043. denials seduction

( the forty third chapter )

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Rafe had spent the morning trying to figure out the best way to make it up to Olivine for scaring her the night before. A bouquet of flowers felt like a good start, so he picked out a simple yet elegant arrangement and texted her, asking if they could hang out.

Her reply was polite but firm: she was swamped with college emails and needed time to sort them out. Rafe didn't push. He just stared at her message for a while before deciding he wasn't going to leave things there.

A couple of hours later, he stood at her doorstep with a dish his mom used to make—a family recipe he hadn't attempted in years. Heyward answered the door, immediately eyeing him with suspicion.

"What are you doing here?" Heyward asked, crossing his arms.

"I'm here for Olivine," Rafe replied, holding up the dish. "I just wanted to see her and... I brought this for her."

Heyward didn't move, his expression remaining stern. "You can leave your flowers here and go."

Rafe's jaw tightened. He could feel frustration bubbling, but he kept his voice steady. "Look, I know you don't like me or whatever. But I care about Olivine—more than you probably think. I just want to see her, okay?"

Heyward sighed, his features softening slightly. "She's focusing on school right now. Something you should be doing too. You can come back when she's free."

Rafe hesitated, glancing past Heyward into the house. He knew it wasn't smart to push, but the thought of walking away without at least checking in on her didn't sit right. So he stayed, silently challenging Heyward's patience.

Finally, Heyward stepped aside, muttering, "Fine. But don't distract her too much."

Rafe walked in and found Olivine hunched over the living room table, her glasses perched on her nose as she worked through a sea of college forms, certificates, and documents. She looked completely absorbed until he gently placed the dish beside her.

Her head snapped up, her attention shifting from the paperwork to him. The moment she recognized him, a wide smile spread across her face, and she immediately rose from her seat.

"Rafe? What are you doing here?" she asked, wrapping her arms around him without hesitation.

Her fingers brushed against his face, and she frowned slightly, noticing the faint tint of her foundation on his skin. "You're a mess," she said softly, her tone a mix of affection and amusement.

Rafe grinned, leaning into her touch. "Yeah, well, you're the one who did this to me. And I'm fine with it."

She glanced at the dish he brought, her expression softening further. "You got me this?"

"Yeah. I figured i'd get you something, seeing as yesterday..."

Olivine's gaze lingered on him for a moment, warm and appreciative. "Thank you, Rafe. Really."

"Anything for you," he replied, his voice quiet but earnest.

Even amidst the clutter of her work, Olivine found herself completely distracted by him, and for once, she didn't mind.

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Rafe leaned against the edge of the table, his arms crossed as Olivine sifted through the mountain of papers in front of her. For a moment, he didn't say anything, just watched her. The memory of last night still lingered—her startled expression, the way she pulled away from him, the sharp sting of her fear. He hated it.

Olivine glanced up briefly, noticing the quiet intensity in his eyes. "You're staring," she teased, pushing her glasses higher on her nose.

"You're distracting," he shot back with a smirk, though his tone lacked its usual cockiness.

She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her laptop. "I told you I had things to do today."

"And I told you I'd make it up to you."

Olivine's hands stilled on the keyboard. She looked at him again, her expression softening despite herself. "Rafe... You didn't need to do this."

"Yeah, I did," he said firmly. "Last night—I shouldn't have scared you like that. I wasn't thinking."

Her jaw tightened as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "You're right. You weren't. And you do this thing where you act all... I don't know, reckless. Like you don't care what happens, but then—"

"But then what?" he prompted, stepping closer.

She hesitated, her gaze flicking to his face and then away. "But then you turn around and show up like this, with food and apologies, and I don't know what to do with you."

He crouched down so they were at eye level, his voice low. "You don't have to do anything with me, Olivine. I just wanted to see you. Make sure we're good."

Her lips parted like she was about to argue, but instead, she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, but you like me anyway," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

Olivine scoffed, but her smile betrayed her. "Don't push it, Cameron."

He chuckled softly, standing up and glancing at the mess of papers on the table. "So, this is your day, huh? Buried in college stuff."

"Pretty much," she said, reaching for another form. "It's not glamorous, but it's important. I need to get everything perfect if I want to stand a chance."

"You don't need perfect," Rafe said, surprising her with the seriousness in his tone. "You're already better than half the people who'll apply."

She blinked at him, unsure how to respond. Compliments from Rafe were usually laced with sarcasm or flirtation. This felt... different.

"Thanks," she murmured, a small, genuine smile breaking through her guarded expression.

He nodded, satisfied. "So, what do you need help with?"

Her eyebrows shot up. "You want to help with this?"

"Why not, I've done this before" he shrugged. "I'm already here."

Olivine couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "You have no idea what you're signing up for."

"Try me," he challenged, pulling up a chair beside her.

As the afternoon wore on, Rafe stayed by her side, alternately offering unhelpful commentary and genuinely trying to assist. Every now and then, their hands would brush as they reached for the same paper, and Olivine would feel that familiar pull—the one that made her heart race despite her better judgment.

He was still Rafe, still reckless and unpredictable, but moments like this reminded her why she let him get close in the first place.

By the time they finished, the morning sun setting to noon, casting a warm glow through the windows. Olivine leaned back, stretching her arms overhead. "I can't believe we got through all of that."

"Team effort," Rafe said with a smirk, leaning back in his chair.

"Sure," she said with a roll of her eyes, but her smile lingered.

Olivine had barely sat back down to organize the last of her documents when her phone rang, the screen lighting up with an unknown number. Her brows furrowed as she picked it up.

"Hello, this is Olivine Heyward speaking," she answered, her voice unconsciously slipping into her polished, professional tone.

"Good afternoon, Miss Heyward. This is Dean Kensington from Princeton University."

Olivine's heart stopped, her eyes widening. She instinctively put the phone on speaker, her fingers trembling. Rafe, seated nearby, straightened in his chair. Heyward and Mrs. Heyward looked up from their spots in the living room, instantly alert.

"We've reviewed your application and resume, and I have to say, it's nothing short of extraordinary," the dean continued. "We'd be honored to have you join us at Princeton University after you graduate from Kildare Academy."

The room went completely silent. Rafe's eyes flickered between Olivine and her parents, his jaw tightening.

"I—" Olivine stammered, her voice faltering before she cleared her throat. "Thank you so much. This is... wow. This is an incredible honor."

The dean chuckled lightly. "We're thrilled to have you. In fact, we'd like to invite you to tour the campus in about four weeks, if your schedule permits."

Olivine blinked, still processing. "Yes, of course. That works perfectly. Thank you again for this opportunity."

"Wonderful. We'll send you all the details by email shortly. We look forward to seeing you on campus, Miss Heyward."

"Thank you," she said again, her voice steadier this time.

The call ended, leaving the room in stunned silence for a beat.

"Well, I'll be damned," Heyward finally said, breaking the stillness. He whistled low, clapping his hands together. "My little Olive, the first ever person—no, the first woman in our family to go to an Ivy League school."

Mrs. Heyward clasped her hands together, her face glowing with pride. "Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ," Heyward murmured, crossing himself before pulling his wife into a kiss. "Maybe all that money on ballet wasn't a waste after all."

Olivine spun around to playfully glare at him, her mouth open in mock outrage. "Excuse me?"

Heyward shrugged, grinning as he reached for one of the cupcakes she had baked earlier. "I'm just sayin'!"

Rafe stayed silent, his gaze fixed on Olivine as she turned her attention back to the table. The pure excitement on her face as she gathered her papers tugged at something dark inside him.

When she suddenly jumped onto him, arms wrapped tightly around his neck, his hands instinctively found her waist. She buried her face in his shoulder, her words muffled against his skin. "I can't believe this is real."

Rafe swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as an intrusive thought clawed its way to the forefront of his mind. She's leaving.

He stared straight ahead, the weight of her embrace both soothing and suffocating. Princeton. It wasn't just a school. It was hundreds of miles away from Kildare, from him.

She pulled back slightly, her bright eyes locking onto his. "Can you believe it, Rafe?"

He forced a smile, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah. I can believe it."

But he couldn't. Not fully. Because in the back of his mind, the thought twisted into something ugly. She's looking for the first ticket away—from here, from me. She doesn't want to stick around.

"Hey, don't crush her ribs now," Heyward joked, pulling the room back to life.

Olivine laughed softly and slid off Rafe's lap, leaving him feeling colder in her absence. She gave him a peck on the cheek, her lips warm against his skin, and the small gesture did nothing to ease the storm building in his chest.

She turned back to her mom, glowing as she showered her with congratulations. Rafe stayed rooted in place, his hand brushing over the spot where her lips had just been. He watched her, smiling and laughing with her family, and felt something shift deep inside him.

It wasn't fair. None of it was. How could she light up his entire world and then so casually talk about leaving it behind?

Rafe sat there, motionless, the joy and pride in the room almost suffocating him. Olivine's mother was buzzing around her, offering celebratory hugs and laughing about how they'd need to start saving for Ivy League prices.

She looked so happy. Carefree, radiant.

Rafe couldn't join in. That ugly voice in his head was louder now, venomous and sharp. What about us? What about him?

Olivine reached for her laptop again, pulling up an email to confirm the campus visit. "Four weeks," she said, mostly to herself. "I can't wait to see it in person."

Rafe's knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of the table. Four weeks until she starts planning a life without me.

Heyward glanced at him, breaking him out of his spiraling thoughts. "Hey, Cameron. You good?"

Rafe's smile was thin, almost forced. "Yeah. Just... taking it all in."

Olivine turned to him then, her face softening. "Are you sure? You've been quiet."

Rafe shrugged, his gaze flicking briefly to her parents. "I just didn't expect you to be moving halfway across the country, that's all."

Her brows furrowed, and she tilted her head. "Rafe, it's not for another year. And we've always talked about how I wanted to go somewhere for college."

Have we? Rafe thought bitterly. Maybe she had, but he never thought it'd actually happen—or that it'd feel like this when it did.

"Yeah, I know," he said instead, his voice measured. "It's just... far."

Her expression softened further as she leaned closer, brushing her hand lightly against his arm. "Rafe, it's not like I'm disappearing forever."

He stared at her, the words catching in his throat. But it feels like it.

Heyward, ever the observant one, cleared his throat and gestured toward the kitchen. "C'mon, Rafe. Help me with something."

Rafe hesitated, but Heyward's stern look left no room for argument. He followed him into the kitchen, where Heyward turned and leaned against the counter, arms crossed.

"Let me give you some advice, son," Heyward started, his voice low but firm. "You care about her, right?"

Rafe's jaw tightened. "You know I do."

"Then act like it." Heyward's gaze was unflinching. "This ain't about you, boy. This is her dream. You're either gonna support her and be proud of her like a real man, or you're gonna let your ego mess it all up. Which one's it gonna be?"

Rafe's mouth opened, but no words came out. Heyward let the silence hang heavy before patting him on the shoulder and walking back into the living room.

Rafe stayed behind, gripping the counter, his mind racing. He knew Heyward was right. He knew Olivine deserved this. But knowing it didn't make it any easier.

When he returned to the living room, Olivine was packing her documents into a neat folder. She smiled at him, that same dazzling smile that always made his heart stop.

"Ready to go?" she asked softly, her voice cutting through his storm of thoughts.

Rafe nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets as she slipped her arm around his. But as they walked out together, one thought lingered in his mind, dark and unshakable.

If she goes, what's left for me?

The drive back to the beach was unusually quiet. She hummed softly to herself, lost in thought, occasionally glancing at her phone to answer congratulatory messages from her friends and distant relatives. Rafe, on the other hand, kept his eyes on the road, his grip on the steering wheel just a little too tight, while the other was on her thigh tapping it softly to the music that played.

As they pulled onto the pier, she turned to him, finally noticing his tense demeanor.

"You've been weird since the call," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "Are you... not happy for me?"

Rafe's head snapped toward her, startled by the question. "Of course I am. This is huge, Olivine. You deserve it."

"Then what's wrong?"

He hesitated, his eyes flickering to the dashboard. "I guess... I just didn't realize how fast everything is happening. It feels like you're already halfway out the door."

Her expression softened, but there was a flicker of something else—frustration, maybe? "Rafe, it's a year away. I'm not going anywhere right now. You're acting like I'm packing my bags tonight."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. It's just... I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me," she said firmly, reaching out to touch his arm. "Rafe, I love you. This isn't about leaving you behind. This is about doing something for me, for my future."

He nodded, though the knot in his chest didn't ease. "Yeah. I get it."

Her lips quirked into a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Do you?"

Instead of answering, Rafe leaned across the console, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Come on let's go," he said as she opened the door to leave.

But as she exited the car, Rafe sat there for a moment, staring at the empty passenger seat.

Love isn't enough to keep her here.

The secluded spot he had carefully prepared, was near the water, where the sunlight danced across the gentle waves. Spread out on the grass was a soft picnic blanket laden with food—her favorite snacks, finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, and a chilled bottle of sparkling lemonade.

But what caught Olivine's attention most were the bouquets. Flowers surrounded the area, vibrant and sweet-smelling, arranged in a way that felt both effortless and intentional, her eyes widening as she took it all in. Rafe now behind her rubbing her arms softly

"Rafe," she breathed, turning to look up at him, "this is... wow."

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking somewhat bashful. "I wanted it to be special. For you."

She smiled, her eyes soft as she walked up to him and took his hand. "It's perfect. Thank you."

They settled on the blanket, and for a while, they simply enjoyed each other's company. Olivine leaned back, letting the warm breeze play with her hair, while Rafe kept sneaking glances at her, trying to imprint the moment in his mind.

After a while, Olivine sat up, her expression thoughtful. "You know," she started, picking at the corner of a sandwich, "I was thinking."

Rafe tilted his head, intrigued but wary. "About?"

"About... when the time comes for me to move." She paused, glancing at him nervously. "What if... you came with me?"

Rafe blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Think about it," she said, her voice gaining confidence. "Maybe you could ask your dad if you could do real estate near Princeton. I don't really know what you do for him now, but it's an idea. You'd be close, and we could figure things out together."

She looked at him earnestly, her hands gesturing as she spoke. "And maybe, if you wanted, you could study too. Like finance or business or... whatever it is all those rich guys study." She laughed lightly, trying to ease the tension she felt growing between them.

Rafe didn't laugh. His jaw clenched slightly, and he gave her a tight nod. "I'll think about it."

Olivine frowned, sensing his unease. "Rafe, it's just an idea. I don't want you to feel pressured—"

"It's fine," he cut in, forcing a small smile. "I just... hadn't thought that far ahead."

She studied him for a moment, then reached out to take his hand. "We'll figure it out," she said softly. "Together."

Rafe nodded again, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. But as he watched her gaze drift back to the flowers, that familiar, possessive feeling crept in.

She wants me to follow her. To change everything. For her.

And he was sure if he would.

But he couldn't shake the thought that, no matter what he did, she might still slip away.

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Later that night, Rafe found himself pacing his room, the lights dimmed, his thoughts a mess. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Olivine's smile, the excitement in her voice when she talked about Princeton.

He didn't want to be selfish, didn't want to drag her down. But the thought of her leaving—of her finding a new life, new people—without him was unbearable.

His phone buzzed, breaking through his spiral. A text from Olivine.

baby just wanted to say thank you for earlier. you've been amazing today. I love you, Rafe. please don't forget that.

He stared at the message for a long time before typing back.

"I love you too."

But even as he hit send, that dark, possessive part of him whispered in the back of his mind.

I have to find a way to keep her close. She can never never leave me

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KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

i had really bad food poisoning from friday up until now and i'm still in pain but it's better now and my stomach hurts ALOTTT

word count : 3.3k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋