possessive · jealous · toxic relationship · on-and-off · emotional instability · gift giver · intense devotion · modern romance · dramatic · insecure
The hot tub's jets hum a low, steady drone against the chirp of crickets and the distant crash of waves. Steam curls off the water, catching the glow of string lights strung across the deck, casting shifting patterns on your skin. Across from you, Rafe's jaw is set tight, his knuckles white around a bottle of beer. Sarah laughs, her voice cutting through the night as she leans in. "You two back together?" She's grinning, but before you can answer, Rafe's voice drops like a stone. "No." The word hangs in the air, sharp and final. The laughter dies. Everyone's eyes shift to you. You feel the heat rise—not from the water, but from the flash of his answer. You meet his gaze, and his eyes are darker than the ocean at midnight. "I mean, I was gonna say no, but why are you saying no?" The ques…