Rafe Cameron

“Why are you so fucking pissed off?”

Rafe’s voice cut through the quiet of the kitchen.

You kept your eyes on the sink, scrubbing one of the glasses a little harder than necessary. It was a cup one of his friends had been drinking from earlier—the same friends you had been so excited to meet. You had thought it meant something. You had thought that after being together for this long, after everything that had happened between you, he was finally ready to let you be part of his life.

Apparently, you had been wrong.

“You’ve been acting pissed off ever since they left. It’s ridiculous,” he added, scoffing as he walked over and leaned against the counter beside you.

You said nothing.

You didn’t even look at him.

Because every time you did, all you could hear was his voice from earlier.

“I’m not living with a Pogue. We’re… not together.”

You had only gone into the kitchen to grab another bottle. You hadn’t meant to listen. You certainly hadn’t meant to hear the rest.

“I have standards, man. Just because we hook up doesn’t mean she’s my girlfriend.”

The words had stayed with you ever since.

Especially because only last night, those same lips had told you he loved you.

“These are my friends,” Rafe said, his voice growing more irritated when you continued to ignore him. “You asked me to introduce you to them.”

You finally turned around, setting the glass down in the sink.

“I never said anything about your friends. It’s the way you act around them.”

Rafe frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

“You barely looked at me. You didn’t talk to me, you didn’t include me in anything, and when I tried to hold your hand, you pulled away!”

“I didn’t even fucking notice I did that,” he snapped. “You were quiet the whole time! What was I supposed to do?!”

“You could’ve acted like I was your girlfriend.”

Rafe stared at you.

“You’re seriously pissed because I didn’t hold your hand in front of my friends?”

“No. I’m pissed because you made me feel like I didn’t even exist.”

“You were the one shutting everyone out!”

You finally looked at him. “Because you were embarrassed of me.”

His expression hardened.

“What?”

“You were embarrassed to have me there. To have me as your girlfriend.”

Rafe stared at you, completely thrown off.

“Where is this coming from?”

You stayed silent.

His eyes narrowed, studying your face.

“You heard something, didn’t you?”

Rafe stepped closer, his voice quieter.

“What the fuck did you hear?”