𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘃

all it'd take would be one small lapse in judgement for rafe to fall back to earth like an angel with its wings ripped from its back. to let his known devil claw it's way back in his veins, to tear into his skin with claws dipped in chalk. he'll get thrown back down that hole like Alice. his efforts will forever be in vain.

to our surprise it hasn't happened lili has graced herself to be the jury, and judge in all things related to rafe's recovery. she has gone to some meetings to support, she's kept and framed each chip. rafe found a few hobbies to occupy his time, one being boat help, training the prissy dogs of the outerbanks, last but not least cooking.

lucian has been profound and insightful in his aide of helping rafe learn his craft. the weekly sessions have helped their relationship grow. ivor has even joined the group to be the taste tester and scribe. he's picked up skills too because lucian wouldn't have it any other way.

*ೃ *ೃ

𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗵'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘃

jb a.k.a john b is trying to bounce a ping pong ball into a broken beer glass. pope is telling kie about a program he might want to apply to soon. jj is in his head twirling his small knife between his fingers. and me well i'm competing against jb while trying to get jj to talk to me.

"jj maybank? earth to jj? anything happened last night?"

jj gives me a side eye before showing me his arm. "did you sleep at home?"

"my house" kie chimed as she hugs him close.

"you know my dad said if you want to move in with us you can" jb spoke right as mr. routledge said, "bird! i'm coming home late tonight don't wait up"

"okay, dad see you"

"anybody up for a surf?" pope asks smiling as he eyes our boards sticking out the back of my brothers car.

"yess sir!"

"i need the water right now"

"i am down to catch some waves"

"lets go"

peak heat, you almost feel like the sweat sticks to you as it drips down your body. kie's hair flies around her as all my windows are down this beautiful stretch of road ahead of me. "can i put my song on first", "but i said i wanted to play music to begin with" the boys are arguing over who plays the first tune via bluetooth/my cell phone. kie snatches it and plays a song we all know breaking the incessant yammering.

lili!lili!lili! are you there?

i miss you

i love you

i LITERALLY need to taste you *devil emoji*

kie laughs as she says "your beau is texting ouuu ok let me put this down before i read something i don't want to"

rafe💍 sent an image

i start singing along with the songs getting chosen as i drive lost in the focus, like tunnel vision.

our blankets, shoes, clothes and cooler all sit were we can see it. stripping out of my shorts and tee shirt sneaking a peak at my phone makes me holler out loud in laughter.

rafe is a horny bastard, in dire need of me so much he sends a mirror selfie with his imprint. he knows how to rev me up.

sending a bikini pic since that's all i can do at the moment.

fuck you, prince now i'm surfing horny. i'll rush to you right after hanging with my friends.

YOU BETTER! I love you, lili *sweaty in heat emoji* *heart eye emoji*

i love you too

"you coming!" everyone's already in the water.

racing to the waves once i'm hit with the water i sigh in content. my escape sometimes is this which we call surfing. light bounces off my wet melanated skin as jj catches the first wave.

a huge tunneled wave, we all whoop and cheer him on.

we surf for about two hours, enjoy the tan from the sunlight, the humid breeze as the waves lap. talk and chat with wine coolers and beers. if you have enough of them you are drunk, we even put white claws in there for good measure.

*ೃ *ೃ

after dropping my friend's off at heyward's, i saw pope's parents before leaving and got some lemonade to go.

racing to my favorite person is easy yet when i arrive, "lilith it's lovely to see you again. are you here for dinner?" rafe is walking down the stairs as i look to him for advice. he simply nods my way mustering up all my power to smile "i am here for dinner plus to see—"

"my son" ward gives me a once over with approval in his eyes as he masks his eager eyes with a small joke causing rose to laugh in his direction.

i run into his arms as soon as his dad and rose leave our side. "you came all this way because of my text" he whispers. i nod smiling at him.

"sooo..." i let my hand fall to his basketball shorts waistband tugging a little.

"let's go" rafe throws me over his shoulder, i have no time to even scream as he races up the stairs with me. slapping my ass as many times as i can count which makes me laugh. my giggle doesn't cease until his mouth finds mine. you could guess what happened after that... in quivering silence. various gasps thrown around, but we didn't want to disturb the house.

*ೃ *ೃ

as i watch the movie and eat snacks my mind can't help it wandering to ward cameron's words that night; "to be in georgina's position".

i would've been a different position now, crazy

should i tell him?

i look at rafe he has paused the movie and is already staring "what?"

"you look beautiful, what's on your mind you're not watching"

"it's nothing serious and thank you prince. you can unpause I'll pay attention now" he gives me a look that screams i'll believe you but i know something's up. my brown eyes working their magic into those blue skies. his hand grazes my cheek as he rests it there. "i love you" he kisses me multiple times to just cause a laugh. plus he loves to kiss me anyways but this time he wants his hands in my hair.

my coils bouncing as he gently passes his hands through them. to many people we don't work, they can't get past prejudices, assumptions, all that. if our complexions meld together forming the perfect latte.

*ೃ *ೃ

✎𝗌𝗎𝗇𝗃𝖾𝗐𝖾𝗅☀︎︎ 𝗍𝗒𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 ．．．

short lowkey a filler chapter but, this is the 25th (I think) chapter for people that want to know where we are at in the story.

✩ 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝖽𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗌, 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 ✩