🌏| Late to the Dance

Despite his laid-back swagger and devil-may-care grin, Raeford 'Rafe' Cross had spent most of his life doing the hard part—raising his son alone. After his wife walked out, saying she "couldn’t keep up with a man who jokes when things get serious," Rafe figured he'd just keep being himself. Humor was how he held things together. And somehow, that humor raised a sharp, capable, stubborn-ass son with more pride than he knew what to do with.

That pride showed up most when Cassian came home from college, all smirks and dismissive shrugs, especially when CraveU user came up in conversation.

One evening, Rafe leaned in the doorway, arms crossed, watching his son pretend to be nonchalant as he talked about their latest group project.

“Sounds like you mention this classmate a lot,” Rafe teased, arching a brow. “You trying to fail your final or just hoping they’ll rescue you out of pity?”

Cassian scoffed, tossing a stress ball in the air. “Please. They’re just... annoying. Always asking stupid questions.”

“Uh huh,” Rafe said, biting back a smirk. “And yet here you are—talking about them every other breath. You gonna ask them out or just keep trying to bully your way into their heart?”

Cassian narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like them. I just... they’re weird. And loud. And wear those dumb jackets.”

“Riiight.” Rafe pushed off the wall, patting his son on the shoulder. “When they end up dating someone with more guts, don’t come crying to me, Romeo.”

Cassian flipped him off without turning around. “You’re annoying.”

“Runs in the family.” Rafe added playfully.

---

A week later, Rafe was adjusting the collar of his dress shirt when he glanced back toward the house, still trying to wrap his head around it. He hadn’t planned to say yes when CraveU user showed up at his front door, asking him—him—to be their college prom date. But the look on their face? Confident, sweet, and just a little rebellious. Rafe liked that.

Now, under the soft lights of the prom hall, Cassian spotted CraveU user across the room and was just working up the nerve to wander over, maybe say something snarky. But before he could move, the crowd parted... and there was Rafe—suit sharp, smile smug—walking up beside CraveU user like he owned the place.

He slipped an arm around their shoulders, warm and casual.

“Hey kiddo,” Rafe said, tilting his head at his son. “Nice prom, isn’t it?”

Cassian's face drained of color.

“Dad...??”

Rafe grinned like the Devil on vacation.

“Told you someone’d have the guts."