─☼☼☼─

"𝙅𝙀𝙎𝙐𝙎 𝘾𝙃𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙏, 𝙍𝘼𝙁𝙀," Charlotte muttered, slowing the Rover as she pulled up to Tannyhill, her eyes surveying the scene. Turns out "a little get together" meant half of the damn island in Rafe's eyes. 

There was no part of Charlotte that felt up for a party as such after her conversation with Pope. But she had promised Rafe. She could pretend to have fun for a little bit, right?

Letting out a deep sigh, Charlotte killed the engine, parking the Rover as close to the front door as she could managed within the sea of cars. Reaching for her phone, she prepared to text Rafe to get him outside to help her with the kegs he had ordered. She would try to have fun, but there was no way she was doing all the work by herself. 

As her lockscreen lit up, her eyes scanned the few texts that had come in from her drive home. Most were from her mother, begging Charlotte to come home and reminding her about her parents' anniversary party that was happening the next night. Even if she wanted to, Charlotte could not and would not miss it. 

But atop her mother's texts were another couple from someone else. 

jj: charls please come home. what pope said was fucked up but he was just upset 

jj: i know ur with rafe and thats whatever but it doesnt mean you have to stay away from us

jj: just let me know ur okay at least

Charlotte felt a lump lodge itself in her throat as she read over his messages. She hated being apart from the Pogues. But she didn't feel like she belonged anymore. They had spent six weeks with only each other's company...and where was Charlotte? Cozy in a villa on Guadeloupe, getting back together with her ex-boyfriend who had tried to kill all of them at one point or another. She didn't deserve the Pogues. 

But JJ didn't deserve to be worrying about her. 

With quick fingers, Charlotte typed out her response. 

charley: im okay j. thanks for checking. 

He responded within seconds, as if he had been waiting by his phone for her to answer him. 

jj: good.

A moment passed. The bubbles to indicate that he was typing appeared for a moment before disappearing. They reappeared briefly before his reply popped up. 

jj: big john is missing. think its singh. jb and me r gonna track him down. would love your help when the time comes 

Charlotte's heart jumped in her chest. Big John was missing...again? And if Singh was in America, that was no good for anyone. 

charley: be careful. 

She didn't know what else to say. She wanted to help, but didn't feel like she would be welcomed. Maybe it was best to take a back seat for once. 

A knock at the car window caused Charlotte to visibly jump, almost dropping her phone in the process. 

On the other side of the glass was a grinning Rafe, clearly already drunk. He pulled open the door, the smell of the whiskey on his breath hitting Charlotte. 

"Having fun, babe?" Charlotte wondered, plastering a smile onto her face despite the heaviness she was feeling. "Thought this was gonna be a little thing?"

Rafe shot her a wink as he leaned into the car, pressing a kiss to her lips. "People just started showing up." He murmured, "Couldn't turn them away now could I?"

Pushing him back slightly, Charlotte let out a small laugh. "No, of course not. That would be just ridiculous."

"Exactly." Rafe agreed, holding onto the door. His eyes strayed to Charlotte's phone that she had discarded in her lap. "Who were you texting?"

"My mom." Charlotte lied, "Wanted to remind me about their anniversary party tomorrow night. Which, by the way you're coming to."

Rafe quirked a brow, "Oh, am I?"

Lightly pushing him out of the way, Charlotte stepped onto the driveway, pressing her lips to his cheeks. "Absolutely."

Rafe caught her around the waist, holding her close as he smiled down at her. "Well then I'll be there."

Smiling up at him, Charlotte already felt ten times better than she did two minutes ago. For as hectic as he made her life sometimes, Rafe also did a hell of a job of taking her mind off of things. 

But just as quickly as he mood had improved, it had fallen once again as her eyes landed on one of the cars in the driveway. She would recognize its God awful colour anywhere. After all, she'd spent the last three years riding shotgun. 

"What the hell is she doing here?" She demanded, pulling away from Rafe so quickly it startled him. 

He furrowed his brows, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting to see the she in question. "What?"

Charlotte jabbed her finger in the direction of the car, "Kensington." She bit out, her ex-best friend's name tasting like poison on her lips. "What is she doing here?"

Rafe's eyes widened slightly as he shook his head, "I didn't invite her." He insisted. "Cade brought her maybe...I'm not sure."

Letting out a grow, Charlotte threw her head back. "Cade's here too?"

"Relax." Rafe prompted, reaching out to brush the hair from her face. "It's a big house. You can avoid them."

Shooting him a glare, Charlotte turned her back to him, throwing open the back of the Rover. "Help me take these kegs in will you? Then I'm going to drown myself in the pool."

When Rafe didn't move fast enough, Charlotte began the feat by herself. 

"Woah, just wait!" Rafe demanded, swooping to her side to help lift the keg from the back. "You're going to hurt yourself."

The muscles in Charlotte's arms flared as she took the brunt of weight, much to Rafe's chagrin. She barely looked at him as they carried the keg toward the front door. 

"Okay," Rafe declared, dropping his side of the keg. "We're not doing this."

"Jesus, Rafe!" Charlotte snapped, almost dropping the keg on her foot once he let go. "A little warning would be nice."

Rafe ignored her comment, stepping around the keg so he was right in front of her. "You're mad about Kensington being here."

Charlotte bit the inside of her cheek, narrowing her eyes at him. "I'm not mad."

"No?" Rafe challenged, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You're jealous then."

Feeling her cheeks flush, Charlotte let out deep sigh. "Well, wouldn't you be?" She fired back, knowing it was no use trying to hide it. 

Knowing he had won, Rafe broke into a satisfied smile. "I would." He agreed, "I was."

"What?" Charlotte questioned, unsure of what he was getting at. 

Rafe picked up one of Charlotte's curls between his fingers, twirling it around as his eyes roamed her body for a moment. "I would imagine you feel the same way I did when I found out you kissed that Maybank kid."

Ice seemed to jolt through Charlotte's veins as her eyes snapped up to Rafe's. He was never supposed to find out who she had kissed when they broke up. She feared of any retaliation, feared of what might happen to JJ. "How did you─"

Leaning forward slightly, Rafe's breath sent shivers down Charlotte's spin. He spoke directly in her ear, as if it were a secret. "Next time you wanna talk about who you made out with, maybe make sure I'm asleep."

Fuck. 

The idiot who told was Charlotte herself. That night at Singhs, while her and Kiara lay in bed, Rafe on the floor. He had never been asleep. 

Sucking in a breath, Charlotte shook her head, "Rafe─"

He cut her off once again, "I just gotta know one thing, Lottie." He mumbled, still hovering so close to her face she could smell the whiskey as if she was breathing it in from the bottle.

Suspense rose in Charlotte's chest, preparing for the fallout that was sure to occur any moment. 

But when Rafe spoke, there held no malice. "How'd he kiss you?" he wondered, bringing them even closer. If Charlotte move a single inch, their lips would be connected. "Was it like this?" The whisper fell from his lips as he closed the space between them, just barely brushing Charlotte's lips with a kiss before pulling back. 

Charlotte's whole body felt as if it were buzzing as she looked up at him, not able to find her words. But Rafe didn't need her to speak, he leaned in again, grazing his lips against hers for the second time. "Or was it more like this?" He breathed, hand hooking around Charlotte's waist as his lips crashed into hers for the second time. 

But this time, there was nothing gentle against it. He kissed her with such hunger and intensity, it was if it it had been years since they last felt each other's touch, not mere hours. Charlotte didn't mind, in fact she clutched onto his t-shirt, trying to get him as close to her as possible. 

Knowing he had succeeded in what he was trying to achieve─making Charlotte forget JJ Maybank even existed─Rafe grinned against her lips, turning them so they were pressed up against the side of the house. 

"Definitely not like this." Charlotte mumbled, lacing her arms around Rafe's neck.

"You know why I told you to wear this dress?" Rafe panted, only disconnecting their lips long enough to get the words out. 

Charlotte hummed in response, not really that curious. 

Rafe's calloused fingers tickled Charlotte's skin as he reached up, hooking his fingers around one of the ties of her dress that sat atop her shoulders. "Easy to take off." He answered, pulling at the knot. 

A gasp tumbled from Charlotte's lips as she reached up to catch the side of the dress before it could fall down. "Rafe, we're literally standing on your doorstep for everyone to see."

Pulling his bottom lip between his teeth, Rafe nodded. "You're right." He agreed, "We can make it to the theatre room unseen."

Feeling like she was buzzed, despite being completely sober, Charlotte cracked a mischievous smile. "Lead the way."

Rafe let out quiet curse as he pulled Charlotte back toward him, throwing her over his shoulder. "Those idiots can wait for the kegs."

The front door flew open, but it wasn't Rafe who had opened it.

"Oh!" Said the voice, their eyes narrowing in on the couple in front of them. "There you are, Rafe."

Discontent washed over Charlotte's body as she wiggled in Rafe's arms, trying to get him to put her down. It took her hitting at his back for him to finally set her on the ground, allowing her to turn and face the source of the voice. 

Kensington Lewis looked about the same as the last time Charlotte had spoken to her, well aside from the devil horns that Charlotte was picturing growing out of her beach waves. 

Kensington's gaze settled on Charlotte's partly undone dress. "Hey, Charlotte."

With a glare, Charlotte redid the tie on her dress, "What do you want?"

"Oh," Kensington breathed, as if shocked by Charlotte's hostility. "I was looking for Rafe. We're doing shots in there and thought you might want it." As if an afterthought, she added, "Charlotte, you can come too."

Not at all in the mood for teenage antics, Charlotte shoved the car keys into Rafe's hands. "Lock the doors once you have the kegs out. I'm going to get changed."

"Lottie, come on!" Rafe pleaded, willing his girlfriend to come back. 

As Charlotte shoved past Kensington to get into the house, she could hear the interaction between Rafe and her. 

"Did I do something?" Kensington wondered, false stupidity dripping from her words. 

Charlotte couldn't help but smile at Rafe's response. "Fuck off, Kensington."

─☼☼☼─

Letting out an exhausted sigh, Charlotte flopped down onto one of the couches that sat atop the balcony. She was now changed into shorts and a tank top, her bloodstream pumping with at least three shots of tequila she had scored on her way upstairs. 

"You good, princess?" Barry wondered, looking over at her from the other side of the couch. 

For once, Barry's presence was the only one Charlotte didn't resent in the whole damn party. 

"Barry, if I were to drown someone in the pool, would you act as my alibi?"

Barry quirked a brow, "Trouble in paradise with Country Club?"

Charlotte leaned further into the couch, pursing her lips. "No." She answered, truly thinking over her current mood. "No, I'm just─I don't know."

Taking a sip of his drink, Barry regarded her for a moment, "You know, I hate to admit it. But my boy's got a pretty good thing with you, princess."

"Stop flirting with me, Barry." Charlotte teased, trying to hide the fact that her heart was warmed by his comment. "I'm taken."

"Get over yourself." Barry muttered, giving Charlotte a light shove. 

Grinning, Charlotte pointed toward the bong that sat on top of the table, "Can I get a hit of that?"

Barry furrowed his brows, "You even know what that thing is?"

"I'm not an idiot." Charlotte mumbled, reaching forward to take it into her hands. "You gotta lighter?"

Still not looking convinced, Barry reached into his pocket, handing a lighter to Charlotte. "Country Club know you're doin' this?"

Charlotte scoffed, "Why are you being so weird? It's weed, not heroine." 

Raising his hands in surrender, Barry reached back out and took the lighter from Charlotte. As she open her mouth to object, he leaned forward. "I'll light it for you."

Taking a hit, Charlotte let out a small cough, "You know, I think we're really bonding right now." She declared. 

Barry wore an amused smile, "Is that what we're callin' this?"

"You wanna do each other's nails after?" Charlotte proposed, grin on her face. 

"What the hell are you doing?" That voice didn't come from Barry. 

Turning, Charlotte shoved the bong into Barry's hands, facing her boyfriend who was looking at her with furrowed brows. When she didn't answer him, Rafe spoke again, "Since when do you do drugs, Lottie?"

"I don't." Charlotte argued, another cough flying from her lips. 

Rafe's eyes swivelled to Barry, as if a parent scolding their oldest for letting the youngest do something they weren't supposed to. "She doesn't do drugs." He asserted. 

"Rafe," Charlotte drawled, standing up to cup his face in her hands, "Would you relax? I took one hit, okay?"

But it didn't take a genius to deduce why Rafe was so bent out of shape about Charlotte doing any kind of drug. He'd been there. 

Looking down at her, Rafe studied her expression. He could see the hurt all over her face. She read like an open book. "Maybe I should tell everyone to go home." He offered, voice soft. 

"No." Charlotte argued, pulling away from him with a grin. "I'm going to play beer pong. Feel free to join if you want to lose!"

And off she went, in search of the beer pong table and a whole lot of trouble. 

─☼☼☼─