Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
RAFE
Sweat trickled down my back as I finished up my last set on the bench press. My arms were burning, but I couldn't focus on the pain. I was too distracted by the sudden jolt I felt when I saw her.
Charli .
I don’t know why it hit me like a freight train—maybe because I hadn’t seen her in years—but the moment I caught sight of her walking through the gym doors, it was like the air shifted. Like the space between me and the rest of the world became... irrelevant. All that mattered was her. The way her ponytail swayed when she moved, the way her eyes scanned the room—familiar, yet distant.
I tried to act like I didn’t see her, but I couldn’t help it. She looked so different, but at the same time, she looked exactly the same. Like the girl I used to know, the girl I used to care about, the girl I never stopped thinking about, even after everything.
I finished my set, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and forced myself to look away. But she was still there, near the mats, stretching with that same effortless grace. The kind of focus I remember, the kind that made me fall for her in the first place.
I don’t know why I didn’t walk over right away. Maybe it was the fear. The fear that I’d say the wrong thing, that she’d look at me like I was some stranger…the fear that I would fall right back in. But the truth is, I’ve been carrying this weight of regret around for too long. And today? Seeing her? It felt like the universe was giving me a second shot, like I wasn’t going to let this moment slip by without at least trying.
Our history is messy even if we are the only ones to know the truth. I left her feeling like she was nothing and I’ve never regretted something more in my life. She hasn’t escaped my mind in years, and because of that, I haven't laid a hand on another woman since her.
So I did what any guy who’s still holding onto the past would do.
I pulled out my phone.
Rafe: Hey, Little Poison. It’s been a while. You still up for movie nights?
I pressed send before I could overthink it.
I couldn’t stop staring at the screen, my thumb hovering over the keyboard, waiting for her response like a little kid waiting in line for an ice cream cone.
What if she doesn’t want to hang out? What if she’s moved on? What if she thinks I’m just trying to make things right because it’s been so long?
But, the thing is—if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life doesn’t wait. If you’re not going after what you want, you’re letting it slip through your fingers. So, I decided to take the chance, even if it meant risking that the door I’d closed a long time ago might stay locked.
The vibration from my phone pulls me out of my thoughts. I check the message, half-expecting it to be one of the other guys on the team, asking about dinner plans or practice. But it’s not. It’s from her.
Charli: A movie night sounds nice. What do you have in mind?
I blink, once, twice, to make sure I’m not seeing things. My heart starts to beat a little faster. She wants to hang out. She’s willing to give this a shot.
Rafe: Just the classics. You know, the ones we used to watch until we fell asleep halfway through. You remember?
I bite my lip, the nervousness settling in my chest again. I’m not sure what I’m even expecting. Maybe I’m hoping for some kind of closure, or maybe I’m hoping this is just the beginning of something I’d been too afraid to try back then.
Her response is almost immediate.
Charli: That sounds perfect. I’ll bring the popcorn. When should I come over?
A grin spreads across my face, a relief flooding through me. It’s like that weight I didn’t even know I was carrying has finally lifted, just a little bit.
Rafe: How about 7? I’ll text you the address.
I hit send, feeling that familiar excitement bubbling up in my stomach, the same excitement I used to feel before I’d pick her up for a date or when I knew we were about to get lost in some random movie, talking about everything and nothing until we’d both fall asleep on the couch.
I stare at my phone for a moment, half-expecting her to change her mind or tell me she’s busy. But the little bubbles telling me she’s typing start to pop up, and then the message comes through.
Charli: 7 sounds good. See you then. :)
I feel like I’m on cloud nine. I can’t stop the stupid grin from spreading across my face.
I throw my gym bag over my shoulder and head toward the locker room, my mind racing. I haven’t felt this giddy in so long. Maybe it’s because of what Charli and I shared back then, or maybe it’s because I know this could be the chance to fix everything that went wrong.
But one thing’s for sure—I’m not going to waste it. I’ll make it right, even if it’s just one night, one movie, or one small moment at a time.
I just hope she feels the same way.
When I get home, I go straight to the living room, tossing the gym bag onto the couch. I look around for a second, trying to remember what it was like when it was just me here, no distractions, no regrets. It’s been a while since I’ve had someone over—since I’ve cared about anyone this much.
I set up the TV, throw a couple of blankets over the couch, and clean up a little bit before taking a quick shower. As the clock ticks closer to 7, I find myself pacing between the door and the couch. Every time I hear a car outside, I swear my heart skips a beat.
Finally, the doorbell rings, and I almost trip over myself to get to it.
I open the door, and there she is.
My Little Poison.
Her smile is like an anchor to my soul. And for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.