JJ didn't say anything for a while after that. He just laid there beside her, arms crossed behind his head, staring up at the sky like he was thinking way too hard. Zoe almost wished he'd go back to being annoying.

Almost. Finally, he spoke. "You know, you don't have to do that." She frowned. "Do what?" "Pretend like it's nothing." His voice was calm but sure. "Like he doesn't get under your skin." Zoe let out a dry laugh. "He does get under my skin. That's the problem."

JJ rolled onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow again. "And yet, you keep letting him." Zoe clenched her jaw. "It's not like that." JJ scoffed. "Yeah, it is." He shook his head. "I've seen this before, Zoe. A million times. Guys like Rafe? They take and take and take until there's nothing left." His voice dropped lower. "And you don't deserve that."

Zoe's chest tightened. JJ wasn't being playful anymore. He was genuinely worried about her. And for some reason, that made it worse. She swallowed. "I can handle myself, JJ."

"I know," he said immediately. "But you don't have to prove anything." She looked away. "It's not about proving anything." JJ sighed. "Then what's it about?"
She didn't have an answer for that.

Not one she wanted to say out loud. JJ studied her for a moment, his blue eyes softer than usual. "Just... don't let him pull you under, alright?" Zoe turned back to him, something unreadable passing between them.

JJ was JJ. Loud. Chaotic. Always the first to start a fight. But right now, he was just her friend. Someone who cared. She gave him a small nod. "I won't." He held her gaze for a second longer, like he was trying to believe her. Then, he let out a dramatic sigh and flopped onto his back again. "Good. 'Cause I really don't wanna have to fight that guy."

Zoe smirked. "Oh, please. I'd pay to see that." JJ grinned. "It'd be legendary." And just like that, the weight in her chest felt a little lighter.

The conversation with JJ stuck with Zoe longer than she wanted it to. Even as the rest of the day passed—hanging out with the Pogues, riding around the island, swimming off the dock—his words echoed in the back of her mind.

You don't have to prove anything.

But it wasn't that simple. Rafe wasn't just some guy. And Zoe wasn't just some girl. At least, that's what she told herself. But later that night, when she was back at the trailer, she wasn't so sure.

She was sitting on the porch, legs stretched out, letting the night air cool her skin when she heard the sound of a car pulling up. At first, she thought it was Barry. But then she saw the headlights. The familiar ones.

And just like that, the uneasy feeling in her gut twisted into something else. Something she didn't want to name. The car door slammed shut, and then he was there—walking toward her like he belonged there. Rafe Cameron.

She sighed, already exhausted. "Seriously?" Rafe smirked, hands in his pockets. "Miss me?" She rolled her eyes. "Like I'd miss a headache." He stopped at the bottom of the steps, looking up at her with that infuriating expression—like he knew exactly how much space he took up in her mind.

"Funny," he mused. "JJ said the same thing earlier." Her stomach dropped. She covered it up quickly. "You saw JJ?" Rafe tilted his head, like he was enjoying this. "Saw all of you, actually." His smirk widened. "You looked cozy."

Zoe's pulse spiked, but she kept her expression even. "You spying on me now?" Rafe shrugged. "Just happened to be in the area." She let out a sharp laugh. "Right. Because you just casually drive through the Cut." He took a step closer, the space between them shrinking. "What can I say?" His voice dropped slightly. "You're entertaining."

Zoe clenched her jaw. "Go to hell, Rafe." He grinned, like he loved this. "You first, Jones." And the worst part? She couldn't look away.

Zoe hated how easily Rafe got under her skin. How he could show up out of nowhere, say a few words, and suddenly, she was wound tight—pissed off, heart pounding, on edge in a way that wasn't entirely hate.

And he knew it. She could see it in the way he watched her now, standing at the bottom of the steps, looking like he had all the time in the world.
"Why are you really here, Rafe?" she asked, crossing her arms.

He hummed like he was thinking about it. "I could say I was checking in on you, making sure your little Pogue friends didn't get you into trouble." Zoe scoffed. "And we both know that's bullshit."

Rafe grinned. "See? That's what I like about you, Jones. You're not an idiot." She narrowed her eyes. "Wow, what a compliment." He smirked. "You want another one?"

"No," she said immediately. Rafe just chuckled. "Shame." Silence stretched between them, the night air thick with humidity and something else—something dangerous. Zoe should've gone inside. Should've stood up, turned her back, and ignored him completely.

But she didn't. Instead, she tilted her head. "Did you tell Barry you saw me?" Rafe exhaled, dragging a hand over his jaw. "Haven't decided yet."

Her stomach tightened. Because that was the game, wasn't it? The constant push and pull. The way he dangled things over her head just to see how she'd react. She refused to give him the satisfaction.

She leaned back against the railing, playing along. "Let me guess. You're hoping I'll beg you to keep your mouth shut?" Rafe's eyes flickered, just for a second. "Would you?" Zoe held his gaze. "Not a chance."

His smirk faltered. Just barely. And for some reason, that felt like a win. Rafe rolled his shoulders, like he was trying to shake something off. Then, with an almost lazy grin, he took a step backward. "Well, I'll let you get back to your Pogue-loving ways." He shot her a look. "But don't forget where you really belong, Jones."

Zoe clenched her jaw. "And where's that?" Rafe just smiled. A slow, knowing thing. Then, without another word, he turned and walked back to his truck. Zoe didn't move, didn't breathe, until the headlights disappeared down the road. And even then, she still felt him there. Like a shadow she couldn't shake.

Zoe sat there for a long time after Rafe left, the distant hum of his truck fading into the night. Her heart was still beating too fast. She hated that he could do this to her—show up, say a few words, and suddenly, she was spiraling. It was stupid. She was smarter than this.

But damn it, he got in her head anyway. With a frustrated sigh, she stood up and went inside. Barry wasn't home—probably out handling business, which meant the trailer was quiet. Too quiet.

She kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the couch, staring at the ceiling. Her mind kept replaying the conversation, the way Rafe had looked at her, like he knew something she didn't. Like he was daring her to figure it out. And worse, the way she hadn't been able to look away.

She groaned, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. "Get out of my head, Cameron." But she knew it wasn't that easy. Because the truth was, no matter how much she told herself she hated him, there was something there—something dark, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.

And she had no idea how much longer she could pretend otherwise.

The next morning, Zoe woke up to her phone buzzing. She groaned, blindly reaching for it and squinting at the screen.

JJ: Yo, breakfast at The Wreck?
JJ: Before Kie starts ranting about the downfall of capitalism again?

Zoe smirked, already feeling lighter.

Zoe: Be there in 10.

Within minutes, she was out the door, letting the morning sun chase away the heaviness from the night before. By the time she got to The Wreck, the Pogues were already at their usual table. JJ waved her over with a grin. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence."

Kiara smirked. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about us." Zoe rolled her eyes, sliding into the booth. "Please. You guys would hunt me down if I ever tried." Pope nodded. "That's true."

John B set down his menu. "Alright, so what's the plan today?" JJ smirked. "Trouble." Zoe laughed, letting herself sink into the moment. Because this was what mattered. Not Rafe. Not whatever mess she was tangled in.

Just her and the Pogues. And for now, that was enough.