfazed. “yeah, exactly. no feelings, no strings, no one to impress. just... us. no pressure. no complications.”

you stare at him, your fingers curling around the bottle, the cold glass grounding you.

“you’re actually insane,” you say, voice low but amused. “i mean, come on, we’re not in college anymore.”

he grins wider. “maybe. but am i wrong?”

you don’t answer, just look at him—the way he’s standing there, that easy confidence—and yeah… maybe it’s not such a terrible idea after all.

“okay okay, before we do this—do you even find me attractive?”

“do you?”

“i asked first.”

“alright, fine.” he pauses for a second. “i liked your eyes. didn’t think i’d ever seen anyone with such big, beautiful eyes.”

you pause, then confess. “lips. thought you might be a good kisser.”

“i am,” he says, with a sly smirk. then, after a beat, “breasts.”

you raise an eyebrow. “what about them?”

“they intrigued me.”

“really?” you laugh.

“yeah, i think they’re—”

“okay, okay, i’m stopping you right there.” you hold up a hand, smirking. “butt.”

“smile.”

“hands.”

“lips.”

“voice.”

“eyes.” he repeats.

you stop, pointing a finger at him. “you already said that.”

he smirks, eyes locking with yours. “and i meant it.”

you scoff softly, shaking your head. your eyes drift around the kitchen—the worn counter, the dim light casting soft shadows, the faint hum of the city outside. through the window, the nyc night sky stretches vast and dark, dotted with distant glowing lights. your mind races, the buzz of the day and the pull of something more tangled deep inside you.

can you really do this? keep it simple? no strings? no mess? the thought lingers like a weight, a whisper you can’t quite shake.

before you know it, you’re moving, stepping quickly toward your bedroom. rafe’s voice follows, confused. “where are you going?”

you don’t answer, slipping into your room. the soft glow of your desk lamp hits your face as you reach for your ipad. your fingers tap open the bible app, the screen lighting up with familiar verses. you place your hand flat on it, then glance back at rafe, signaling him to do the same.

he steps forward, dropping his hand on top of yours. a slow smirk curls on his lips.

“rafe cameron,” you say, voice steady but soft, “do you swear you don’t want anything more from me than sex?”

his eyes lock with yours, amused but serious. “you swear you don’t?”

you hesitate—just for a heartbeat—then whisper, “i do.”

he holds your gaze, voice low. “i do too.”

the room feels charged, the unspoken truth hanging heavy between you, as if this tiny ritual is the only thing keeping both your hearts from rushing ahead.

you look him dead in the eye, voice steady and clear. “no relationships. no emotions. just sex. okay?”

“whatever happens, we stay friends,” rafe adds quietly, his eyes searching yours for some kind of promise.

you hold his gaze, the weight of his words settling between you like a fragile truce. for a long moment, the world outside your window—the distant hum of cars, the flicker of city lights—fades away until all that exists is the space between you.

then, before either of you can think twice, you drop the ipad gently onto your desk, the soft thud swallowed by the quiet room. your hands move on instinct, sliding up to cup his face. your fingers trace the sharp line of his jaw, fingertips brushing the slight roughness of his stubble, lingering at the curve of his cheekbone. his skin feels warm beneath your touch.

he slides his fingers under the waistband of your shorts, slowly tugging them down. you shift your hips, letting them slide off easily, the fabric soft and light as it drops to the floor.

his sweats go next—loose and low, he pushes them down with a single tug, leaving just his boxers. you laugh softly, your hands grazing his stomach as you look up at him.

“you got a condom?”

he grins, reaches over, and digs into the pocket of his sweats crumpled on the floor. he pulls out a single condom and holds it up like he’s just won something. “ta-da.”

you raise a brow, confused about why he casually just had them in his pants. “how many girls are you sleeping with, carolina?”

he pauses, pretending to think, counting on his fingers.

you laugh and smack his chest lightly, then push his hands down. “okay, okay,” you giggle, shaking your head.

he leans in closer, mouth brushing against your ear as he murmurs, “only one.”

you barely get a second to react before he kisses you again—deeper this time. his hands slide behind your back, unclasping your bra in one smooth move. it falls away, and he tosses it aside without looking. then he’s kneeling slightly, hands curling around your hips as he hooks his fingers into the sides of your underwear. he pulls them down slowly, his lips never fully leaving yours. the fabric slips down your legs, leaving you bare beneath him, the tension thick in the air. you fall back onto the bed, the mattress dipping beneath you as rafe follows. the city lights spill through your window, soft and golden, casting a faint glow over the both of you. he stands at the edge, fingers hooking into the waistband of his boxers. he slides them down slowly, stepping out of them without a word.

you glance down. holy shit.

to say he was big was on understatement. your eyes move back up at him with a teasing grin. “i can work with that.”

he rolls his eyes, muttering something under his breath that makes you laugh. then he grabs the condom from the pocket of his sweats still on the floor, rips the wrapper open, and starts putting it on.

you sit up slightly, reaching forward to help. your fingers brush over his length and for a second, he stops — like your touch still surprises him even after everything.

he climbs onto the bed, settling between your legs as your back hits the pillows. his hands land on either side of your waist, keeping himself steady as he looks down at you.

he lines up, eyes never leaving yours. his forehead rests gently against yours, warm and grounding.

you nod.

he moves slowly, giving you time.

"shit." he whispers, lowly. your breath catches and your nails grips his arm without thinking. he pauses.

“you okay?” he murmurs.

you look up at him, cheeks flushed. “yeah. okay. go.”

he presses a kiss to your lips, soft but breathless, and then keeps going. his movements are slow at first, careful, like he’s feeling you out. your breathing quickens in sync, and the tension in the air shifts — heavier now. warmer.

you wrap your legs around him slightly, pulling him closer.

his forehead brushes yours again. “you're amazing— shit, y/n...” you inhale, trying to hold back the sounds that want to be let out so bad. your fingers dig into his back, nails pressing into skin.

he notices.

“you don’t have to hold back,” he whispers, his voice thick. “just— fuck, let me hear you.”

you gasp when his hips roll a little deeper, the stretch still sharp, still so much, but somehow not enough.

“shit,” he breathes out, head dropping to your shoulder for a second. “you feel— god, you feel insane.”

your back arches when he shifts again. it’s like your whole body is on edge, chasing something you can’t even name.

his hand finds your waist, thumb stroking slow circles into your skin. “tight as fuck,” he mumbles against your neck, almost like he’s not even talking to you—just reacting. “so warm. perfect.”

your jaw clenches as another sound escapes you. he grins against your collarbone.

“that’s it,” he whispers. “just like that.”

your hands slide up his back, fingertips tracing his spine. “rafe—”

he looks at you, eyes dark and half-lidded. “i’m not gonna last long if you keep saying my name like that.”

you let out this shaky, breathless laugh and he kisses you — deep and slow, tongue brushing yours, all heat and nothing careful.

“you feel like heaven,” he says into your mouth. “fucking heaven.”

your nails dig deeper into his skin now, desperate for something to hold onto as the tension builds, pressure curling tighter in your stomach with every slow thrust.

his forehead rests against yours, breath uneven, skin damp with sweat. “you’re driving me fucking crazy,” he whispers, voice almost gone.

you let out a shaky breath, legs tightening around his waist. “rafe…”

he groans, like hearing his name from you does something to him. “i know, baby. i know.”

your body’s trembling now, every nerve lit up, and you’re so close it hurts. his hand slides down between you, finding your clit, rubbing slow, careful circles like he knows exactly what you need.

“that’s it,” he whispers. “just let go. i’ve got you.”

your mouth falls open. your back arches. everything else fades.

“fuck..” your voice breaks, high and breathless.

he watches you fall apart like it’s the only thing he’s ever wanted to see. and then it hits him too, hard and fast, a low curse falling from his lips as his rhythm stutters. he buries his face in your neck, jaw clenched, muscles tight.

you both just… breathe. together. heavy and slow, like the air just got knocked out of the room.

his hand’s still on your waist, holding you like you might float away.

you blink up at the ceiling, chest rising and falling.

“well,” you pant, “that was…”

he lifts his head, hair a mess, lips parted, eyes dazed. “yeah,” he murmurs. “that was...that was that”

you snort, chest still rising and falling. “you gonna pull out?”

he freezes for a second, still inside you, blinking like you just woke him up from a dream.

“…right.” his voice cracks a little as he leans back, cheeks flushed. “yeah. shit—yeah.”

you watch as he carefully pulls out, slow and gentle, like he’s worried about hurting you. his eyes flick up to yours once he’s done, like he’s checking if you're okay.

you smirk at how red his ears are. “you’re blushing.”

he groans, dragging a hand down his face. “jesus christ.”

you shift slightly, turning your head on the pillow to face him. “what? i think it’s cute.”

“yeah, well, that makes one of us,” he mutters, eyes fixed on the ceiling like it might save him from the embarrassment.

you nudge him with your elbow. “hey, you just swore on a bible. no emotions, remember? you don’t get to act all shy now.”

he glances at you, a slow grin tugging at his lips. “just wasn’t expecting the commentary, that’s all.”

“sorry,” you laugh, clearly not sorry at all. “force of habit…i guess”

he lets out a breathy chuckle, then turns on his side to face you, arm sliding under his head. “you’re full of surprises.”

you hum, stretching out a little, muscles sore in the best way. “you’re not so bad yourself, carolina.”

his mouth twitches like he wants to say something cocky back, but he doesn’t. he just looks at you for a second, then slowly reaches out, brushing a thumb over your hip, like he’s memorizing the shape of you.

neither of you says anything after that — just lying there, side by side, still catching your breath. the room is warm and quiet, and for a moment, it doesn’t feel like anything’s complicated at all.

just two people, one bed, and whatever the hell this is turning into. "we should get dressed." you mumble, before the way he touches you makes you change your mind.

— pairing: fwb!rafe x fwb!reader

— warnings: none!

— word count: 3.8k+

— A/N: i wanted to write so much more but it already got so long so i paused but the next couple parts will be coming SOON!

monday rolled in slow.

you’d spent the whole weekend pretending not to think about rafe—by reorganizing your kitchen cabinets, binge-watching some crime documentary, even going on a walk like you were suddenly a girl who went on walks.

it didn’t work. not really.

so when your phone buzzed at exactly 11:13 a.m, you were mid-scroll on tiktok, curled up on your couch, still in his hoodie that he'd left before.

rafe:

how was your date with mr. stares-at-trees

you stared at the message, thumb hovering.

for a second, you considered lying. saying it went amazing, just to get a reaction out of him. but the truth buzzed under your skin—tired and loud.

you:

not that great.

the reply came almost instantly.

rafe:

ah. i knew something was wrong with him the second i saw him genuinely expressing interest in nature. big red flag.

you smiled—couldn’t help it. something about his words softened that tight knot in your chest.

you curled further into your blanket, letting your fingers hover over the screen again, debating how much to say.

you:

i tried. i wanted to like him. he was nice. and sweet. and fine. but he wasn’t you.

you stared at that last line. deleted it. retyped it. deleted it again.

instead, you sent:

you:

it was just… off. like, everything looked right but didn’t feel right, y'know?

a pause. long enough that your stomach twisted. and then:

rafe:

yeah. i get that.

you waited. hoping. wanting him to say more. he did.

rafe:

he didn’t open the door right, huh?

you:

nope. didn’t play obnoxiously loud music either.

rafe:

amateur.

you could practically hear him scoff.

you:

you’d hate him. he called fries “empty calories.”

rafe:

okay that’s actually criminal. do i need to fight him?

you laugh quietly, tugging the hoodie sleeves over your fingers. your thumbs type before you can stop them.

you:

i kinda missed you.

three dots appear.

then disappear.

then reappear.

then vanish again.

you hold your breath. stare at the screen like it’s going to give you answers. finally, your phone buzzes again.

rafe:

i missed you too. friday sucked, by the way. i didn’t mean to walk out like that.

your heart skips. once, twice.

you:

yeah, you did. liar

rafe:

okay maybe i did. but i regretted it the second the door shut.

you bite your lip.

you:

then why didn’t you come back?

rafe:

because i didn’t want to say something dumb.

silence again. this time, it’s yours.

you can feel the shift. like something’s slowly tilting between you—dangerously close to spilling over.

rafe:

can i see you?

you don’t think. you just type.

you:

come over. i still have your hoodie btw. i'm wearing it if you don't mind

his response is almost instant.

rafe:

i don't be there in 10.

somehow he managed to get here in less than ten minutes, like he’d been waiting for this all day. he’s got a bag slung over his shoulder, probably packed with snacks and drinks, like he knew you’d want to chill.

he doesn’t even knock. he never does anymore. just walks right in, like your door is always unlocked just for him.

“you really are in my hoodie,” he grins, eyes trailing you up and down as you flop back onto the couch.

“next time, don’t leave it here,” you tease, crossing your arms. “finder’s keepers, remember?”

“and losers weepers,” he laughs quietly, kicking off his shoes by the door.

it all felt so normal—the way he laughed, how easy the conversation was, the way his presence filled the room. like everything that happened on friday never did.

he plops down next to you, pulling a couple of bags out of the big one and setting them on the coffee table.

“brought reinforcements,” he says, holding up a bag of chips like it’s a trophy.

you roll your eyes but can’t hide your smile. “nice save.”

he nudges you with his elbow. “so, what’s the plan today? movies?" "yep." you hand him the remote. "your pick." "you must be feeling extremely generous today." he laughs. "you never let me pick." he grins, flipping through the streaming options like he’s scrolling through a menu at a fancy restaurant.

he settles in, stretches out his legs, and the whole room feels a little warmer just because he’s here. he’s quiet for a second, eyes on the screen, fingers absentmindedly crinkling the chip bag between you two. there’s an old movie playing but neither of you are really watching. it’s just background noise. the kind that fills the silence when two people don’t need to talk to feel comfortable.

"so," he says finally, voice low like he's not even sure if he's asking or just thinking out loud, "you doing anything for the fourth?"

you blink, caught off guard. “me?” you shift a little, tugging your legs up onto the couch. “nah. i mean, i guess not. no real plans.”

he hums, nodding slowly, like he's been waiting for that answer. he leans forward, elbows on his knees, the room lit only by the TV screen flickering blue across his face.

"what if..." he starts, then glances at you. "what if you came with me? to outer banks."

you laugh softly, raising an eyebrow. “to the outer banks? what, like to meet your family?”

“yeah. kinda.” he looks over at you, eyes soft but serious. “it’s this thing they do every year. big fourth of july party. in our beach house, food, fireworks. stupid games. bonfire stuff. it’s... chill. you’d like it.”

you stare at him, unsure what to say. it sounds nice—too nice, almost. and too personal.

“rafe, i don’t know. it’s your family’s thing. i don’t wanna be that girl who just shows up outta nowhere.”

he rolls his eyes, scoffing playfully. “first of all, you wouldn’t be that girl. second, you think anyone even knows half the people who come? last year some random guy just showed up. like, literally no one knew who invited him. he was just there.”

you snort. “poor guy.”

“he brought shrimp dip and left with someone’s grandma. legend.”

you laugh, and he smiles at the sound of it. then he leans back again, this time more relaxed, stretching one arm across the back of the couch behind you.

"i'm serious though," he adds after a beat, voice lower now. "you should come. it’s three days. we’d leave friday morning. just... the beach, sun, drinks and being away from all this for a bit.”

you glance around your apartment like it’s suddenly the most boring place on earth. “i don’t even have a swimsuit.”

“liar,” he grins, “i saw it in your drawer when i was looking for a charger that one time.”

your mouth drops open. “rafe!”

he shrugs, unapologetic. “i didn’t look on purpose. but you’ve got like, at least two cute ones.”

you roll your eyes but your cheeks burn anyway.

"honestly, all of them are cute on you." he shifts again, now fully facing you. “just come. you need a break. from this city. from whatever's been dragging you down lately. you don’t have to do anything, just... be there. with me.”

you hesitate. “you’ll be there the whole time?”

his gaze softens, the grin fading into something a little more real. “i wouldn’t leave you alone for a second.”

you let out a slow breath, feeling your chest loosen just a little. “okay,” you murmur. “yeah. okay. i’ll come.”

he lights up instantly, like you just said the exact thing he was hoping to hear. he grabs a chip, tosses it in the air, and catches it in his mouth like a dork.

“this is gonna be the best weekend of your life,” he says through a full mouth.

you shove his shoulder, laughing. “you’re disgusting.”

he grins. “and yet... you agreed to a whole trip with me. must mean something.”

the week went by fast. before you knew it, the two of you were on a plane, flying to the outer banks—paradise on earth. the kind of place that felt like summer even when it wasn’t.

you talked most of the way, stopping only when the snack cart came by. the conversation was easy. light. you joked about airport chaos, debated your snack choices, and even argued over the worst movies you’ve ever seen. it felt like you were just… friends again. maybe even more than that, but neither of you said it.

now, your empty chip bag lay crumpled in your lap. you stared down at it, trying not to let the nerves crawl too far up your spine.

“so,” you say, breaking the lull, “anything i should know before we land?”

rafe glances over, stretching a little in his seat. “about my family?”

you nod. “yeah. like… any advice? things not to say? who’s gonna hate me first?”

he lets out a low breath, thinking. “you already know sarah and wheezie.”

“uh huh,” you say. “your sisters.”

“right. wheezie’s cool. she already stalked your instagram, by the way.”

you blink. “you’re joking.”

“nope. told me she thinks you look too pretty to be real.”

you laugh, even if your stomach flips. “well, love her already.”

“yeah,” he smirks, “she’s the good one.”

you tilt your head. “and sarah?”

his smirk fades a bit. “she’s a ray of sunshine—if she likes you...which is hard to do so don’t take it personally if she gives you attitude.”

you nod slowly. “and your parents?”

rafe presses his lips together, staring down at his hands. “rose—my stepmom—never really liked me. she acts fake nice, so don’t fall for it.”

“noted.”

“my dad…” he trails off.

you narrow your eyes. “...your dad?”

he shifts in his seat, finally looking at you. “we uh—got into a fight. before i left.”

you wait, not saying anything.

“he wanted me to take over the family business. like, start working for him full-time, doing things his way. and i told him i didn’t want it. didn’t wanna be him. we haven’t talked since.”

you blink. “and now you’re just gonna show up with me like nothing happened?”

rafe runs a hand through his hair, sighing. “pretty much.”

“no warning?”

“nope.”

you stare at him. “you’re insane.”

he smiles like it’s a compliment. “you’re just figuring that out now?”

you roll your eyes, but your fingers twitch toward his where they rest between you on the seat. he notices, glancing down, but doesn’t say anything.

“i just don’t wanna crash anything,” you say after a pause. “like… this is your family, and i don’t wanna be the random girl you brought home in the middle of a silent feud.”

he turns toward you more, voice softer now. “you’re not random. and if anything, you’re the only reason this won’t be a total disaster.”

you give him a skeptical look. “great. no pressure or anything.”

he grins. “you’ll be fine. they’re not exactly warm and fuzzy, but you’re… you. people like you.”

you stare at him for a second, surprised by the honesty. he doesn’t flinch. doesn’t joke to cover it up.

outside the window, the clouds are starting to thin, the ocean coming into view below—shimmering blue and endless. you don’t say anything. just rest your arm against his on the armrest. he doesn’t pull away.

the air felt heavier here. sticky and warm in a way that made your skin buzz. the kind of heat that clung to your clothes and made you feel like you were really in the south now.

rafe flagged down a cab outside the airport, tossing both your bags in the trunk before sliding in next to you.

you leaned your forehead against the window, already feeling the warmth through the glass. “it smells like ocean and sunscreen,” you muttered, half amused.

he chuckled. “welcome to the outer banks.”

the cab rolled forward, palm trees and flat, open roads blurring past. the sky stretched out wide and bright, streaked with little wisps of clouds. everything felt so green. louder, too. you could hear the bugs humming even with the windows up.

“it’s so weird,” you said quietly, eyes flicking from the docks to a bait shop to a surf shack with peeling paint. “it’s like… calm but not? i don’t know how to explain it.”

rafe glanced over at you. “feels like home.”

you looked at him. he looked out the window.

“how long has it been since you were here?” you asked.

he shrugged. “a year. feels longer.”

“you nervous?”

he didn’t answer right away. just tapped his fingers on his knee.

you reached out without thinking, placing your hand over his to stop the fidgeting. he looked down at it. then at you.

“we’re okay,” you said.

he gave a small nod. “yeah. we are.”

you drove in silence for a little while after that, your thumb absentmindedly tracing circles over his knuckles. then the cab turned and you saw it.

tannyhill.

“oh my god,” you breathed.

the cab slowed down along the gravel drive, and your jaw literally dropped. the house was huge—white pillars, wraparound porch, massive lawn already strung up with fairy lights and red-white-and-blue decorations. people moved around the yard like ants, setting up tables and hauling coolers. there was even a huge american flag flapping dramatically in the breeze like it was from a movie or something.

“rafe,” you said, eyes still wide, “you didn’t tell me you were loaded.”

he just smirked and handed the driver some cash. “forgot to mention it.”

“forgot to—?” you shook your head. “you’re ridiculous.”

he got out and opened your door, looking annoyingly smug about your reaction. “come on. before you say something like ‘wow, this looks like a plantation.’ ”

“i was gonna say that!” you laughed, hopping out.

as soon as you stepped onto the gravel, someone called his name.

“rafe?”

you turned to see a tall, perfectly dressed woman in a linen dress and chunky jewelry. she looked like she belonged on a magazine cover—flawless hair, tanned skin, a clipboard in one hand. she paused halfway through directing someone to hang a flag, eyes narrowing as she spotted the two of you.

“what are you doing here?” she asked sharply, stepping toward him.

rafe barely blinked. “hi, rose. missed you too.”

she raised an eyebrow, but then her gaze shifted—to you.

her expression changed just slightly. surprised. curious.

“and who’s this?”

before rafe could answer, you stepped forward, offering a polite smile. “hi, i’m—”

“you’re the girl,” rose said, almost in disbelief. “the girl wheezie told me about."

you blinked, turning to rafe. “um… i guess?”

rose let out a soft laugh. “well. you’re the first one he’s ever brought home. that’s for sure.”

rafe rolled his eyes. “okay, thanks, rose. that’s enough for now.”

“i’m just saying,” she said innocently, “it’s nice to see he’s capable of caring about someone.”

he gave her a sarcastic smile. “always a pleasure.” then he gently pulled on your arm. “we’re gonna go inside now.”

as you walked toward the house, you leaned in, laughing. “so that’s the famous rose?”

“unfortunately,” he muttered.

you were still half-laughing when you reached the front steps—until a figure stepped around the corner of the porch. you froze. so did rafe.

the man in front of you was tall. broad with greyish hair, white button-up, drink in hand. he didn’t look surprised to see rafe. just tired.

“rafe,” he said flatly. "didn't think you'd come, son."

you felt rafe stiffen beside you. nobody moved. so you stepped forward.

“hi,” you said, holding out a hand, voice light but not shaky. “i’m y/n. it’s nice to meet you, mr. cameron.”

ward looked at you with a smile. he looked at your hand for half a second before shaking it. his grip was firm. warmer than you expected.

“nice to meet you too, call me ward.” he said. then glanced back at rafe. “didn’t know you were bringing a plus one.”

rafe said nothing.

after a beat, ward turned to you and nodded once. “enjoy the party.”

he walked off without another word. you both stood there, quiet. you turned to rafe, voice soft. “you okay?”

his jaw was tight. too tight. he nodded. “yeah. come on.”

he opened the front door for you, and you stepped inside tannyhill. the air smelled like lemon cleaner and old wood. your shoes echoed faintly against the floors. and still, you looked at him again.

“…you sure?”

this time, he looked at you. really looked.

“i’m good,” he said quietly. “i got you, don’t i?”

you nodded. and walked in.

the house is warm and echoey, full of tall ceilings and the faint smell of fresh flowers. rafe kicks off his shoes by the front door like muscle memory, then glances back to make sure you're still with him. you are, wide-eyed and quiet, your bag slung over your shoulder.

"this place is insane," you whisper, spinning slowly as you take in the staircase and chandelier and that huge painting of someone you assume is his grandpa or some sort of ancestor.

rafe chuckles under his breath, brushing past you to open a door to the left. “c’mon. i’ll show you the kitchen. it’s like… actually my favorite part of the house. huge windows.”

you trail after him, still taking everything in. the floors gleam. every room is styled like a magazine shoot. rafe’s hand finds the small of your back without thinking, like he’s afraid you’ll get lost in here.

but before you even make it to the kitchen, there's a loud, dramatic gasp behind you.

“oh my god. you’re her,” someone squeals.

you turn just in time to see a blur of curly hair and jean shorts — wheezie, rafe’s youngest sister — practically launching herself toward you.

“uh—hi?” you laugh, caught off guard but kind of charmed.

“you’re so pretty,” she blurts, eyes wide. “like so much prettier than rafe described.”

“wheeze,” rafe mutters behind you, rubbing his hand over his face.

“what? you did!” she beams at you. “i’m wheezie. and i’ve been dying to meet you. i didn’t even think you were real for a second.”

you grin, feeling a little less nervous. “nice to meet you, wheezie. thanks for the warm welcome.”

wheezie grins back like she’s already planning a sleepover and spa day. just then, footsteps echo from the other side of the hallway, and sarah appears, her arms crossed over her chest, an eyebrow raised.

“what’s going on?” she asks, clearly trying to assess the situation.

wheezie spins to face her. “this is y/n,” she announces like she’s breaking the biggest news of the year. “rafe’s friend.”

sarah blinks, then looks at you with a small polite smile. “hey,” she says. “i’m sarah.”

you smile softly. “hi. i’ve heard so much about you.”

“same.” her tone is nice, but there’s something a little cautious in her eyes — like she’s still deciding how she feels about you. like maybe she’s trying to figure out why her brother, of all people, brought someone home.

rafe steps between you slightly, casually placing a hand at your waist. “okay, tour continues,” he says, clearly trying to move things along before anyone says anything weird.

you catch sarah’s glance flick to his hand and back to your face. she doesn’t say anything, just nods and leans back against the wall.

“see you around,” she says.

wheezie waves way too enthusiastically. “bye! don’t let him show you his weird lego collection!”

“shut up, wheeze,” rafe groans as he pulls you down the hallway, but he’s smiling too. and you are too. because so far? this doesn’t feel as scary as you thought.

"your weird lego collection?" you snorted. "nope. not doing this today." "i've gotta see it now." you laughed as rafe lead to to the backyard, opening the door. "no way. never letting you near that." "guess i'll have to ask wheezie." you cross your arms. he pauses and turn to you, his face dead serious. "kidding." you grin back.

they followed the path behind tannyhill, past the trimmed hedges and towering oak trees, their steps soft against the gravel. cicadas buzzed in the distance, and the air smelled like salt, sunscreen, and freshly cut grass.

you didn’t realize where you were going until the trees opened up and the boathouse came into view—sitting pretty by the edge of the marsh, all white wood and dark trim, its dock stretching out like an invitation.

"this way," rafe said, glancing back at you with a grin.

you stepped inside and your mouth kind of fell open. boats. so many boats. not all fancy, but each one looked cared for—like someone had taken the time to clean and store them just right. the sun streamed through open windows, hitting the water outside and dancing across the walls.

“oh my god,” you whispered. “this is insane.”

rafe looked proud. “this was my favorite spot as a kid. i used to sneak out here all the time. sarah would rat me out, obviously.”

you laughed softly, still taking it all in. you wandered toward the back where a smaller boat sat tucked into the corner. the name wendy was painted in faded pink across the side.

“okay, no. this one’s adorable.”

rafe smirked. “sarah named her after some cartoon character she was obsessed with. wouldn’t let dad change it, even though he tried.”

you turned to him, already climbing into it. “can we take her out?”

he didn’t even hesitate. “hop in.”

you did, and he untied the rope with easy, practiced movements. then you were gliding—quietly—out of the dock and into the golden stretch of marshland.

the water reflected the sky, which was already shifting into that dreamy late-afternoon haze. dragonflies skimmed the surface, and the tall reeds whispered around you. rafe drove slow, letting you take it all in.

you leaned over the edge, fingers trailing in the water. “this is literally the prettiest place i’ve ever seen.”

he glanced sideways at you. “thought you might like it.”

after a while, you both fell into a peaceful rhythm. just talking. joking. pointing out birds or laughing at old stories from your childhoods. and then, somewhere between the turn past an old shrimp shack and a slow bend around the marsh…

“i think you should talk to your dad,” you said gently.

rafe’s shoulders tensed almost immediately.

you noticed it right away. “i just mean… earlier, when we saw him? you looked upset. and i know you’re allowed to feel that way, but maybe it’d help to talk to him.”

he didn’t say anything for a second. just kept his eyes ahead, jaw tight.

“it’s not about me trying to fix anything,” you added. “i just… i see how much stuff’s on your chest. and i don’t think it has to be.”

he finally looked at you. not mad. just… guarded. “you don’t know what he’s like, y/n.”

“you’re right. i don’t,” you said honestly. “but i know you. and i know how much it’s bothering you, even if you try to play it off.”

he let out a breath, then leaned back in the seat, hand running through his hair.

“i’ll talk to him,” he muttered. “not right now. but... i’ll do it. for you.”

your heart tugged at that. “for you would be better.”

“maybe. baby steps.” he cracked a tiny smile.

you bumped his shoulder. “i’ll take it.”

they cruised out of the marsh and into the open inlet near the town. rafe steered the boat to a quiet downtown dock where small boats lined the sides and little shops spilled golden light onto the sidewalk. it was the kind of evening that felt unreal—like the town itself had slowed down to breathe.

you wandered the streets together, eating soft-serve from a roadside cart, your fingers sticky and smiles soft. you kept stealing glances at him. he looked lighter out here. freer.

you were halfway through your ice cream when a voice called out, “rafe?”

you turned just in time to see two boys walking toward you, big grins on their faces.

“dude!” the blonde clapped him on the back. “you’re back and you didn’t say anything?”

“just got in,” rafe said easily. “figured i’d surprise everyone.”

the other one glanced at you. “you gonna introduce us to this pretty girl?”

“this is y/n,” rafe said, giving you that look again—the one that said he was proud to be standing next to you. “she’s with me.”

the blonde one nodded, smiling. “i'm topper.”

“kelce,” the other one added added. “welcome to the obx.”

you smiled back, cheeks a little warm. rafe’s hand brushed yours as they kept talking, and this time, you didn’t pull away.

the boat ride back was quiet, soft splashes of water against the hull and the fading pink light of the sunset casting everything in a golden haze. you watched the sky shift colors, feeling the calm settle in your chest. rafe steered the small boat with ease, occasionally glancing your way, a small smile playing on his lips.

when you finally pulled up to the dock, rafe jumped off first and held out his hand to help you onto solid ground. you grinned and took it, feeling the familiar warmth in his touch.

back at the house, rafe led you inside, kicking off his shoes by the door. he led you upstairs to the second floor. “here’s your room,” he said, pushing open a door at the end of the hallway. the room was cozy, sunlight filtering through light curtains, a neatly made bed, and a desk cluttered with a few books and photos.

“this is nice,” you said, dropping your bag on the bed and looking around.

he nods, looking around before talking again. “need help unpacking or anything?”

you shook your head, smiling. “i’m good for now.”

just then, wheezie popped her head in, eyes bright. “rose is calling you two down for dinner! we’re setting up outside.”

rafe glanced at you, then said, “give us five minutes.”

“okay, hurry!” wheezie said before slipping away.

you turned back to rafe, smiling softly. “thanks for bringing me here.”

he blushed, a shy kind of proud smile crossing his face as he tried his best to hide the redness in his cheeks.

after five minutes, you both headed downstairs. outside, the backyard was buzzing with quiet activity. sarah, ward, wheezie, and rose were busy setting the table with candles, bowls of food, and pitchers of drinks. the warm glow of lanterns mixed with the last light of dusk made everything feel soft and inviting.

you caught rose’s eye and walked over. “want some help?”

rose looked up, a warm smile spreading across her face. “if you really want to.” she handed you a big bowl of salad.

as you helped arrange the food, you didn't notice the fact that rafe was watching you from across the table, a small smile tugging at his lips. wheezie caught his gaze and nudged him playfully. “just friends, my ass.” she whispered.

rafe gave her a quick smack on the head, grinning back.

when it was time to eat, rafe pulled out the seat next to him, and you slid in without hesitation.

for a while, the clanking of plates and spoons was all you heard. the room was warm—lit with that soft yellow glow of overhead lights and late summer still clinging to the open windows. everything smelled like rosemary and something slightly burnt, probably wheezie’s contribution.

rose was the one to break the silence.

“so, y/n.” she glanced up from her plate. “rafe told me you're a recruiter. his recruiter.”

you set your glass down with a small nod. “yeah. got lucky with that assignment.”

she tilted her head, eyes sharp even under her polite smile. “guess so,” she said lightly, like she didn’t fully believe it.

rafe shifted a little beside you, his arm brushing yours under the table. it wasn’t anything big, but it was steady—like he wanted you to know he was there.

“what do you usually do?” ward asked, voice low but curious. “travel a lot?”

“not too much anymore,” you answered. “mostly office work now—virtual interviews, onboarding, a lot of spreadsheets.”

he nodded, chewing quietly. “where are you from?”

“new york,” you said, offering a small smile. “born and raised. just me and my mom.”

you didn’t expect sarah to chime in, but she leaned forward slightly, eyebrows raised. “you’re so lucky. i’ve always wanted to live in new york.”

you turned to her, a little surprised but happy she was talking to you. “yeah, it has its perks. but sometimes the city feels too big. like… you could be surrounded by people and still feel kinda alone.”

rafe glanced at you then, like he wanted to say something, but sarah beat him to it.

“i get that,” she said softly.

“probably not as lonely with rafe, huh?” wheezie teased, reaching for the bread basket.

rafe choked on his food. you blinked and turned toward him as he coughed into his napkin, ears going pink.

“wheezie,” rose warned, narrowing her eyes.

wheezie grinned innocently. “what? i’m just saying. you two are always—”

“we're friends” rafe cut in quickly, wiping his mouth. “don't push it wheeze.”

you bit back a laugh, nudging his knee under the table. he gave you a look—mock offense, fake betrayal—but you just grinned and took another sip of your drink.

rose gave rafe a knowing look and stood up after nudging ward to follow her and get something from the kitchen. the moment she was gone, sarah leaned toward you.

“so wait—how’d you even end up here? like… working with rafe?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“we're not exactly working anymore,” you said. “but somehow rafe cameron got on my schedule, had to pick him up from the airport, find him a place at gq magazine”

“and she did.” rafe added.

“somehow, they ended up liking him even after seeing his insane superiority complex”

he gasped, all mock hurt. “hey—" he turned to wheezie and sarah. "do not have that."

“did too. you made fun of the sign i made you.” you said, laughing now. "it was the most low-effort welcome, ever." he throws his hands up laughing. "paper stolen from another person and my name written in lipstick."

"that complex is showing." you tease him.

sarah chuckled into her glass. rafe leaned back in his chair, arms crossed loosely, eyes locked on yours. “uh huh. yet you still decided to be friends with me.”

you tried not to smile, teasing him. “i guess you grew on me.”

he didn’t look away. “like a fungus.”

“exactly.”

you both laughed, and when you glanced back at sarah, she was smiling too. not that tight forced thing from earlier—this one was real. like maybe you weren’t just a stranger anymore.

and even though you didn’t see it, rafe was watching the way you were fitting in—how your voice carried in his house like it belonged. his gaze lingered for a second too long.

wheezie leaned over and whispered to sarah, “they’re flirting so much it’s making me feel like a third wheel.”

“it’s making me hungry,” sarah whispered back, stealing another roll.

“you’re always hungry,” rafe muttered, launching a crouton at sarah’s head.

you just smiled, quietly, heart a little full as the conversation moved on around you.

because maybe this was just a dinner, and maybe you were just a friend—but oh did this moment make you want to be more.

fwb!rafe who... moved from the obx to nyc to put distance between him and his father, but still keeps a photo of the ocean in his wallet — a quiet reminder of the boy he used to be

fwb!rafe who... didn’t expect his first friend in nyc to be the first person he’d ever poured his heart out to, even if he’s still scared of what that means

fwb!rafe who... watches her watch rom-coms and doesn’t get it, but he still stays until the credits roll, just to see her smile during the kiss scene

fwb!rafe who... noticed every little detail about her: how her eyes moved when she was curious, the way she blinked every time she cursed like it surprised her, and the small habits no one else caught

fwb!rafe who... brought fwb!reader back home for the weekend — the first girl he’s ever introduced to his family, pretending like he doesn't care that she got along with his sisters so well.

fwb!rafe who... didn’t think he was capable of feeling this way for someone — and the only way to cope with that? pretend those feelings aren’t there, even if it’s eating him inside out

fwb!rafe who...never believed in fairytales, but starts to think maybe she’s the kind of girl they’re written about

— PAIRED WITH FWB!READER (click here to see all works in this au!)