#topper

“Get up, like now,” a pillow smacks you in the face, Mandy cackling when you spring up, head whipping around. A scowl settles on your face when you notice Mandy, pillow in hand, hunched over laughing.

“Very funny.” You mumble, rubbing the sleep from your eye. An entire week had passed, and so far- you’d managed to act normal whenever Rafe was around- which, admittedly, was not a lot. You only had necessary conversations with him. Avoided him the rest of the time.

If he’d noticed, he’d not said anything.

“-eed to get ready to set off,” Mandy comes into focus towards the end of her sentence, and you turn to look at her again, confused. Set off where?

She eyes you suspiciously, dropping the pillow back on her desk chair. “You know what’s happening yeah? The date today? The current president?”

Your eyes roll as you shuffle to the edge of your bed, pushing the covers back. “I know what’s happening.. but do remind me where we’re going?”

Mandy stands like a disappointed mother, hand on her hip as she gestures towards her packed bag. “The group is going upstate for the weekend. Remember?”

“Ah.” You hand finds its way to your hair, swiping it back out of your face. “Yeah. That’s happening.”

The pillow is swiftly thrown your way. Mandy demands that you pack and leaves to shower.

You’re sure it’s just slipped your mind. You’d been under a lot of pressure, recently at least. You pack fairly quickly, finishing before Mandy is out of the bathroom, and she beams a wide smile at your now half decent state and bag laid on your bed.

“Proud of you babes. You’ve got five minutes in the bathroom before we leave.”

Your eyes widen and she laughs again as you scramble towards the bathroom, only managing to brush your teeth and sort your hair out before Mandy is yelling for you to come out.

She’s pulling her shoes on as you throw your toothbrush in your bag and zip it shut, slipping into your own shoes.

“You’re riding with Rafe, by the way.” Your heart all but falls into your ass and you stop pushing your foot into your vans, turning to look at her.

Mandy looks like a mischievous little kid. She shrugs, grin plastered on her face. “What? You two are friends, aren’t you? It’s just a car ride.”

You open your mouth to protest, fight back- but you know you can’t. You hadn’t told her about your conflicted feelings, and how you’d been trying to avoid Rafe on the down low- and you knew that this was a ploy to get you to confess.

“Yeah, yeah. Friends.” She gives you the classic- I-don’t-believe-you look, that everyone seems to be giving you all the time- but doesn’t say anything. You finish putting on your shoes as there’s a knock at the door, the aforementioned Rafe peeking his head around.

Your heart lurches. He locks eyes with you for a second and smiles. “Mandy, are you decent?” You realise from where you’re stood, he can see you completely, but not Mandy.

She scoffs. “Thanks for asking. Yes.” He opens the door fully, choosing to lean against it, arms folded- and you’d be damned if you denied yourself a little stare. Those signature brown pants paired with a black t-shirt, hair tucked back in a cap.

You’re so fucked. So, astronomically fucked. A five hour car ride with him. “Pick your jaw up off the floor, woman.” Mandy pushes your shoulder, smirking at you. Rafe seems obvious to what she said to you, reaching forward to take her bag from her. You grasp your own, heart racing a thousand miles an hour.

“I’ll take that. We’re the bag car today.” Rafe’s fingers wrap around the strap of your bag and you touch for a second, eyes locking, Rafe smiling, almost forgetting how to uncurl your fingers- but it’s over just as quick, letting go of your bag and checking over the room one last time before locking the door and following the other two down the hallway.

Everyone else stands outside waiting. Topper, Summer, Kelce and Mandy were all going in Toppers truck. You were going in Rafe’s truck. With all the bags. Because of course you were. The stars really hated you.

Rafe chucks all the bags into the bed of his truck and pulls the top over them, shitting them in. After a quick discussion with Topper, you’re all climbing into your respective vehicles, you trying to stay as close to the door as humanly possible.

Rafe’s all smiles and conversing with Topper on the phone as he pulls onto the highway, leading everyone to one of his dad’s cabins in upstate New York. He’s got some songs playing pretty loud once he’s off the phone with Topper, and you slowly relax into the seat, staring out of the window.

“You’re awfully quiet,” You hum, eyes drifting over to look at him. He’s already looking back, barely paying attention to the road.

“Play attention to the road, idiot.” Rafe grins, turning back to the road.

“There she is. Where have you been?” You watch his fingers tap slowly on the wheel to the best of the song- which you realise is a Daniel Caesar song, something you’d have never thought Rafe would listen to, and you look back to the road.

Dark, bustling clouds roll in from the direction of you’re headed, and you can almost see the heavy rain from here. “Just tired.”

Rafe immediately reaches for the volume button on his stereo, turning the music down to a mull. “Bullshit. You forget I know you, inside and out.”

You grimace, the noise reverberating throughout the car and sounding like you’re about to be sick- but Rafe’s nothing short of amused, laughing his ass Off as he swerves on the road a little.

“Too soon?” He manages, coughing as he splutters the end of his laugh. You scowl at him, unsure if you’re actually upset or not.

Sex jokes used to be fine. Before you’d slept together. Now, they left a bitter taste in your mouth, one you weren’t sure about. He shouldn’t know you like that to make those jokes.

Not without it being a deeper connection. But it wasn’t, and never would be- so yeah, you didn’t like the jokes. Hated them, In fact.

“About ten centuries too early.” You turn to look out of the window again, a light spray of rain beginning to fall down on the truck. In the wing mirror, you can see toppers truck behind you- and you so god damn wish you were in that one instead of here.

“C’mon, lighten up,” Rafe knocks your knee with his hand, forcing you to look at him. Everytime he touched you- you felt it. More than you should. “We’re stuck in this car for four more hours. We need to talk.”

“Yeah. Just not about that, please.” You readjust in the seat, wrapping your jumper further around yourself. This time, Rafe raises one of his hands in self defence.

“Okay, fair enough. No sex jokes about us.”

You nod. “Thank you.”

“No problem, Pickle.”

You groan, hands splaying over your face. “Not that, either.”

Rafe chuckles, own hand coming to rest down on his thigh as he too settles into a comfier position in his seat. It’s embarrassingly hard not to stare.

“What? I can’t even talk about our greatest memory anymore?” You hear the humour in his voice and you recoil into the seat even more.

“No.”

“Not even if it’s really-”

“No, Rafe.”

“C’mon, Pickle! Lighten up. Nothing wrong with a nick-”

Your hand immediately reaches for the dial on the stereo, turning up the volume knob until it doesn’t turn anymore- but it doesn’t hid Rafe’s wicked cackle, his eyes darting between you and the now soaked road, as rain pelts down.

“It’s so funny because you’re embarrassed,” rafe huffs out, taking an exit off the highway. He turns the music down to an acceptable level and spares a glance over at you when you’re not looking.

He knows he shouldn’t. He knew he shouldn’t have crossed that line with you, knowing you’d react like this. He’d hoped you’d have still been in his bed that morning, the morning after- and this could’ve been a different story.

But no. You were gone. He knew where he stood, immediately. Friend zoned. What happened was a mistake, a drunken one.

As much as that pained him.

“Rafe? The lights green.” His eyes snap back into focus, pressing the gas pedal and getting through the light just as Topper honks his horn for an obnoxious amount of time.

The rain is pelting down heavily now, sky dark despite the early morning. He’s not sure how he’s going to make it through this weekend. Not sure at all.

When he joins onto another highway, he glances over at you again. You’re leaned against the door, head on the window, eyes shut. Peaceful. Just like that night.

He’s so screwed.

The truck comes to a stop outside a three storey cabin situated somewhere in a mountain range. You’re not sure exactly where you are, just somewhere upstate New York. You’d fallen asleep early on, waking up to the last half hour of the drive. Rafe, glowing in a different light- one you couldn’t quite place, didn’t really say anything to you when you woke up. Or for the rest of the journey.

The cabin is set back against a small lake, all different shades of grey, white and black. You’d only met Ward Cameron once- an unusual meeting at that- but this cabin made sense. It was Ward Cameron.

“This is it.” Rafe announces, unblocking himself and pushing open his door. He stands int the open door, stretching upwards, and you catch a glance of his stomach, toned and slightly hairy, underneath his shirt.

You busy yourself on unbuckling and climbing out of your own door.

Topper’s truck finally emerges into the driveway of the cabin, coming to a stop behind Rafe’s. Everyone’s quick to climb out, ecstatic at the sight of the massive cabin.

“Oh em gee! There’s a lake!” Summer squeals, jumping on the spot. “Let’s go, now.” She grasps Kelce’s hand, who laughs as he allows her to drag him along.

“Whoa. Wait, let’s get unpacked first.” Topper stops her. Summer huffs, crossing her arms over her chest like a toddler having a tantrum. You spare Mandy a glance who’s trying not to laugh.

Rafe opens the back of his truck and lets everyone grab their bags, leading everyone into the house. Summer calls shot gun on the biggest bedroom; despite it being Rafe’s family’s cabin- he doesn’t say anything though. Topper and Kelce pick two rooms next to each other- and Mandy picks the final room on that floor.

“There’s two bedrooms upstairs. Better views.” Rafe whispers, leaning down as he gestures to the stairs at the end of the hall. You swallow the lump in your throat. You don’t even want to look at Mandy to know she’s grinning like the fucking Cheshire Cat as you and Rafe climb the stairs, up to the top floor.

“Both rooms are basically the same. One faces the lake and one the mountains. These have got balconies too, so take your pick. I’m not bothered.” Rafe informs you, and you nod. The idea of seeing the lake isn’t as appealing as seeing the mountains, so you eventually pick the room with the mountain view- and it does not disappoint.

You drop your bag on the stool at the bottom of the bed, mesmerised by the view out of the doors and windows that completely cover the far wall of the room.

Pine trees line hills for miles, clouds of white and grey slowly wafting through them as the slip down the mountain. There’s a small stream running down too, off to the left side- barely visible other than the white crashes of water you can occasionally see- but it’s beautiful nonetheless. Not to mention the few other cabins you can see dotted around the valley.

Once you’ve snapped out of staring at the view, you turn back to your room. It’s considerably big to say it’s in the attic, basically- a big bed adorned with black sheets in the middle of the room, tv on the opposite wall, a door to the left of that that leads to a wardrobe.

You quickly discover that you’re sharing a bathroom with Rafe- said bathroom being between your two rooms. Like life couldn’t punch you in the face anymore.

“We’re all headed down to the lake in like ten minutes.” Rafe’s voice cuts through the silence and you jump, hand over your heart as you turn to him standing in your doorway. He’s already changed, a pair of swimming shorts on his bottom half and a buttoned up shirt on his top half- yet still in that hat.

You nod. “Mkay. I’ll get changed now.”

Rafe doesn’t move. He stands in your doorway, eyes slightly glossed over as you slowly unzip your bag, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Rafe? Go away?” He snaps out of whatever he was thinking about, blinking a few times before he’s leaving without saying a word, closing your door.

Weird. You shrug your shoulders as you pick a bikini, looking out of the window. The rain had only just stopped when you’d woken on the way here- and you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t a little cold outside right now. That lake would be freezing.

Still, you change, throwing a long cardigan over the top and slipping into your vans again, grabbing your phone. There’s a text from Mandy- along with the others that she’d been sending you throughout the car ride. Admittedly, you’d been ignoring her messages when you were awake- because you knew, without looking at them, what they entailed.

Mands kiss and make up yet? 08.47am

Mands suck his cock yet? 10.53am

Mands this is so Jason voorhees coded 11.30am

Mands on your own floor, all alonneeeee 12.25pm

You roll your eyes at her messages and lock your phone, choosing not to reply. You’d see her downstairs in literally five seconds to whack her up the side of her head anyway.

You can hear everyone chatting on the bottom floor as you climb down the last of the steps, walking through the foyer to the kitchen. Everyone’s around the island, beers already in hand.

“Ah! Here she is, drink.” Topper practically shoves a bottle of corona into your hand, pulling you to join everyone.

“A toast. To our friendship and this awesome weekend.” He raises his glass, summer following suit, then Kelce, Mandy, Rafe, and then yourself.

You lock eyes with Rafe as your glasses clink together. He’s holding in a breath before he takes a swig, and breaks the eye contact first.

“Lake time?” Summer asks, but you know it’s not a question. You’re happy for the distraction, and everyone agrees to head outside.

The breeze has basically disappeared and the sun is beginning to peak through the clouds, much to summer’s delight. She’s shrugging off her coverup and wading down into the water before anyone’s even got chance to find their bearings.

Topper and Kelce wade in behind her, Rafe soon following suit. You take a seat on one of the loungers, watching as everyone begins to splash around and swim in the water.

“You didn’t answer my messages, bitch.” Mandy takes a seat next to you, laying back on the lounger. Her sunglasses perch on the end of her nose, giving you the perfect view of her eyes- full of questioning.

You sigh. “Nothing happened.”

Mandy scoffs, raising an eyebrow. “Sure.”

“I’m being serious. We shook on being friends, remember?”

“You pinky promised me that you’d let me see your answers for the pop quiz in class last month and you broke that. What’s a handshake to a pinky promise?” She smirks, taking a sip of her drink- something pink in a glass.

Why’d you get a fucking beer? You know she’s caught you, yet, cheeks burning.

“Mandy I’m serious. He doesn’t feel that way and I don’t. It was just a drive.”

She hums, swirling her straw in her drink. “If that’s so true then why’re you doing that thing where you can’t look at me?”

“I-”

Mandy cackles. Full, loud, enough for the guys in the water to turn up and look at the two of you. “You so have a crush still. It’s so obvious.”

“I do not. We’re just friends.”

“Yeah, babes, and I’ve got D cups.” She pats her boobs, giving you the look. The don’t-bother-lying-to-me look. Your shoulder sag, knowing there’s no point in lying to her. She truly does know you better than anyone else.

“Okay, so maybe-”

Mandy leans forward, now sitting criss cross on the lounger, drink placed on the little table between the two of you.

You can tell from the smile on her face that she’s absolutely eating every single bit of this up, despite how embarrassingly humiliating it is for you.

“Maybe you’ve got a crush and you’re stuck now because you said friends. Am I correct?”

You know she’s right. Sure, it might be embarrassing- but it’s nice to have the burden of thinking about it off your shoulders for a while. To share it with someone else.

“Yeah. Theoretically, yes. But he doesn’t feel the same.”

Mandy claps her hands together, eyes glinting. “We cannot confirm or deny. I know what to do.”

“No, Mandy no.”

Her smirk appears again. “Oh yes, babes. Yes. Mission get Rafe to fall in love is already in motion.”

Rafe dropped you off outside the cafe like it was routine now, one hand on the wheel, the other reaching over to smooth out the bottom of your skirt, not liking how it was riding up your thighs. 

This had become a normal occurrence when Rafe would take you on dates: you would see a movie, get ice cream, walk on the beach, go shopping… really whatever you wanted to do, and he never seemed to mind. 

But near the end, he always had some “errands to run” and you “weren’t allowed to come” which you never understood, but also never questioned. It wasn’t the first thing Rafe did that confused you, and it definitely wouldn't be the last.

Plus he always paid for your chai latte while you waited for him to finish and come pick you back up, so you didn’t mind waiting for him. Sometimes he would even come back with flowers for you. 

“Text me when you get your drink” he said, looking at you stern but sweet, “I will” you promised with ease, like it was second nature. 

He leaned over and kissed your temple, lingering for a moment before pulling away and reaching over to open the passenger door for you from the inside, “And don’t… talk to anyone you don’t have to, okay?” he said, pulling down the bottom of your dress that was riding up your thigh, the dress he had bought you the week prior.

You smiled at him before getting out of the truck, “Okay” you replied in a sweet tone before turning and making your way inside the cute coffee shop. 

Rafe watched you walk all the way inside before pulling away like he always did, watching until you were just out of sight, before hastily making his way to Barry’s so you wouldn’t have to wait too long. He told you he had errands to run, nothing important, it never was- just stuff that needed to be done. 

He knew that you wouldn’t understand that side of him when he’s around Barry- sharper, colder, uglier tinges in his voice and buzzing under his skin, let alone how Barry would behave if Rafe started bringing you around. He liked you better untouched by that part of him. 

Clean, soft, unaware. 

Barry’s place was just a short drive from the cafe he dropped you at, precisely why he chose it. His jaw was already tight, anticipation crawling up his spine like static. 

He would never call it a problem, an addiction. He never had. Cocaine wasn’t something he worried about- it kept him sharp, focused, ahead of everyone else, something that he felt helped keep you safe. 

Control, in powdered form. 

Barry grinned when he saw him, always too wide, always knowing. Rafe barely listened as he handed over a wad of cash, fingers already itching, mind already halfway back to you, to the cafe, to the chair you’d be sitting in, the rules he put in place so you didn’t have to think too hard about the world.

You trusted him to handle parts that you couldn’t see, and he intended to keep it that way.  

Inside the cafe, you ordered the same thing you always did, iced chai latte with extra vanilla, extra sweet how you like it. You smiled at the barista, thanking her twice before tucking yourself into a small table by the window, patiently waiting for Rafe to return while scrolling on your phone and taking slow sips of your latte, before someone stopped in front of your table. 

“Well look at you”

You looked up blinking, a smile already forming out of habit.

It was Topper. 

He stood there like he’d been debating whether or not to interrupt you, hands in his pockets and eyes sweeping over you in a way that felt casual- not obvious.

“Oh, hey” you put your phone down, happy that it was someone you knew.

Rafe had introduced you to Topper last weekend, although you wouldn’t say it was a proper introduction. You said your name to him, and Rafe answered all the questions from there, like he always did. 

“Didn’t mean to startle you, you just looked real comfortable over here” and you laughed softly, “I come here a lot” you replied, taking another sip of your latte. 

“Yeah?” he continued, pulling out the chair across from you without asking, “With Rafe?”

You nodded, smiling at the mention of his name, “He drops me off sometimes” you replied as Topper sat down, humming, “That so” he said, although he sounded like he had more questions. 

In the short time you had been with Rafe, Topper knew he was reluctant to leave your side. He leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs out like he had nowhere else to be, eyes flicking to your drink briefly before returning to your face, “Same order everytime?” 

You glanced down at your cup, “Yeah.. I like sweet things” which made him grin, “Figures” he said amused, “You always this agreeable?”

You smiled, not hearing the edge under his tone, “I don’t like to be any more difficult that I already am.. Or that’s what my parent’s say” you replied, blushing a bit as you had gotten asked that question quite often. 

Topper's mouth twitched like he found your answer interesting.

“Rafe pick that dress out?” he asked casually, looking you up and down quickly as your face lit up, “Yeah! He bought it for me, he’s the sweetest” you gushed. 

“Thought so, looks like his taste.. Soft and simple. Shows off just enough” 

His eyes ran over you again, slower this time, but you still didn’t notice the sexualizing gaze they held, or the condensing tone in his voice. You smiled back at him, “Thank you! I wasn’t sure if it was too much pink” you admitted, patting down your dress like Rafe had done earlier. 

Topper leaned forward then, resting his forearms on the table, “Nah, it works, it makes you look…” he paused, like he was choosing his words carefully, “easy to approach” he finished and you let a small giggle out before nodding and taking another sip of your latte.

“People say that alot” 

“I believe it” he replied , fingers tapping lightly on the table as he spoke- close enough that when you gestured while talking, his knuckles brushed your hand. It was brief, incidental, the kind of touch that didn’t demand a reaction, at least not to you. So you didn’t pull away. 

“So, what” he went on, “Rafe’s got you on standby while he handles things?’ he asked and you shrugged, “He said he had some stuff to do”

Topper smiled at that, not unkindly, just… knowing, “Yeah, sounds like him” 

He reached out then, slow and unhurried, brushing a loose strand of hair back from your shoulder. His touch was light, almost absentminded, like he knew you wouldn’t have a problem with it. And you didn’t.

“You ever get bored of waiting around?’ he asked, settling back in his seat and you shook your head, “Not really, he waits for me to try on like a million dresses so, I don’t mind.. He says I'm low maintenance” you smiled.

“I’ll bet he likes that.”

He stood after a moment, straightening his shirt , “Well, I won’t keep you, just wanted to say hi” he said, smiling and pushing his chair back under the table. 

“Oh,” you said quickly, “Okay! Well it was nice seeing you!” you said, standing up to give him a quick hug goodbye, his hands lingering on your waist for a moment but not long enough for you to notice or question. 

When you pulled away, he smiled again, wider this time “Yeah, it was” 

Before he turned away, he added lightly, “Tell Rafe I said hi, and that he’s got good taste” he grinned and you waved as he walked out the door, attention already back to your phone, remembering to text Rafe that you were sitting. 

You didn’t think about the way Topper's eyes had lingered too many times, or how he had touched you like you knew you wouldn’t stop him. You didn’t even notice. 

You just waited for Rafe.

The next day 

Tannyhill was too quiet in the mornings. The kind of quiet that made Rafe restless. 

He was leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee untouched, jaw tight like he’d been grinding his teeth all night. He hadn’t slept much, not being anything was wrong- nothing ever was, not with you, but because his head wouldn’t shut up. The noise came and went in waves, sharp and insistent, and he told himself it was nothing. Just the result or staying up too late, just his brain moving faster than everyone else’s. 

He checked his phone again. No new messages. 

After reluctantly dropping you off at your house last night, you texted him goodnight like you always did when you weren’t staying at his place. Hearts and smiley faces, you sounded happy. Normal. Safe. That should’ve been enough. 

The front door opened without a knock, “Jesus” Topper said as he stepped inside the mansion, already grinning, “You ever lock this place?” 

Rafe didn’t look up, “What do you want, Top?” he asked, already annoyed at his presence. Not the time for his shit, and Topper always had shit. 

Toper laughed, kicking the door shut with his heel, “Damn, good morning to you too” he panned and wandered in like he owned the place, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, eyes flicking around until they landed back on Rafe, who still hadn't looked his way, eyes glued to his phone. 

“So..” he started, twisting the cap open, “Where’s your girl?” 

Rafe stiffened, not particularly liking the fact his friend was asking about you, “What?” he asked flatly as Topper took a long drink of his water, watching him over the rim. 

“Your girlfriend, the sweet one, thought she’d be glued to your side by now” Topper replied, putting his water down and watching the gears turn in Rafe’s head, amused. Something cold slid down Rafe’s spine, “She’s not here” he said curtly, “Why?” and Topper shrugged his shoulders, like it was casual, “Just wondering. Saw her yesterday” 

Rafe’s head snapped up at that. 

“You did what?” his voice raising slightly, thrown off by the confession as Topper’s smile widened, “Relax bro, I was at the cafe near the cut, saw her sitting there. Looked good” 

Rafe straightened slowly, every muscle in his body going taut, “You talk to her?” 

“Little bit” Topper replied easily, “She’s nice.. Real polite”

Rafe didn’t answer. His brain was already replaying it- you at the table, your drink, the way you smiled at strangers like you trusted them, the way you listened. The way you didn’t pull away. Topper kept going, oblivious or intentionally pushing, it didn’t matter to Rafe. He didn’t want to hear another word out of his mouth. 

“That dress she had on- the pink one. Definitely you, you always pick her clothes or what? She like your Barbie doll?” he teased and Rafe’s fingers curled against the counter, hating how his friend knew of his antics. 

“She didn’t tell me” Topper added, amused, “I just figured. Looks like something you’d want people seeing her in” 

Rafe’s chest was getting tighter with every word that came out of his mouth, “What exactly did you say to her?” he asked, voice low and serious. Topper tilted his head up, studying him now, “Man, you’re wound up” he tried, but Rafe wasn’t having it.

“What did you say” Rafe repeated, more of a demand than a question. Topper sighed theatrically, “Nothing crazy, just talked. She’s easy to talk to. Doesn’t overthink shit” 

That word… easy… landed wrong. It lodged under Rafe’s ribs and stayed there. 

“She didn’t even realize I was flirting” Topper added with a chuckle, “Kinda cute, actually’ 

That was it. Rafe pushed off the counter and took a step forward. Not too aggressive, not too loud, just enough to shift the air in the room. 

“Don’t talk about her like that” he said, anger clear in his eyes. Topper blinked, then laughed again, “Like what? I didn’t do anything man, you know that, she’s just…” he gestured vaguely, “Sweet. Open. Little spacey” 

Rafe’s jaw clenched so hard it ached, “That’s not an invitation” he shoved Topper back a few feet, “That’s you seeing something you think you can take” 

Topper looked as his friend, not surprised by the outburst, scoffing as he fixed his shirt, “Jesus dude, you’re acting like a crossed some line” 

“You did” Rafe snapped- then stopped himself, inhaling sharply through his nose. He closed his eyes for half a second. When he opened them, his voice was calmer, colder, “You don’t talk to her without me around” he said, “Ever”

Topper made a face of confused amusement, raising his eyebrows, “You serious?”

A beat passed as Rafe stared at Topper, getting his point across without using words. 

Topper smirked and shook his head, “Damn, you really got her on lockdown, huh?” 

Rafe stepped away, walking around to the fridge for his own water, not answering his friend's question. 

Topper leaned against the counter now, unfazed, “Careful Rafe. You keep her that sheltered, she’s gonna start asking questions”

That made something dark stir in Rafe’s chest, “She doesn’t need to ask any questions” he defended himself, “I handle things”

Topper grinned and laughed quietly, “Yeah, I bet you do” he muttered, his eyes flicking over to the small plate on the counter and the folded bill Rafe hadn’t bothered hiding yet. His grin turned knowing. 

“Funny,” he said lightly, “She really has no idea, does she?” he asked, gesturing to the lines cut out on the plate, and Rafe’s eyes went sharp, “Watch your mouth” he barked out. 

“Relax” Topper said, holding up his hands in fake surrender, “I’m just saying. You play house, you keep her all clean and pretty, while you're out there doing your… errands”  

The word dripped with implication. 

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about” Rafe retorted, but Topper could tell he was getting under his skin and shrugged, “Just seems like a lot of effort to keep someone that protected” 

Protected. Rafe latched on to the word like it proved his point. 

“She needs it!” He said immediately, “She doesn't see people the way I do, the way they are! She thinks everyone is being nice” 

Topper tilted his head, “And you like that?”

Rafe didn’t hesitate to say yes, because it meant you trusted him. It meant you leaned into his rules without pushing back, it meant when he told you what was safe, you believed him.

It meant you were his. 

“She doesn’t know what guys want from her, not at all,” Rafe continued, more to himself now than to Topper, “She doesn't recognize when someone is pushing, when they're testing what they can get away with” 

Topper studied him, quieter now, “And you think you’re different?”

“I am different” Rafe said, confidence laced in his tone, “Because I don’t take from her. I keep”

And that settled it, Topper exhaled roughly, shaking his head, “Fuck man.. You’re in deep”

Rafe didn’t argue or deny it, because as he stood there, heart pounding with the image of you smiling at Topper like he was harmless, something solidified in his chest. 

Rules aren’t optional, protection wasn’t a suggestion. You didn’t need to understand the world, you just needed to stay close to him. 

And Rafe already knew, the next time he saw you he was going to make that very clear. 

A few hours later 

Topper had been gone for hours, but his words still hadn’t left. They sat in Rafe's head, looping, irritating, needling into places he didn't like to examine too closely. 

‘She really has no idea, does she?’

Rafe  made his way back downstairs to the kitchen and stood at the sink, hands braced against the counter, staring at nothing. The house felt too empty , and too big. His jaw was still aching, and he could feel that relentless buzz under his skin- not enough to make him frantic , just enough to keep him sharp, alert, on edge. 

He hated that Topper had seen you without him there, who knows what he could have said or done and it would have gone right over your head. The thought made his skin crawl. 

The sound of the front door opening cut through his thoughts, his head snapping up, “Rafe?” your voice called out, soft and familiar. His chest loosened in an instant, “In here” he said, already turning. 

You came into the house like you always did, unguarded, light, sundress brushing your thighs, eyes lighting up when you saw him. You looked… fine. Happy. Exactly the way you sounded over text. That didn’t make him feel better. 

“There you are” you said with a smile, setting your purse down, “You never texted me back” 

“Phone died” he lied automatically, crossing the room toward you and instantly pulling you to him. He leaned down and kissed your forehead, then your temple, lingering longer than usual before giving you lips a soft but hungry kiss, hands sliding down to your waist, steadying you- grounding himself. 

“Are you okay?” you asked, tilting your head after he pulled away from your kiss, “You feel… tense” and he huffed a quiet breath through his nose. 

“I’m fine” he said, brushing your hair back gently, “Just thinking” and you nodded back, accepting it immediately, the acceptance did something sharp and painful to his chest. You trusted him so easily. When you started to turn away, probably to sit or wander or do something small and domestic, Rafe’s hand tightened just a fraction at your waist, “Hey,” he said, “Come here” and you stopped.

He guided you back in front of him, hands settling on your hips, thumbs rubbing slow absent circles into the fabric on your dress. He took a moment before speaking, choosing his words as carefully as he could, “Did anything weird happen yesterday?" he asked.

You blinked up at him, “Weird?” 

“At the cafe,” he clarified, watching your face closely. You thought about it, brows knitting together just a little, the way they always did when you were genuinely trying. 

“Oh!” you said, brightening, “Topper stopped by!’ 

That same dark feeling began stirring in Rafe's chest again, but his face stayed calm., “Yeah?” he asked evenly, “What did he want?” 

“He just talked to me” you shrugged “He said he liked my dress” you smiled, but Rafe’s jaw tightened trying to keep a collected expression on for you, “What else?”

You tilted your head again, confused now, “Nothing? He was just… nice” 

Nice.

Rafe exhaled slowly, “He touch you at all?” he asked quietly, almost not wanting the answer. Your eyes widened immediately, “No! I mean-” you hesitated, searching your memory, “He brushed my hair, but I think it was an accident”

Rafe’s hands slid from your hips to your sides, firm but gentle, anchoring you, “Listen to me” he said, lowering his voice, “That wasn’t nothing”

You frowned, feeling guilty and unsettled, “Rafe…” and he softened quickly, “Hey,” he murmured, leaning down until his forehead was resting against yours, “You didn’t do anything wrong, okay?” he felt your shoulders relax as the words left his mouth, “But you don’t see what people are doing sometimes” he continued gently.

He slightly pushed away so he could look in your innocent eyes, “You take things at face value. And that’s not your fault” 

You swallowed, “I thought he was just being friendly..” you trailed off, getting mad at yourself for not noticing, again.

“I know you did, baby” he said immediately, lightly sighing, “That’s the issue” 

Your brows pulled together, “What do you mean?” you asked, and Rafe straightened slightly, still holding you close, “Guys, especially guys like my friends, don't just.. Talk” he said carefully, “They watch. They test. They see what they can get away with” 

Your lips parted, uncertain, “But Topper wouldn’t-” but Rafe shook his head, “You don’t know that”

You looked down then, finger twisting loosely in his shirt, racking your brain to try and remember when Topper would have been ‘testing’ you, “I don’t want you talking to my friends without me there” his voice cut through your memories firm but calm, “Or any guys. Not alone”

You lifted your head looking at him, “That feels… kinda strict”

The words hit him harder than he expected and he softened immediately, hands sliding up your back, pulling you fully into his chest and breathing in the scent on your hair. Vanilla, of course. 

“I’m not trying to control you” he said quietly, voice low and steady, “I’m trying to protect you” 

You pressed your cheek to his chest, hugging him back, conflicted but comforted by his words, “They don’t look at you the way I do” he continued, “They don’t care if they confuse you or cross lines. I do”

You were quiet, listening to what he was saying, and how steady his heart was beating. 

“I just don’t want anyone taking advantage of you,” he finished, “Thats my job” 

You smiled a bit at that, fingers curled into his shirt, “..Okay” you reply softly. The relief that flooded his chest was immediate and overwhelming. Rafe closed his eyes and rested his chin on the top of your head, holding you like something precious, something fragile. 

Something that belonged with him.