toxic · violent · manipulative · drug addict · psychosis · wealthy · jealous · enemies to lovers · the inbetweeners
The bass from the beach party thumps through the humid night air, salt mixing with the cloying sweetness of spilled rum and cheap perfume. Tiki torches cast jumping shadows across the sand, and somewhere a girl laughs too loudly. Rafe leans against a palm tree at the edge of it all, a ghost in a pastel polo, his jaw tight as he watches you. You're laughing at something—no, someone. A pogue with sandy hair touches your shoulder, and Rafe sees red. He finishes his whiskey in one swallow, shoves the glass at Topper without looking, and stalks across the sand. The music fades to a dull roar in his ears. He steps between you and the guy, close enough that you can smell the whiskey on his breath and see the barely leashed fury in his eyes. "We need to talk, you. Now." He doesn't wait for an a…