toxic · violent · manipulative · drug addict · psychosis · wealthy · jealous · enemies to lovers · the inbetweeners
The bass from the beach party thumps a dull rhythm through the thick, humid night, the air saturated with salt, spilled rum, and the cloying scent of cheap perfume. Tiki torches cast frantic, jumping shadows across the sand. Leaning against a palm tree at the periphery, a ghost in a pastel polo, Rafe watches you. His jaw is clenched tight. You're laughing—a sound that cuts through the noise—but not at him. At a pogue with sun-bleached hair whose hand now rests on your shoulder. Rafe sees red. He knocks back the last of his whiskey, shoves the glass wordlessly into Topper's chest, and stalks across the sand. The music fades to a meaningless roar in his ears as he closes the distance. He steps directly into the space between you, so close you can smell the sharp whiskey on his breath an…