Promise *Rafe Cameron*

𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫

The scent of fresh paint, salt air, and old wood clung to everything.

The Pogues had been working since sunrise, hammering, sawing, laughing through the heat as they turned JJ's wreck of a childhood home into something new, something solid.

Their own thing. A real bait and tackle shop, with mismatched signs and leaning shelves and a hand-painted marlin mounted on the front like a trophy.

Sage wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, the ache in her muscles grounding her in a way nothing else had in weeks. The distraction had been exactly what she needed.

She hadn't thought about Rafe nearly as much as she expected to.

Maybe it was because deep down, she knew he'd come crawling back, full of apologies and fake promises. Or maybe... maybe she was actually starting to be okay without him.

She wasn't sure which scared her more.

The sun was dipping low, bleeding gold across the dock, setting the whole world on fire in that soft, warm kind of way that made everything feel like it might be okay, even when it wasn't.

The Pogues were adding the final touches, Kie painting the shop hours, Pope organizing the bait fridge, John B messing with the old radio, when JJ's voice rang out like a cannonball.

"Hey guys! I think we did it!" He shouted from the dock, arms spread wide like he owned the entire ocean.

Sage leaned over the shop railing and smiled despite herself. "I was doubting it for a minute," she admitted.

"We're in business, baby!" JJ whooped, throwing himself into a ridiculous dance across the dock, jumping and spinning like a man who had no idea what the word 'embarrassment' even meant.

Cleo snorted. "That boy's mad."

John B nodded. "Fully unhinged."

"Is he okay?" Sarah asked quietly, watching JJ with a slight tilt of concern.

Kie smiled, soft and knowing. "Yeah. He's just... he's never really had a home before."

Sage's heart twinged.

She watched Kie get to her feet, brush her hands on her shorts, and head down the dock.

JJ turned just in time for her to launch into his arms, wrapping around his neck as she kissed him full and sure and smiling.

His arms tightened around her instantly, holding her like she was the best thing that ever happened to him.

"Get a room!" John B called, grinning.

Kie lifted her middle finger high and proud without even looking back.

John B just laughed, pulling Sarah into his side, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Cleo curled into Pope's chest, his hand slipping around her waist without needing to say a word.

And Sage stood still. She felt it then, a sharp tug in her chest. A loneliness that had been muffled all day by hammering nails and painting trim came rushing back like the tide.

This was what she'd never have with Rafe. Even if he did show up with flowers and sorrys and a broken voice begging her back, this, this moment, would never be his.

Because Rafe Cameron hated her friends. He hated the people who made her laugh until her ribs hurt. He hated the people who stayed when he left.

Even if she was still with him, he wouldn't be here. He wouldn't have lifted a finger to help build anything.