┗━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━┛

"Could you put this on Cameron, Ward?" Rafe asked and handed the bill back to the server. "Cameron, W-A-R-D?"

The server nodded, offering him a polite smile before disappearing inside.

"Thank you." Rafe mirrored her expression before turning to his two best friends. They were at the Country Club competing in a very serious game of darts which Rafe was obviously winning. Topper sat slumped in his seat, his expression clouded with the kind of frustration only heartbreak could cause. Kelce, as always, was amused by it.

"I'm telling ya, you need to loosen up. You've been the most uptight shit since Sarah. You need to get back out there—like, immediately. You're turning into a loser." Kelce grinned as if finding his friend's misery entertaining. "You know what you need, man? A party hook-up. A rebound."

Topper downed his drink and shot his head as he swallowed down the burning flavor. "I- I don't want a stupid rebound."

"That's the most tragic thing I've ever heard," Kelce muttered. "There," Kelce muttered, scanning the deck before his gaze landed on two Kook girls striding past the sunbeds. He tilted his chin toward them. "One of those two."

Topper barely spared them a glance before finishing his second drink in one go "Isn't that Emelia Lancaster?"

"Yeah, she definitely had eyes for you on Midsummers," Kelce let his gaze linger on the girl's swaying hips.

"Didn't you sleep with her at Midsummer?" Topper asked, his tone annoyed.

"Yeah, he did. But so what, he's slept with half the island." Rafe snorted.

"Look who's talking. It's Rafe Player Cameron." Kelce sent him a glare before his features relaxed a little and his brows knitted together. "Hey, now that I think of it... You've not brought home a girl in like what? Almost two months."

"It's called self-respect. You should try it sometime." Rafe muttered playfully, brushing off the fact that there was a real reason why. His Annabelle.

Kelce let out a humorless scoff before he redirected his attention back to Topper, who had sunk further into his chair. "Listen, while you're here sulking like a heartbroken housewife, Sarah is probably off with that Pouge dude-" The boy clapped his hands together, mockingly moaning John B's name.

"Kelce, shut up." Topper's fingers tightened around his glass.

"Oh, John B. Oh please John B. Give it to me-" Kelce put on a girly voice, tauntingly moaning.

"Kelce shut the fuck up."

"Give me that big John D-"

Just as Topper looked like he was going to lunge from his seat in the armchair, Rafe spoke up, his voice cutting through the obvious tension in the air. "Kelce, man," Rafe drawled. "I think you're about two seconds away from getting your ass beat."

Kelce smirked. "Oh, come on. I'm just motivating him."

"Yeah?" Rafe raised a brow, tossing away a dart straight into the triple 20. "Motivate him again and see what happens." The two friends glanced over at Topper who was still glaring like he was debating whether or not to swing.

Kelce chuckled and put his arms up in fake Surender. "Alright, alright, damn. Sensitive crowd tonight."

Topper dragged his hand through his hair. "I hate you, both."

Rafe smirked and patted his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. Drink your beer, lover boy."

Topper yanked his arm away and the two other boys chuckled at their enraged friend's reaction. Before any of them could say anything else, the distant squeal of tires caught their attention. Rafe turned instinctively, his chest tightening when he saw who had just pulled up outside the gates of the Country Club.

"Rafe Cameron!"

Barry's voice rang out, turning more than a few heads as he swung off his bike. Rafe immediately straightened, his stomach twisting as he stepped forward.

By the time he reached Barry, the man was already arguing with the security guard, his agitation bleeding into his every movement. Rafe didn't waste time—he wedged himself between them, gripping Barry's arm as he hastily pulled him outside the gated area

"What are you doing, man? You good?"

Barry shook his head, his muscles tightened and his mouth formed a thin line. "No, man. I an't fucking good." He wrenched his arm free and placed his hands to his chest to push him making him stumble back a few steps. "Why's your family and friends think I'm just some bitch they can shit on?"

Once Rafe gained his balance back he looked up at him as deep and confused furrows appeared between his brows.

"First your dad kneecaps me in my house...." Barry raised his voice.

Rafe's stomach twisted uncomfortably. His gaze flicked around, aware of the eyes now watching them from the club. He swallowed hard, lowering his voice. "You got your money."

"That ain't the point." Barry snapped back, his voice progressively getting louder. "I'm asking you, what am I? Am I just some little bitch?! Is that what your family looks at me like? Because your little pouge slut sure seems to think of me that way!"

Rafe stumbled to a halt as Barry's words sunk into his skin. He blinked, trying to determine if he had heard right.

He cleared his throat, which seemed to have gone dry as his mind raced to figure out what the hell Annabelle had to do with any of this.

"W-What?" Rafe mumbled out.

"Your little whore and her little surf rat friends are running around stealing 25K out of my house!" Barry stepped closer to the boy as his face turned crimson, veins pulsating with pent-up fury. Rafe choked on his own words, studying Barry's face for any signs that he was lying or joking. But his whitening knuckles and heaving chest were just a telltale that this wasn't a laughing matter.

The Cameron boy was utterly confused and beneath it all concerned as to why Annabelle was even involved with this scumbag. In a moment of desperation, it didn't matter that Topper and Kelce among at least half of the Country Club were watching. He needed answers.

"Annabelle ro-" He let out a humorless and breathy chuckle. "Annabelle robbed you?"

"Yeah, along with her friends. And your damn sister." Barry spat at him. "That's why I'm here."

Topper, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up."Sarah?"

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of it. "Sarah wouldn't pick a dollar off the street. What are you talking about?" He shook his head.

"Do I look dumb?!" Barry snapped back. "Your girls must have a death wish. I'm telling you now, you better sort this shit out with your little girlfriend, or else I am."

"Annabelle wouldn't-"

Before Rafe could finish his sentence, Barry launched forward, getting up in his face, his eyes burning and his expression livid. "Oh, she wouldn't?! That whore broke my fucking nose!" He jabbed a finger at the bandage across his face.

Rafe's jaw tightened and his hands curled into fists with the instinct to swing at the way Barry was talking about Annabelle but he forced himself to take a quick breath. "Listen, you're pissed I get it-"

"Pissed!?" Barry breathed. "Oh, Country Club I'm more than pissed."

"Okay, okay. I get it. You're mad but don't speak about her like that. I'll talk to her-" Rafe placed his hand on Barry's shoulder triggering the man to yank it off him, digging his fingers into the burn wound. Rafe bit out a groan as Barry shoved him backward.

"How many times I gotta deal with you!?" He shouted, rushing up to Rafe who was cradling his hurting hand as he lost foot grip. Topper shot forward and swiftly stepped between the two, holding his hands up.

"We're good!" He attempted to calm the man down but Barry ignored him and shoved him back with full force.

"Stand down!"

Almost every member of the Country Club was staring at the scene that played out on the other side of the gates.

Barry turned his attention from Topper who looked like he would piss himself any second now. "Sort this shit out with your Pouge Slut!" He roared in Rafe's face.

"Alright, alright. I will." He breathed, wincing under his breath at the pain that radiated from his hand.

"Imma get my money. If it's not from you, it's from her." Barry retorted. "I won't go fucking easy on her after what she did to my damn face."

Rafe bit back a comment, his fists clenching at his sides wanting to mess Barry's ugly face up even more but he had created enough of a scene. Rafe exhaled sharply, his muscles coiled tight.

"I'll remember what she did." Barry stepped away before his mouth twisted into an amused grin. "I'll see you around boys."

𝟏𝟒𝟕𝟒 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
┗━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━┛

𝐀/𝐍
ohhhh how do we think Rafe is gonna react to this