The next morning, Zoe woke up to the sound of Barry slamming cabinet doors in the kitchen.bShe groaned, pulling a pillow over her head. "Jesus, why?"

Barry didn't answer. Didn't even look at her. She peeked out from under the pillow, frowning. He was moving fast, shoving things into a duffel bag, jaw tight.

Something was wrong. She sat up, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "What's going on?" Barry didn't pause. "Work."Zoe frowned. "What kind of 'work'?"

Barry sighed, finally glancing at her. "The kind you don't need to worry about."Which meant the illegal kind.Zoe crossed her arms. "You always say that right before something stupid happens."

Barry zipped up the bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Just stay out of it, Zoe." Then he was gone, the screen door slamming shut behind him.

Zoe exhaled, pressing her fingers against her temples. Great. Just great. She had enough problems without worrying about whatever shit Barry was caught up in.

Like how she still couldn't get Rafe Cameron out of her head. She grabbed her phone and checked her messages. Nothing from Barry. Nothing from Rafe. But—

JJ: breakfast at john b's. bring coffee and i promise not to ask annoying questions

Zoe smirked.

Zoe: you're literally lying. you never stop asking annoying questions.

JJ: ok true but i'll make them slightly less annoying. deal?

Zoe rolled her eyes, already getting up.

Zoe: be there soon.

The minute Zoe walked in, JJ immediately grabbed the coffee out of her hands. "I knew I liked you," he said, taking a sip. Zoe rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Where's everyone else?"

John B and Pope were at the table, flipping through some old map while Kiara dug through cabinets for food. "Right here," John B said without looking up.

Zoe dropped onto the couch, stretching out. "So, what's the plan?" Kiara snorted. "Plan? You think these idiots actually plan things?" JJ grinned. "Offended, but fair."

Zoe smirked, watching them bicker, feeling lighter than she had in days. No Rafe. No Barry. No drama.

Just her people. And for now, that was enough.

For a while, everything felt normal.

Zoe sat on the couch, sipping her coffee, half-listening as JJ and Kiara argued over whether or not JJ could survive a day without making a dumb decision.

(He couldn't. Everyone knew it. Even he knew it.)

Pope was still flipping through some map, muttering something about treasure, and John B was throwing in sarcastic comments between bites of cereal.

It was easy.

It was safe.

It was exactly what she needed.

Until Kiara suddenly turned to Zoe and asked, "So... are we actually gonna pretend nothing happened at that party?" Zoe froze, coffee cup halfway to her lips. JJ grinned. "Oh, thank God. I've been waiting for this."

Zoe shot Kiara a glare. "Seriously?" Kiara just raised a brow. "What? You knew this was coming." Zoe groaned, setting her coffee down. "Nothing happened." JJ snorted. "That's funny because Rafe Cameron was definitely looking at you like something happened."

Pope looked up, frowning. "Wait. What happened?" Zoe sighed, running a hand over her face. "You guys are making a big deal out of nothing." JJ leaned forward. "Then say it out loud." Zoe hesitated.

Kiara smirked. "Yeah. That's what I thought." John B finally chimed in. "Zoe. Please tell me you didn't hook up with Rafe." Zoe really wanted to lie.

But the way they were all staring at her made it impossible. So instead, she exhaled sharply and muttered, "It was just a kiss."

Immediate chaos.

JJ practically jumped off the couch. "Just a kiss?! You kissed Rafe Cameron?" Pope looked like he was having an existential crisis. "Zoe. No." Kiara, to her credit, didn't seem that shocked. "Was it at least good?"

John B groaned. "Kiara, seriously?" Zoe dropped her head into her hands. "I hate all of you." JJ grinned. "Hate us all you want, but we're not letting this go."

Pope still looked like he was processing. "I just... I don't understand why."bZoe sighed. "I was drunk. It was stupid. It won't happen again."bJJ raised a brow. "Won't it?"

Zoe didn't answer. Because she wasn't sure. And that was the problem.

After a painfully long interrogation from the Pogues, Zoe finally convinced them to let it go—at least for now.

They spent the afternoon in town, wandering through shops, messing with tourists, and stealing free samples from the bakery. For the first time all day, Zoe actually felt like herself.

Until she saw him. Again. Rafe.

Standing on the other side of the street, leaning against his bike, cigarette in hand, watching her like he knew she'd end up here. Zoe's stomach twisted.

Because the worst part? Somewhere deep down, she had known she'd see him again too.

Zoe looked away fast. Like if she ignored him hard enough, he'd disappear. (Spoiler: he didn't.)

Her pulse picked up as she turned back to Kiara, pretending she hadn't just made eye contact with the last person she wanted to see right now.

"Let's go in here," she said quickly, stepping into a small surf shop. Kiara followed without question, but JJ wasn't so easily fooled. He smirked. "Ohhh, I see what's happening." Zoe groaned. "No, you don't."

JJ ignored her, leaning against the counter. "Cameron's out there, isn't he?" Kiara's head snapped up. "Wait—what?" Zoe sighed, rubbing her temple. "Can we not do this right now?"

JJ grinned. "Oh, no. This is exactly the time." Kiara crossed her arms. "Where?" JJ jerked his head toward the window. "Across the street. Looking all broody and annoying."

Kiara rolled her eyes, then looked at Zoe. "Okay, seriously, why is he everywhere lately?" "Because he's a pain in the ass," Zoe muttered. JJ smirked. "Or because someone kissed him at a party and now they have unresolved tension."

Zoe turned and whacked him with a folded-up t-shirt. "Shut. Up." JJ just laughed, dodging her next swing. But Kiara wasn't letting it slide. She leaned against the display, watching Zoe carefully. "So what now? You gonna keep pretending like you don't want to talk to him?"

Zoe scoffed. "I don't want to talk to him." JJ grinned. "Yeah, totally. That's why you ran in here the second you saw him." Zoe glared. "I ran in here because I didn't want to deal with his bullshit."

Kiara raised a brow. "And yet, here we are. Talking about him anyway." Zoe groaned, pressing her forehead against the counter. "I hate you both."

JJ patted her back. "Hate is just love disguised as frustration." Zoe lifted her head just to glare at him. He grinned. "That's what Rafe would say, anyway." Zoe grabbed the nearest thing she could find—(a flip-flop, really?)—and threw it at him.

JJ dodged, laughing. "Ohhh, she's feisty today." Kiara smirked. "Maybe Rafe got her all riled up." Zoe groaned again, louder, and turned to leave the shop. Of course, that was the exact moment Rafe decided to step inside.

And, of course, JJ and Kiara immediately shut up, watching with wide, very entertained eyes. Zoe stopped short, barely a foot between her and Rafe, and fought so hard not to react. Rafe, of course, didn't have that problem.

His lips curled into a slow, amused smirk. "Fancy seeing you here, Jones." Zoe clenched her jaw. JJ whispered behind her, "This is so awkward." Zoe whacked him with the flip-flop again.

JJ wheezed with laughter as he dodged Zoe's swing, while Kiara just stood there, arms crossed, watching the whole thing unfold like it was her new favorite reality show.

Rafe, meanwhile, barely even blinked. He just stood there, hands in his pockets, looking entirely too pleased with himself. Zoe forced a breath through her nose and crossed her arms. "What do you want, Rafe?" He tilted his head, all lazy amusement. "Nothing. Just doing some shopping."

JJ snorted. "Yeah, right. You hate this place." Rafe ignored him, eyes still locked on Zoe. "Didn't think I'd see you out with the Pogues again." Zoe stiffened.

So that's what this is about. She rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I forgot I needed your permission to have friends." Rafe took a slow step closer. "You just keep making interesting choices, Jones."

Zoe didn't step back. Didn't give him the satisfaction. Instead, she lifted her chin. "And you keep making shitty ones. Guess we're both consistent." JJ whispered behind her, "Damn, that was good."

Kiara elbowed him. Rafe, to his credit, only smirked. "You know, I'm starting to think you like fighting with me." Zoe scoffed. "Yeah, just like I love slamming my hand in a car door."

Rafe grinned. "You are kinda violent." Zoe's eye twitched. Kiara stepped in before she could actually punch him. "Wow, this has been fun, but we really have places to be."

JJ sighed dramatically. "Do we have to leave? This is so entertaining." Zoe grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the door. "Yes. Now." Rafe didn't stop her. Didn't say anything else.

But as she walked past him, she felt his eyes on her—watching, waiting. And she hated that part of her wanted to turn around. Because Rafe Cameron was a problem she didn't have the energy to solve.

And yet, she couldn't seem to stay away.