The Comfort Game
Masterlist
UNO!Rafe Cameron x fem!reader
1k words
A/n: I wrote this on my phone in a short amount of time and I didn’t feel like proofreading it. Sorry for any errors! Also, yes, we’re calling the UNO series UNO!Rafe
Summary: You’re dreams are crushed but Rafe is there to help -> 18+ MDNI!!
As you stared at your computer the finality of it hit you. You didn’t get any of the jobs you had interviewed for, all of them were dream jobs, you thought the interviews went well, but apparently they didn’t go well enough.
It’s not that you thought you were going to get job offers for all of the positions you applied to, but you figured maybe you’d get into one. I guess maybe that was a little too optimistic, or you thought you were more deserving than you actually were. That other people were more qualified and better. That’s what hurt the most.
You were aware you weren’t the most qualified person in the world, qualified for the job, absolutely, but you knew you weren’t always the smartest person in the room, but that was a good thing. They always say to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, to learn and become better, turns out maybe you were just dumb. Not someone who’s intelligent but is surrounded by more intelligent people.
You felt like a fraud.
There were discussions with Rafe, your families about the potential move if you landed any of the positions. Hell, Rafe had been figuring out how to turn his job into one that could be remote. Everyone thought you’d get at least one job offer, that all of this planning would be worth it. All of the stress would be worth it because you’d be achieving your dreams, but now you realized you just wasted your time and we’re going through it mentally for nothing. There was nothing to show, and you’d have to tell everyone that you didn’t get the job.
You felt like such a disappointment.
As you reread the email from the last company who rejected you that there were a lot of strong candidates but that it wasn’t the right fit, you couldn’t help the tears that ran down your face.
It was really over. The hope was really gone now. You’d have to stay at the shitty position you were in now. Years of college from undergrad to your masters program, we’re wasted. All of this stress for what? Sure, you loved college and your masters program but what was the point of it didn’t lead you to where you wanted to go?
Maybe there was a reason. Maybe you weren’t meant to get that job and were meant for something else. At least that’s what your trying to convince yourself. That it wasn’t because of you, but because there was a bigger plan the world had for you.
You knew that was bullshit.
So caught up in your head, you didn’t hear Rafe enter your home office.
“Sweetheart?” He called out.
Met with silence, Rafe made his way over to you, resting his large hand on your shoulder, “Sweetheart?”
Looking up at him, you started to tell him what happened. That you were a disappointment and that you were sorry for wasting his time, but now that he was close, the only thing that came out were sobs.
Sitting on his knees, on the floor next to your chair, he enveloped you into a hug, rubbing your back in soothing circles. Offering comforting words. Even though he didn’t know what was going on, he knew exactly what to say.
Not able to speak, you just pointed to where the email laid open on your computer screen.
As he angled himself, he didn’t detach from you, continuing to comfort you.
“Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry.” He whispered as he pulled you in tighter.
“I’m so sorry.”’you choked out.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I don’t even know why you think there would be anything to apologize for.”
“I wasted your time and made you go through all of this effort of figuring out your job, and it was all for nothing.” You said before sobs continued to rack your body.
“Oh sweet girl, don’t apologize for that. I would do anything for you, besides now that I’m able to work online, we have more flexibility and can spend more time together, which sounds like a win in my book.”
Pulling him against you tighter, you nestled your face into the crook of his neck, finding comfort in the closeness of him. Rafe pulled you in just as tight into his body.
You weren’t sure when you made your way out of your chair and onto the floor but you couldn’t complain because you have your main source of comfort holding you close.
As you still held onto Rafe, trying to feel grounded in some way, you weren’t sure how much time had passed.
“You wanna play UNO?” He whispered.
Pulling away, you couldn’t help the look of shock as you looked at his face.
“UNO makes everything better.”
You let a wet laugh out, as you rubbed your face, trying to dry it.
“Are you being serious right now?” You questioned.
“Dead serious.” He said before continuing, “It’ll cheer you up, there’s nothing better than a little bit of UNO competition to distract yourself and we always have a great time.”
“That’s true.” You mumbled, before speaking a little louder, “I guess it could be a good idea.”
“Do you want me to bring the deck here, or do you wanna play in our usual spot?”
“Our usual spot.” You said as you offered him a small smile.
Standing up, he held his hand out for you to take, to pull you up.
Once you were standing, he wrapped his arm around you, leading the way to the living room.
Despite your dreams being crushed and feeling like a fraud, you couldn’t help but think that despite all of that, going out with Rafe was one of the best decisions you made, it made you realize that maybe you weren’t as dumb as you thought you were, because you’d have to be a complete and total idiot to let a guy like Rafe go, and that despite having other dreams, he would always be your ultimate dream.
He was everything you could have dreamed of growing up and more.
Rafe Cameron was your everything and you were so grateful for him.