summary: cozy!reader gets overwhelmed at a beach party and rafe takes you home to cuddle in his bed.
a/n: hi !! only my second ever fic, but first for this reader. i know this is nothing crazy, but i just wanted to write something cute for cozy!reader ! let me know if you have any suggestions, tips, or requests! not proofread ! ୨୧
summer in the outer banks was hot and filled with tourists covering the beach. beach days are a staple, with pogues and kooks alike lining the strips of sand along the shoreline. everyone in the obx thrived in summer. well, almost everyone.
for as long as you could remember, summer was too much for you. too many tourons. too hot. too many bugs. autumn was when you came alive. crisper air, colder temperatures, changing leaves, pumpkin spice everything.
so, when rafe suggested bringing you—his introverted, autumn-loving girlfriend—to a beach party at the boneyard one night, you reluctantly agreed to make him happy.
now, you’re sitting across rafe’s lap while he sits upon a log in front of the fire. he talks to topper and kelce while nursing a red solo cup filled with beer, but you’re not quite listening to the conversation—too focused on hands as you gently pick at the skin around your nails, examining the chipped black nail polish upon the surface of them.
picking up on your silence and obvious discomfort, rafe gently taps your thigh, muttering a soft, “hey. you good?”
snapping out of your intense focus on your nails at the sound of his voice, you look up at his face, noticing the quiet concern there. you nod a bit, murmuring, “..’s just kind of a lot. too many people.”
his expression softens and then he speaks. “you wanna get outta here? go watch a movie or somethin’?”
you quickly shake your head, “no- no, ‘m okay. ‘s just a little warm ‘nd there’s a lotta people here,” you murmur, the small lie tasting wrong on your tongue. truthfully, that’s all you want. to go home, cuddle up to him, and watch a movie. however, you don’t want to make him leave and ruin his fun, so you lie.
unfortunately for your guilt’s sake, rafe knows you better than that—knows you’d rather be at home where it’s quiet and cozy. he exhales through his nose. “baby, if you wanna leave, we can leave. know you hate shit like this.”
“..feel bad for makin’ you leave though,” you mutter, voice soft and hardly audible.
“you’re not makin’ me do anything. if you’re uncomfortable that’s all that matters to me, alright? you’re my girl.” he says, his free hand now rubbing gentle circles on your thigh.
still a bit hesitant to agree, you meet his gaze with doe eyes, muttering, “..won’t be mad?”
“mad? why the hell would i be mad, baby? it’s one party, not gonna kill me to leave early.” he says, face twisting in confusion as if he couldn’t fathom getting mad at you for something so simple.
“dunno..” you whisper, looking down at your hands once more, cheeks suddenly pink.
“hey- hey, look at me.” he begins, lifting your chin with gentle hands, forcing you to meet his gaze. “do you wanna leave? don’t- don’t think about what i want. do you want to leave?” he asks softly, looking into your eyes.
after a short pause, you nod.
“alright, c’mon. up,” he says, lightly tapping your thigh for you to stand. tossing his red solo cup into a nearby trash can, he scoops you into his arms, carrying you bridal style toward his truck parked just ahead with determination.
“let’s get you home, yeah?” he says, carefully placing you in the passenger seat as if you’re something fragile. he rounds the front of the truck after closing your door, climbing into the driver’s seat and backing out of his parking spot, determined to get you home and comfortable—the beach party entirely forgotten.
the rest of the night is spent with you cuddled up to rafe’s chest in his king-sized bed, one of your comfort films playing on his tv as you begin to slowly drift off feeling safe and content.
“go to sleep, baby. i gotcha,” he mutters, pressing a kiss to your temple just as you finally doze off, entering a state of peace and tranquility.