030. tighter than a fruit

( the thirtieth chapter )

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

The morning light poured into the guest room through the slightly parted curtains, casting a warm glow over Olivine as she stretched lazily in bed. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind—Rafe's vulnerability, the tension between them, and her promise to be there for him. She wasn't avoiding him, but her heart was still heavy. She knew that love wasn't about fixing someone but supporting them while they did the work themselves.

A soft knock at the door startled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, smoothing down her hair and sitting up against the headboard.

Rafe stepped inside, holding a plate piled high with cut pineapple, honey-drizzled strawberries, and slightly frozen grapes. He was barefoot, his gray sweatpants slung low on his hips, paired with a plain black shirt that looked like it belonged more to comfort than style.

"Thought you might want something to snack on," he said softly, his blue eyes catching hers for a moment before darting away.

"Thanks," she replied, her voice equally quiet.

He crossed the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed before hesitating, as if unsure whether to stay or go. She shifted to the side, making space for him without a word. Taking the silent invitation, Rafe slid onto the bed next to her.

For a moment, they sat in silence. He set the plate on the nightstand and picked up a piece of pineapple, offering it to her. She opened her mouth without hesitation, letting him place it gently between her lips.

"Good?" he asked, his voice low and tentative.

She nodded, chewing slowly before swallowing. "Yeah. Sweet."

He smiled faintly, a trace of relief in his expression. Another piece followed—a honey-covered strawberry this time. He leaned in a little closer, brushing his shoulder against hers as he fed her.

Olivine glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noticing the quiet concentration on his face. His brows furrowed slightly as he picked up a frozen grape, offering it to her. She took it, and the cold burst of flavor made her lips curve into a small smile.

"You're being very... attentive this morning," she said softly, breaking the silence.

Rafe leaned his head against her shoulder, his breath brushing against her neck as he sighed. "I feel like I need to be."

Her smile faltered, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she reached for a piece of pineapple herself and held it out to him. He looked at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, before he leaned forward and took the fruit from her fingers.

They continued like that for a while, sharing the fruit in silence. His hand occasionally brushed hers as they reached for the plate, and she didn't miss the way his pinky lingered against hers, as if silently asking for reassurance.

When the plate was nearly empty, Rafe shifted slightly, his head still on her shoulder.

"I'm not good at this, Liv," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

"Good at what?" she asked, her tone gentle.

"This... us. I feel like I'm always one step away from screwing it up."

Olivine turned her head slightly, her braids brushing against his cheek. "You're not screwing it up, Rafe," she said softly. "You're trying. That's what matters."

His fingers found hers, intertwining them loosely. "I just don't want to lose you."

"You won't," she assured him, her voice firm. "But you have to let me in, Rafe. No more shutting me out or lying to me. We're in this together, remember?"

He nodded, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "I remember."

For the first time that morning, a sense of calm settled between them. Rafe kissed her temple, lingering for a moment before pulling back just enough to meet her gaze.

"Thanks for... not avoiding me," he said with a small, self-deprecating smile.

"I told you, I'm not mad," she replied, her lips quirking up. "But I'm not going to let you off the hook, either."

He smirked faintly, the familiar glint of mischief returning to his eyes. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

They finished the last of the pineapple together, and for a little while, the weight of their conversation from the night before seemed to lift. But as they sat there, shoulder to shoulder, Olivine knew there was still work to be done. Trust wasn't rebuilt overnight, but for now, this moment was enough.

Rafe lingered for a moment, his thumb gently brushing over the back of Olivine's hand as their fingers stayed intertwined. There was something fragile in the quiet that enveloped them, yet it carried a kind of peace that neither wanted to break.

"I keep thinking about what you said last night," Rafe admitted after a while, his voice subdued.

Olivine turned her head to look at him. "Which part?"

He chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on their hands. "All of it, really. You being here for me... but only if I'm honest with you. I—I don't know if I deserve that kind of patience."

"Rafe." Her voice was steady, cutting through his self-doubt. "You're not perfect. I'm not perfect. None of this is about 'deserving.' It's about figuring out how we fit together, even when things get hard."

His lips pressed into a thin line, and she could see the way his jaw tightened. "I'm still scared I'll let you down."

"You will," she said matter-of-factly, surprising him enough that his head snapped up. She squeezed his hand before continuing. "You'll let me down. I'll let you down. That's just how it works. But what matters is how we handle it after. You don't have to face everything alone."

Her words landed like a blow, soft but unyielding. He blinked, his eyes betraying the emotions he worked so hard to suppress.

"You're kind of scary when you talk like that," he teased, though the rasp in his voice gave him away.

"Good," she quipped, her tone light. "Means you're listening."

Rafe couldn't help the small grin that tugged at his lips. He leaned closer, pressing a fleeting kiss to her cheek. "I am," he promised.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while after that, with Olivine resting her head on his shoulder. The warmth of the moment eased the tension between them, though the unspoken weight of their earlier conversation still lingered faintly.

Finally, Rafe broke the quiet. "You know... I don't say it enough, but I really do care about you, Liv."

She tilted her head to meet his gaze, a soft smile forming. "I know, Rafe. And I care about you, too. That's why we're having these conversations, even when they're uncomfortable."

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, leaning back against the headboard. "You make this look so easy."

"It's not," she admitted with a quiet laugh. "But it's worth it."

His chest tightened at her words, and he nodded, brushing a stray braid from her face. "Yeah... yeah, it is."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Rafe allowed himself to feel something close to hope. It wasn't perfect, and it wouldn't be smooth sailing from here, but with Olivine by his side, it felt like maybe, just maybe, he could figure out how to be the man he wanted to be.

Rafe shifted, pulling Olivine closer until her cheek rested against his chest. His arms wrapped protectively around her, and he tilted his head to press a kiss on the tip of her nose, then her forehead. She closed her eyes at the affection, savoring the quiet intimacy.

"So, I was thinking..." Rafe's voice was soft but laced with nerves, a rare vulnerability creeping in. "Would you maybe, probably, want to be my date to Midsummer's? Make it official, you know... that I'm yours and you're mine. But if you don't want to, that's cool. I mean—"

Olivine cut him off with a playful pinch to his lower abdomen, making him flinch and let out an exaggerated yelp. "Liv!"

She giggled, her laughter spilling over like a melody, and looked up at him with a mischievous grin. "I'd be honored to," she said sincerely, "but I think I might have to help with preparations for Midsummer's or assist my dad. I'll ask around and see if someone can cover my shift, and I'll check if it's okay with my dad first."

Rafe's face lit up at her words, and he nodded eagerly before flipping the dynamic in an instant. He leaned down, pressing quick, scattered kisses all over her face as his fingers danced along her sides, tickling her mercilessly.

"Never pinch me again!" he teased, laughing as she squirmed and squealed beneath him. "My abs are sensitive!"

"Fake abs are known to be very sensitive," she shot back between fits of laughter.

Rafe paused, leaning back with a smirk that promised trouble. "Fake, huh?" He lifted the hem of his shirt and pulled it up, revealing his toned abdomen. His voice dropped into a challenging drawl as he dragged her hand toward him. "You think these are fake? Go ahead, feel them."

Olivine's giggles faded as her fingers brushed against his warm skin. Her touch trailed across the hard ridges of his abs, over small freckles and moles dotting his torso, and down to the faint trail of hair disappearing beneath his waistband. She bit her lower lip, distracted by the undeniable reality of his physique.

"Well?" Rafe's tone was amused, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

Her gaze snapped back to his face, cheeks flushed. "They're okay, I guess," she teased lightly, though her lingering hand betrayed her.

"Just okay?" He chuckled, his voice low, as if her touch was something he could live off of. "Better be careful, Liv. You keep looking at me like that, and I'm gonna think you're obsessed."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her grin, withdrawing her hand and leaning back against the bed. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Rafe Cameron."

His laughter filled the room as he tugged her closer again, wrapping her in his arms. "You're trouble, you know that?"

"And yet, here you are," she whispered with a smirk, resting her head against his chest.

Rafe let out a content sigh, his hand lazily trailing up and down her back. In this moment, with her warmth against him and her teasing ringing in his ears, he felt untouchable—like nothing else in the world mattered except her.

Olivine plucked another piece of pineapple from the bowl, holding it just above Rafe's lips. He opened his mouth lazily, his eyes locked on hers as he took a slow bite. She smiled softly, watching him stretch out on the bed, his tall frame taking up an unreasonable amount of space. His hands, as if by instinct, stayed in constant contact with her—one rested on her hip, while the other occasionally wandered to trace circles on her arm or brush against her thigh.

"You're really hogging the bed," she teased, offering him a frozen grape next.

"Not my fault at all, the bed might be too small" Rafe countered with a smirk, popping the grape into his mouth.

"It's not too small; you're just too big," she replied, her tone playful.

"Not my fault you're dating a 6'2 masterpiece," he quipped, grinning when she rolled her eyes.

Olivine giggled, settling deeper into the space beside him. "Okay, Mr. Masterpiece. Would you rather fight a hundred duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?"

Rafe groaned, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "You and these questions, Liv. Do you ever stop?"

"Nope." She grinned mischievously. "Answer it."

"Horses. Duck-sized horses. I'm not messing with a giant duck," he muttered, shoving another grape into his mouth.

"That's fair," she replied with a laugh. They fell into a comfortable silence, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his arm, before she asked more softly, "What was your mom like?"

The question gave him pause. Rafe took a deep breath, his expression shifting as he tugged her gently down so she lay fully against his chest. His hand slipped into her braids, twisting and untangling them with care, while his other hand rested lightly on her back.

"She was... like you," he started, his voice quieter.

"Me?" Olivine blinked, surprised.

He nodded, his lips curving into a small, wistful smile. "Yeah. She was headstrong, kind, but she could be sharp when she needed to. If she wanted something, she went for it, no questions asked. Nobody could ever tell her no."

Olivine tilted her head, listening intently as he continued.

"She was a sculptor," Rafe said, his eyes softening at the memory. "Used to make these little clay sculptures of me, Dad, and herself when I was a kid. Then Sarah and Wheezie came along, and she'd sculpt them too. She loved being in her studio, covered in clay, Fleetwood Mac playing in the background."

"She sounds incredible," Olivine said, her tone warm.

"She was," Rafe replied, his voice thick with emotion. "She was the first woman I ever loved."

A small, sad smile touched his lips as he stared up at the ceiling. "My parents' love... it was something else. They were all in for each other. They loved with everything they had, and Mom—she taught me what that kind of love should look like. I want that. To love someone so much, my heart and soul belong to them completely. I want them to feel the same way about me."

Olivine gently cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing lightly over his skin. "You deserve that, Rafe. She'd be proud of you."

He blinked hard, his jaw tightening slightly. "Maybe," he murmured. After a moment, he sighed, his fingers stilling in her hair. "You know, Sarah's just like her."

Olivine frowned. "Like your mom?"

"Yeah," he admitted, his voice tinged with something unplaceable. "She's her exact copy. From her hair to the way she moves. Everything. When I was younger... it was hard to see that. Watching Mom fade, losing her piece by piece, while this perfect replica was running around, full of life." He swallowed thickly. "It messed with my head. I know it's wrong, but... I couldn't look at Sarah without feeling that ache. Like I was losing Mom all over again."

Olivine's heart squeezed at his confession. "That's not wrong, Rafe," she said softly. "It's grief. And it's okay to admit that it's complicated. You were a kid trying to process something so heavy."

Rafe met her gaze, his blue eyes glassy. "I just... I didn't know how to explain it back then. And even now, it's hard to put into words."

"You don't have to explain it perfectly," she assured him, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead. "You just have to feel it. And let yourself heal, however long that takes."

His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer as he buried his face in her neck. "Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?"

"For just... being here. For listening."

"Always," she murmured, stroking his hair gently.

Rafe stayed quiet for a moment, his face still tucked into the crook of Olivine's neck. His breaths were slow, the rise and fall of his chest steadying under her touch. She traced the back of his neck with her fingers, threading them through the strands of his slightly messy hair.

"Do you ever stop being so soft?" she teased gently, her voice light.

"Only with you," he mumbled, his words muffled against her skin. "And don't act like you don't love it."

"I plead the fifth," she replied with a smirk, though her hand didn't stop soothing him.

Rafe finally pulled back, his face soft with that rare, tender look he only showed her. "You're trouble, Heyward. Big trouble."

"Am I?" She tilted her head, feigning innocence.

"Yeah," he said, brushing a stray braid away from her face. His thumb lingered against her cheek. "You've got me completely whipped. It's disgusting."

She giggled, her nose scrunching up as she swatted at his chest. "You're such a drama queen."

"Maybe," he admitted, leaning in to press a kiss to the tip of her nose. Then one to her forehead. Then, because he couldn't help himself, another to her lips.

Olivine smiled into the kiss, her hands sliding up to rest on his shoulders. When he pulled back, she let out a mock sigh. "You're clingy today."

"I'm always clingy when it comes to you," he said, his voice low but playful. "Get used to it."

She shook her head with a laugh. "Fine. But only because you feed me pineapple and kiss me like that."

Rafe chuckled, sitting back against the pillows and pulling her with him so she was half-sprawled across his lap. "You know what I'm realizing?"

"What's that?" she asked, tracing the edge of his jawline absentmindedly.

"That I'm really good at this boyfriend thing."

Olivine rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide her grin. "Oh, yeah? What makes you so confident?"

"Well," he started, ticking off on his fingers, "I feed you. I cuddle you. I tell you how beautiful you are like, all the time. And I make sure you know that I'm obsessed with you."

"Obsessed is a strong word," she teased, though her heart was melting at his words.

"Not strong enough," he said with a smirk, leaning down so their faces were inches apart. "You've got me wrapped around your little finger, Liv. I'm not even mad about it."

Her cheeks flushed at his admission, and she buried her face in his chest to hide the warmth spreading across her skin.

"See? Totally whipped," Rafe said, his laugh rumbling through his chest as he held her close.

"You're impossible," she muttered, though her voice was muffled.

"And you love it," he replied, his hand finding hers and intertwining their fingers.

"Maybe," she said softly, squeezing his hand.

"Definitely," he countered, planting a kiss on the top of her head.

Olivine glanced up at him, her lips curving into a soft smile. "You know, for someone who claims to be whipped, you still manage to be annoyingly smug."

"It's part of my charm," he said with a wink, earning a playful swat to his arm.

They stayed like that for a while—wrapped up in each other, exchanging playful banter and quiet moments of tenderness. Rafe occasionally fed her another piece of fruit, though most of it ended up forgotten as they simply enjoyed being close.

"Hey, Liv?"

"Yeah?"

He paused, his eyes searching hers. "Thanks for putting up with me."

Her heart clenched at his sincerity, and she leaned up to kiss him softly. "Always," she whispered, resting her forehead against his. "You're worth it."

Rafe smiled, the kind that reached his eyes, and pulled her even closer. "You make me want to be better. You know that?"

She nodded, her voice quiet but firm. "And you will be. One step at a time."

With that, Rafe let out a content sigh, holding her as if she was the one thing grounding him. And maybe she was.

Olivine shifted slightly in Rafe's lap, her head still resting against his chest. She let out a content sigh before suddenly sitting up, brushing her braids over her shoulder.

"I need a shower," she murmured, glancing down at herself. "I feel sticky."

Rafe leaned back, his smirk widening as his eyes lazily followed her movements. "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing," he said, his tone teasing. "We should probably save water, don't you think?"

Her head snapped toward him, her lips parting in disbelief. "You're impossible."

"I'm efficient," he corrected, his grin turning wolfish.

"Efficient?" she scoffed, placing her hands on his shoulders to push him back against the headboard. "The day that happens is the day I see a ring on my finger, Cameron. Quote Beyoncé."

Rafe laughed, his head tipping back as he let out a loud, amused sound. "So, all I have to do is put a ring on it, huh?"

"Exactly." She raised a brow, smirking. "Until then, you can stay far away from my shower time."

"Noted," he said, though the mischievous glint in his eyes remained.

Olivine shook her head, sliding off the bed and stretching her arms over her head. She turned toward him, her expression softening slightly. "You think Sarah might have something I can borrow? Something that actually fits?"

Rafe leaned his head against the headboard, watching her with a lazy smile. "I'm sure she does. I'll ask her for you."

"Thanks," she said, turning toward the door before looking back over her shoulder. "And Rafe?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't even think about following me to the shower," she warned, though her tone was playful.

He held his hands up in mock surrender, though his smirk didn't waver. "I wouldn't dream of it...unless you change your mind about that ring thing."

Olivine rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love it," he called after her as she walked out the door.

Her laughter echoed down the hall, as he ran a hand through his hair as he stretched out on the bed, a satisfied smile curling on his lips. He couldn't help but feel that everything, even in its messiness, felt right with her. It had been a whirlwind of emotions since they'd started seeing each other, but moments like these, with the teasing and the comfort, made it all feel worth it.

Olivine's voice echoed back from down the hall, muffled but still clear. "And don't get any ideas while I'm gone!"

Rafe chuckled to himself, shaking his head. As much as he loved to provoke her, there was something about the way she made him feel—like he didn't need to hide behind the walls he'd built. The playful banter, the warmth in her eyes, and the way she could put him at ease all mixed together to create something rare. He just hoped he could prove to her that she was the one he was willing to fight for.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he rolled his eyes at the interruption. "Yeah?"

Sarah popped her head in, her smile mischievous. "So, how's it going in here? You two getting along, or are you too busy making ridiculous plans to wash together?"

Rafe groaned, lifting his hand to shield his face. "Seriously? I can't even have a moment of peace without you bursting in."

Sarah leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a playful glint in her eyes. "Oh, I'm just making sure you don't get any too funny ideas. You know, not that it's my business."

"I'm sure it's not," Rafe muttered, already regretting how much he knew she would tease him about it.

"Well, anyway, I came to tell you I found a couple of things for Olivine to wear. I wasn't sure what she'd like, but I think she'll figure it out."

"Thanks," Rafe replied, sitting up, his voice suddenly softer. He appreciated Sarah's willingness to help—more than he cared to admit. He could already hear her going on about his lack of focus or teasing him about how whipped he was, but in moments like this, he knew she was looking out for him in her own way.

"You're welcome. Just, uh, be gentle with her. I know you're trying to be all 'mysterious and intense' with your charm, but..." she trailed off, her teasing tone lessening. "She's good for you, Rafe. Don't mess this up."

The sincerity in her voice caught him off guard. He blinked, meeting his sister's gaze, and for a split second, she wasn't the teasing, relentless sibling he knew. She was someone who actually cared, someone who saw how much he needed to get things right this time.

"I won't," Rafe said, his voice steady but filled with quiet conviction. "I promise."

Sarah nodded, her playful smile returning as she tossed him a wink. "Alright, alright. Don't get all mushy on me. Just... make sure you talk to her, okay?"

Rafe nodded, watching her leave, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hall. He exhaled slowly, feeling a weight he didn't know he'd been carrying ease off his chest.

When Olivine came back, wearing a yellow sundress that look a little bit too tight around her bust- one wrong move and he was sure it would tear and expose the plumpness she had, her hair was curled into a messy bun but still looking effortlessly perfect, he felt that familiar pull in his chest. The way she carried herself, like everything around her melted into the background when she focused on him, made his heart beat a little faster.

"I borrowed this," she said, twirling around a little bit with a sheepish smile. "This was the only thing near my size but I feel like my boobs are about to slip out at any moment."

"Why would that be such a bad idea," Rafe replied, his gaze lingering on her. He could tell she was still processing everything from earlier, and it made him want to reach out and pull her into his arms again. But he held back, knowing they needed to figure things out on their own terms.

"Calm yourself, cowboy" she said softly, her voice tinged with humour.

Rafe reached out, taking her hand in his. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, letting his thumb run over her knuckles in a soothing rhythm.

She smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at him.
he pulled her closer for a kiss, letting everything else fade into the background. Rafe pulled back slightly, giving Olivine a soft smile. "I need to shower too," he said, his voice still low and calm, as if he was savoring the moment. "You should text your dad and let him know where you are, so he doesn't worry."

Olivine nodded, the playful smile still lingering on her lips. "Good idea," she said, slipping her phone from her pocket and quickly typing a message to her dad. While her fingers tapped out the text, Rafe stood up, his gaze following her movements, his thoughts still on her, even if he was trying to stay focused on the task at hand.

She finished the message, tapping "send," and looked up at him. "Done," she said softly, "I'll let him know I'm with you."

Rafe gave her a slight nod, his expression serious for a moment. "Thanks," he murmured, before walking toward the bathroom, his footsteps steady and purposeful. "I'm gonna take a quick shower. Don't go anywhere, okay?"

Olivine chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere. You just make sure you're not in there for an hour, okay? I'm not waiting around forever."

Rafe smirked over his shoulder, his hand resting on the bathroom doorframe. "I won't keep you waiting," he teased, before disappearing into the bathroom.

Olivine leaned back against the bed, her phone still in her hand. She took a deep breath, the quiet of the room settling over her. Her heart was still racing from everything that had happened, but there was a calmness in knowing that, for once, things felt like they were heading in the right direction. She thought about what Rafe had said earlier, about not messing things up and wanting to be better for her. She believed him, but she also knew that actions spoke louder than words.

As the sound of the shower started, she let herself relax, sinking back into the comfort of the bed. For now, they had time. Time to figure things out, together.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

so the sequel/prequel of drew and olivine's actress will be released after act one of NOTP

word count : 3.5k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋