─☼☼☼─

—RAFE—

𝙍𝘼𝙁𝙀 𝙎𝘼𝙏 𝘼𝙏𝙊𝙋 one of the barstools at the kitchen island, watching with a smile on his face as Charlotte moved around kitchen, humming contently to herself as she prepared breakfast.

He hadn't seen her as happy as she'd been the past few days since before their breakup. He couldn't explain how much joy that brought him...how much relief.

That's all they had needed— to get away from the Outer Banks.

They were always destined for failure on that damn island with the prying eyes and opinions of others.

Here, they could finally be happy together.

Well, partially happy.

Rafe still knew that Charlotte longed for her sister and friends. It was evident that they were always on her mind, tugging at her heart.

That's why Rafe had told her he would allow that Mateo kid to keep looking for them. Hell, he'd even offered to pay him to do so.  Whatever it took to make her happy.

But, he also knew that the return of the Pogues into Charlotte's life would jeopardize everything the two of them had reestablished over the past five weeks.

So, that's why he had paid Mateo twice as much to stop looking.

Charlotte would never know. In fact, perhaps she would assume they'd already returned to Kildare. All of them alive and well. Maybe them she'd stop caring so much.

Rafe was sure that's where they were. Back in the Outer Banks...back to their Pogue ways.

It was better that way—them there, Charlotte and Rafe here. Where they could be together. It was how he had always wanted it. He was pretty sure it was what Charlotte wanted too—for them to be together.

"Morning, Wheeze!" Charlotte greeted jovially as the youngest Cameron entered the kitchen.

Rafe looked up from his cup of coffee, discarding his obsessive thoughts about Charlotte and the Pogues.

Wheezie grinned at Charlotte, examining the mixing bowl in front of the older girl, "Waffles?"

"You know it." Charlotte smiled, passing the bowl to Wheezie, "Stir while I get the chocolate chips, will you?"

Taking the whisk, Wheezie did as Charlotte said. "You know waffles are my favourite, right?"

"Why do you think I'm making them?" Charlotte winked, returning with the bag of chocolate.

The smile that covered Wheezie's face was one of pure joy and adoration. It was evident as ever how much she adored Charlotte Carrera.

The look on Charlotte's face alluded to the fact that the feeling was completely mutual.

The two had always been close, since the early days of Rafe and Charlotte dating. But they had been attached at the hip over the past few weeks that Charlotte had finally felt well enough to leave her bedroom in the villa.

They spent almost everyday together—going to the beach, venturing into town, or simply lounging around the villa.

Rafe couldn't deny how happy that made him...that the two most important people to him loved each other as much as he loved them.

"Why aren't you helping?" Wheezie wondered, once again drawing Rafe from his thoughts.

He took a sip of his coffee, nodding toward Charlotte. "She wouldn't let me."

"Your brother sucks at cooking." Charlotte muttered to Wheezie, shooting Rafe a quick wink. "I'm doing us all a favour."

Rafe rolled his eyes, pushing himself to his feet. "I'm going to shower. Save me a waffle."

Charlotte and Wheezie shared a look before the older of the two shrugged. "If you take us to the beach today I will."

Wheezie's eyes lit up as she nodded, excited at the prospect of spending the day with both Charlotte and her brother.

Rafe's eyes flickered between the two of them, a smile twinging at his lips. "Fine."

The sound of Wheezie's excited chatter was the last thing as he rounded mounted the stairs toward the room that he and Charlotte now shared.

It was safe to say that this was the most genuinely happy that he had been in long time...a very long time.

─☼☼☼─

—CHARLOTTE—

"Have you talked to Mateo today?" Charlotte wondered, shimmying into a pair of denim shorts as Rafe sat on the bed, scrolling through the channels on the television.

"Yeah." Rafe answered as Charlotte disappeared into the bathroom which was still steam-filled from his shower.

"Anything new?" She wondered, removing her waffle batter-covered pajama shirt, replacing it with a bikini top.

Rafe was silent for a moment before speaking. "Nothing."

A sigh fell from Charlotte's lips as she re-entered the bedroom, attempting to hold the bathing suit over her chest. "Tie me up?" She wondered, turning her back to Rafe.

He stood from the bed, his warm hands brushing against her bare skin as he took hold of the bikini straps. Clearing his throat, Rafe gently worked at securing the top on Charlotte. "Maybe they made it back to the OBX." He offered, his hands lingering for a moment once the straps were tied. "I mean, someone else might have found them...took them home. It's been over a month."

Charlotte faltered slightly, "You really think that could have happened?"

Rafe nodded as Charlotte turned to face him. "I do."

Working her bottom lip between her teeth, Charlotte mulled over how best to approach the next sentence that was going to leave her mouth.

She decided to play the innocent part. "Do you think we'll get to go back anytime soon...to see my parents?"

It was as if Rafe had been expecting that question as he reached for his sunglasses on the bedside table. "I'm working on it Lottie. I promise."

Charlotte knew she shouldn't, but she believed him.

Giving him a small smile, she slipped on her sandals, throwing the beach bag over her shoulder. "We should get going. Wheeze will be waiting for us."

And she was, as the pair of them excited their bedroom, Wheezie perked up from her spot on the couch. "Finally!"

Rose, who was seated on the other end of the couch looked toward Rafe and Charlotte, small smile tracing her lips at the sight of them in such proximity. She was happy they were working through their differences...she had always loved them together.

"Where are you kids off to?" She wondered, the ice cubes in her drink clinking against her glass as she loved slightly.

"Beach." Charlotte answered, giving Rose a small smile.

Rose smiled back at Charlotte before refocusing on Rafe, "Rafe, have you gone into see your father yet today?"

Charlotte visibly tensed at the mention of the Cameron patriarch. Him having been rendered unconscious for the past five weeks was the one of the best things that had ever happened to her, but any mention of him was enough to make her skin crawl.

Noting her discomfort, Rafe reached out and took Charlottes hand into his own, giving it a quick squeeze. "No." He answered flatly. "I'll check on him later."

Rose nodded slowly, sensing the shift in the air. "When do you two have that meeting about the cross?" She looked between Rafe and Charlotte.

"Tomorrow." Rafe answered, hand still locked with Charlotte's.

That had been a part of the deal that allowed Mateo to continue looking for Kie and the Pogues—Charlotte was to become Rafe's business partner when it came to selling the cross.

Evidently, she did not agree with selling it. But this was the best—and really only—way that enabled her to keep looking for her sister and friends, and the best way for her and Rafe to continue getting along like they had been.

Not only that, but this allowed Charlotte to keep tabs on the cross, not letting it go anywhere without her knowing exactly where.

"Can we go now?" Wheezie wondered, letting out a huff of exasperation.

"Yes." Charlotte answered instantly, wanting to get out of the damn villa. "Let's go."

"Have fun!" Rose called after them.

The air was warm as they arrived at the beach, Wheezie already taking off toward the water as  Rafe and Charlotte set their belongings down

"You going in?" Rafe wondered, nodding toward the ocean where Wheezie was already waist deep.

Charlotte pursed her lips, weighing her options. "I don't kn—"

Her words were over taken by a shocked gasp as Rafe wrapped his arms around her waist, hoisting her off the ground and over his shoulder.

Laughter erupted from Charlotte's mouth as she relaxed against his grasp, not even bothering to try and fight it.

His skin was warm against hers as he propelled them toward the water where Wheezie was cheering in excitement.

Charlotte lifted her head, giving Wheezie a rushed thumbs up before she was dunked into the salty water.

Pulling herself back to the surface, she latched onto Rafe, wrapping her arms around his neck, legs around his waist.

"You're an ass." She muttered, unable to fight the smile that inched across his lips.

Rafe secured his hands under her thighs, holding her up as he grinned. "Yeah, Lottie. You look really pissed."

Charlotte smiled, a wide, genuine smile. It was as if all the stressed from the last five weeks had begun to be lifted.

Not everything was resolved, but this was the first time in over a year that she had seen a glimpse of the Rafe Cameron she first fell in love with

A silence had settled between them, only being broken when Charlotte spoke. "I'm really proud of you." She mumbled, meeting his gaze.

Rafe studied her for a moment, still holding onto her. "What for?"

Releasing one of her hands from around the back of his neck, Charlotte wiped a droplet of water from his face. "You've been clean for over a month." She explained, "And you've been there for me through all of this. You've really stepped up, Rafe."

His lips twitched in a smile, "I told you this island was exactly what we needed."

And as much as she hated to admit it, Charlotte knew Rafe was right. They had just needed time...time to move on from all the bad that had happened between them.

Instead of answering, Charlotte leaned forward and pressed her lips to Rafe's.

She knew it was a dumb thing to do, but quite frankly she didn't care.

Rafe happily reciprocated the kiss, tightening his grasp on Charlotte to pull her closer to him.

"Ew!" Wheezie yelled from somewhere on the shore. "Get a room!"

When they returned to the villa, that's exactly what they did.

─☼☼☼─