The next day...

After what felt like an emotional rollercoaster yesterday, falling asleep next to Rafe was just what Tayla needed. She knew that she wasn't disposable to him, he would just get way too overwhelmed and want to push away anything good for him.

Rafe opened his eyes to see his girlfriend playing with his ring, anything she did was admirable to him. He hated what he did yesterday and wanted her to know that that wasn't who he was anymore. "Good morning gorgeous" he kisses the top of her head.

Looking up at him, she couldn't help but smile, even though he wasn't perfect he was to her. Tayla taps on his chest with her finger nervously "Soooo I have a proposition for you". 

He laughs "And what would that be exactly?". 

She sits up "There's a party on the beach later and I want you to come with me".

He groans somewhat playfully "A party? I'm trying to get out of that scene". 

"We don't have to do anything crazy, I just want to have a good time with you" Tayla says trying everything she can to get him to go. 

Rafe closes his eyes and takes a deep breath "Only because I love you".

Tayla dances a little "Yessss" she pecks his lips and gets out of bed. 

He laughs, throwing a pillow at her "Don't get used to getting what you want all the time". 

Tayla turns back "Oh?" she takes off Rafe's shirt he gave her for the night, leaving her in her purple lace bra. 

"You want to say no to me? Your girlfriend? Oh please... I don't believe that for a second".

His eyes drift down to her chest and then back to her eyes "What did you do to me?". She laughs, walking into the bathroom to shower. When Rafe hears the water turn on and Tayla's singing voice, he smiles at how carefree she is.

The smile fades as there's a knock on the door, he groans and walks towards the door. He opens the door to find his two little sisters "Yes?". 

Sarah checks behind him "Are you both decent?". 

"Tayla's in the shower right now but yeah I guess" he opens the door more to let them in.

He puts on a shirt that was resting on his armchair and starts to make the bed to tidy up the room. Wheezie crosses her arms, trying to come off as intimidating but failing "We need to ask you something". 

Rafe looks up from his focus on the bed to both girls "Uh okay".

Sarah clears her throat before she speaks "Tay is my best friend-". 

Wheezie cuts her off "And mine!". 

The blonde girl looks back at her little sister "Sure, Wheeze". This whole thing is comedic to Rafe, expecting his sisters to say something irrelevant that most likely means nothing to him.

"As I was saying... Tay is my best friend and I care about her a lot, I need to know if you actually see a future with her or if you're are just playing her out". Wheezie nods confidently, agreeing with Sarah's words. 

Rafe rolls his eyes at the doubt of the two girls in front of him "Yes I see a future with her, are we done here?".

Wheezie scoffs at his question "Not even close" the two girls laugh. 

Rafe starts to get annoyed "I don't understand why I have to prove my love for my girlfriend to you two". 

Sarah shakes her head "Because I know what Tayla is looking for at the end of the day, and I want to know if you would even offer that".

"Like what, Sarah?" Rafe goes back to making the bed, as he is starting to feel on edge, needing a distraction. 

"Like moving in together, engagement, marriage... kids?" Sarah states counting each stage on her fingers. 

These unexpected words left Rafe speechless for a moment. Wheezie raises her eyebrows in impatience "Well?".

All three hear the water turn off, making Rafe nervous that Tayla would walk into the conversation. "I don't want to think about a future with her right now, okay? And I don't need to tell you what's going through my head anyway, just leave" he gestures for them to leave and closes the door behind them.

In the bathroom, Tayla looks at herself in the mirror, thinking to herself about how much she truly mattered to Rafe. His words imprinted into her brain.

I don't want to think about a future with her

She loved him so much and to think that the feeling wasn't mutual really stung. The rejection of love from her parents made her extremely sensitive to topics like this. Tayla knew not to push anything on him so she just tried to push down the painful feeling. Taking a deep breath and getting herself ready, she finally left the bathroom.

Rafe looks up from his phone, laying on the newly made bed "Wow, you're really going out for this party". 

Tayla nods and smiles politely in response. He furrows his brows at the girl's reaction "What's wrong?". 

"Nothing, I'll see you at the party if you show up" the last part of her sentence was kind of mumbled.

As she looks in the mirror above Rafe's dresser, she fixes her hair a little. Rafe gets up and puts his arms around her waist from behind. Her body stiffens a bit and he notices. She always relaxes to my touch, what the hell

"What's going on babe?". 

Tayla gets out of his reach, moving towards the door "I'm just not in the touchy mood right now". He furrows his brows again, never does she reject his touch. 

The awkward silence fills the room as Tayla reaches the doorknob. "I'm fine Rafe, I'll see you later".

Did she hear what I said?