SAY YOU LOVE ME ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ
SUMMARY𓂃 after a night of mixed signals and quiet hurt, you and rafe finally stop running from what has always been there, trading fears for something real.
PAIRING𓂃 rafe cameron x fawn!reader
touching his arm like she owned him, smiling up at him with her perfect lips, her acrylic nails brushing his sleeve like she belonged there.
you watched from your spot with sarah and the pogues, pretending not to see, pretending not to care.
he barely even acknowledged the girl— you could admit that much — but he did not move away either.
maybe that was where he was supposed to be.
maybe that was the kind of girl he needed.
you did not hate her. maybe you were a little envious. she was pretty. confident. good for her for trying.
before you could spiral deeper into your own head, his eyes found yours. steady. unwavering.
he murmured something to the girl, who winced like he had said something rude— typical, and then he pulled away, digging into his pocket for his phone.
your phone buzzed almost instantly.
rafey: wanna head out now?
you: not really, wanna stay with sarah tonight
rafey: u sure? thought we were having us night tonight?
you: maybe next time kay?
you tried to focus on whatever sarah was saying, but your heart was not in it.
not when you could feel his stare burning into you across the firelight.
not when you heard the crunch of his boots against the dirt as he made his way over.
“c’mon,” he said, voice casual but firm, like it was not even a question.
sarah glanced between you and her brother, something soft flickering across her face. she knew. she had always known how much of a lovesick fool rafe was when it came to you. when he decided to take you, he would— no point in arguing. so she just kissed your cheek and said, “see you later,” like she had expected it all along.
you sighed and stood up as rafe’s hand found your elbow, guiding you gently away from the group.
“you’re coming with me.” he said under his breath as you walked toward the parking lot, the smirk in his voice making your chest tighten.
you rolled your eyes, trying to act normal. “are you really gonna steal me away?”
he bumped your shoulder lightly with his. “stealing would only make sense if you weren’t already mine.”
you shook your head, looking away, but you could not help the tiny smile tugging at your lips.
after a few steps of silence, you said, voice a little sharper than you meant, “i thought i told you i wanted to stay with sarah? she needed me for something.”
he shrugged, unbothered, flashing a quick grin.
“too bad. i needed you more.”
your heart twisted painfully at that— because god, you wished it could mean everything you wanted it to.
the walk to the truck was quieter after that. you wrapped your arms around yourself, the night air colder against your overheated skin.
when you reached the truck, you went to open the door, but his hand beat you to it, shutting it before you could climb in.
you turned, confused. startled.
“you mad at me or something?” he asked, voice low but careful.
“no?” you said instantly, stepping back.
you hated how small your voice sounded. hated how obvious you felt.
he watched you for a second longer, his brows knitting like he was trying to see right through you. then he sighed under his breath and walked around to the driver’s side.
you climbed in, pretending you were fine. pretending you were not dying inside, wrapping your arms tighter around yourself, staring straight ahead.
the truck rumbled to life, headlights cutting through the dark road, but he did not drive off immediately.
he just sat there, one hand loose on the wheel, the other tapping anxiously against his leg.
“you’re always like this,” he said after a beat, voice tight but calm.
“what?” you asked, forcing your voice to stay even.
“not telling me shit,” he said, voice low, almost tired.
“if you’re pissed, just say it. if you’re upset, just fucking tell me.”
your throat burned. you stared stubbornly out the window, fingers digging into the hem of your sweatshirt.
wanted to say i hated watching her touch you.
wanted to say i wish it was me you wanted all the time.
wanted to say i am so stupidly in love with you it makes me sick sometimes.
but you could not. it felt selfish. pathetic.
“there’s nothing to tell,” you mumbled.
he exhaled sharply through his nose, gripping the steering wheel tighter for a moment— the leather groaning faintly under his hand before letting it go with a soft, frustrated sigh.
“bullshit,” he said. “i know you.”
you swallowed hard, biting the inside of your cheek to keep the words trapped inside.
he did not say anything after that. just kept driving, knuckles tight around the steering wheel.
the tension stretched so thick between you it hurt to breathe.
suddenly, the truck jerked to the side, tires crunching against gravel.
he pulled over without warning, throwing the gear into park.
you blinked at him, heart hammering.
“what are you doing?” you asked, voice small.
“not driving another fucking mile till you tell me what’s going on,” he said, turning to face you fully.
his jaw was clenched. his eyes burning.
you stared stubbornly out the window again. it felt safer not looking at him.
“bullshit,” he exhaled again, voice rough.
“you think i cannot tell when something’s wrong with you? you think you can just sit there, quiet and sad, and i won’t fucking notice?”
your throat tightened painfully. you hated how easily he could see through you.
still, you stayed silent, twisting your fingers in your lap.
rafe swore under his breath and leaned across the console, crowding into your space until you had no choice but to look at him.
“is this about that girl?” he asked, voice so quiet you almost missed it. it’s like a realization suddenly hit him.
you opened your mouth to deny it, but the look on his face, so open, so patient, stopped you.
“i know you saw,” he said. “and i know you.”
he reached over slowly, brushing his knuckles along your wrist where it was balled up in your lap.
“you don’t get mad for no reason,” he said. “you get quiet. you shut down. you start lying, badly. like you are right now.”
a tiny, broken laugh slipped out of you without permission.
“i don’t care about her,” he said. “i didn’t even want her talking to me.”
you bit down hard on your lip, the sting grounding you.
“i wanted to leave the second i saw you sitting there looking like you didn’t want to be there anymore.”
tears welled up, but you blinked them back stubbornly.
“i’m not mad you felt something,” he said. “i’m mad you didn’t think you could tell me.”
you finally looked at him properly, really looked, and your heart cracked open at the frustration, the hurt written all over his face.
“you’re allowed to want me,” he said, voice raw. “because i’ve been yours this whole time anyway.”
your breath hitched painfully.
he leaned closer, so close you could feel the heat rolling off him.
“talk to me baby,” he murmured, “tell me.”
“i do not know how,” you whispered, and he smiled, a small, broken thing before pressing his forehead to yours.
“s’okay,” he breathed, “we’ll figure it out together yeah?”
you nodded, a shaky little movement, and the silence stretched again, but it was different this time— softer, fuller. like something had finally cracked open between you.
and then, almost like he could not hold it in anymore, he whispered against your hair,
you stiffened, breath caught in your throat.
he pulled back just enough to cup your cheeks, forcing you to meet his eyes.
“i know i’ve said it before,” he said, voice shaking slightly, “but that was me pretending it was as friends.”
you blinked, tears sliding hot down your face.
“i don’t love you like a friend,” he said, rough and broken and so real it hurt.
“i love you. as you. all of you.”
you whimpered, barely managing to nod.
“say it back,” he whispered, desperate. “please.”
your voice cracked as you choked out, “i love you too.”
relief and something like wonder flashed across his face before he kissed you— slow, aching, reverent, like he had been waiting forever for you to finally say it.
and you kissed him back, finally letting yourself believe it, letting yourself have him, completely.
he pulled back just slightly, resting his forehead against yours again, breathing you in like he could not get enough.
“you’re so fucking stupid sometimes,” he muttered, but there was no heat in it. just pain.
“you’re exactly what i want. exactly who i want and you know that.”
your whole body trembled.
“i don’t want anyone touching me. i don’t want anyone looking at me,” he said, every word heavy.
your heart was beating so loud you could barely hear anything else.
and then, softer like he was afraid to scare you off:
you broke again, a tiny, broken noise escaping your throat, and he was already moving, unbuckling your seatbelt, pulling you into his lap like you weighed nothing.
you buried your face in his neck, clutching at his hoodie like you were drowning.
“i’m sorry,” you whispered, over and over.
“nothing to be sorry for,” he murmured into your hair.
he kissed your temple, your cheek, the corner of your mouth, so much softness it shattered you even more.
and he just held you there, arms wrapped so tightly around you it felt like he could shield you from the whole world.
you let yourself have this.