Lochlan Ratliff And Reader..

lochlan ratliff and reader..

The night is still, the kind of quiet that makes everything feel bigger than it is. You slip out of the room you’re sharing with Piper, careful not to let the door creak, and make your way down the stone pathways, your sandals clicking softly against the ground. The pool glows in the darkness, a cool, inviting blue, the surface still as glass.

You sit at the edge, dipping your legs in, staring at the way the water distorts your reflection. The dinner replays in your head, looping over and over. You weren’t embarrassed before, but now.. now, the weight of all the things you should’ve said presses down on you. The things you should’ve done. The way Lochlan’s mother had looked at you, her questions sharp even when they were sweet.

Your fingers trail through the water. Maybe if you’d laughed more. Maybe if you’d said something different. Maybe if—

Footsteps.

Your head snaps up, heartbeat stuttering, but it’s just Lochlan, his figure backlit by the glow of the resort. His shirt is loose, his hair a little messy, like he’d just rolled out of bed. He sees you and grins.

“Knew you’d be out here,” he murmurs, stepping closer.

You scoff, nudging the water with your foot. “Yeah? How?”

He shrugs, peeling off his shirt and tossing it onto a lounge chair before slipping into the pool. “You get that look when you’re overthinking. Saw it before you went to bed.”

You roll your eyes, but you’re smiling now.

Lochlan swims over, resting his arms on the edge beside you, watching you carefully. You don’t look at him when you say, “Remember freshman year? At Makenzie’s house? We played mermaids, and you were the pirate?”

He laughs, tilting his head back. “Oh my god. Yeah. And I took it way too seriously.”

“You tried to kidnap us,” you remind him.

“You let me kidnap you,” he shoots back, nudging your knee under the water.

You laugh, finally looking at him, and for a second, the weight in your chest loosens. The pool water ripples softly between you, the night air warm against your skin.

Lochlan hums, tilting his head. “You okay?”

You groan, covering your face with your hands. “No.”

He chuckles, prying your hands away. “Dinner?”

“I was so awkward,” you mumble. “I should’ve said more. I should’ve—”

“Stop.” He flicks water at you, making you gasp. “You were fine.”

You glare at him, but your lips twitch. “I was not fine.”

Lochlan smirks, swimming back slightly. “You were fine. I mean, my mom’s just…” He shrugs. “She’s like that with everyone.”

You exhale, watching as he floats on his back.

“You really don’t care?” you ask.

“Not even a little bit,” he says, tipping his head toward you, voice completely sincere.

You stare at him for a second, then splash water in his face.

Lochlan sputters, laughing. “Oh, oh?”

You shriek as he lunges, sending waves of water splashing up around you. You duck, trying to escape, but he grabs your wrist, spinning you around, both of you laughing so hard it barely makes a sound.

And then, footsteps.

You both freeze.

Lochlan grips your wrist tighter, eyes wide. “Is that—”

“Security?” you whisper, heart pounding.

A shadow appears under the terrace lights, and you brace for impact—

But then:

“Get your asses back inside,” Saxon drawls, arms crossed, looking half-asleep and wholly unimpressed.

You and Lochlan exchange glances before bursting into silent giggles, covering your mouths as you scramble out of the pool.

Saxon sighs. “If you guys get us kicked out, I’m making you both sleep outside.”

You shiver dramatically. “Oh no, not the five-star resort.”

Lochlan snorts, grabbing your hand as you slip past Saxon, dripping water onto the stone path.

Saxon shakes his head. “Idiots.”

But you hear the smirk in his voice as you and Lochlan sneak back inside, still laughing.

The laughter doesn’t stop, even as you sneak back toward your room, feet dripping little puddles along the stone path. Lochlan’s hand stays wrapped around yours, warm and sure, even as he bites down on his lip, trying, and failing, not to laugh.

Saxon trails behind you, rubbing a hand down his face like he’s already regretting getting out of bed. “Seriously,” he mutters. “What the hell were you two even doing out there?”

Lochlan shoots you a look, his grin crooked. “Playing mermaids.”

You slap his arm. “Shut up.”

Saxon groans. “Jesus Christ.”

You’re trying to be quiet, really, but the weight of the night, of everything that had been sitting in your chest since dinner, is gone now, washed away in chlorine and laughter. Lochlan looks at you, his damp hair curling at the edges, his tan skin glowing under the soft lights, and suddenly, nothing else matters, not his mom’s disapproving glances, not the questions you fumbled over, not the way you felt like you didn’t belong at that dinner table.

Because here, right now, you belong.

You reach your room, and just as you’re about to slip inside, Lochlan tugs on your wrist, stopping you.

You turn to face him, still breathless. “What?”

His expression softens, his thumb brushing against the inside of your palm. “You’re really okay?”

The laughter fades into something quieter, something warmer. You nod. “Yeah. I think so.”

Lochlan exhales like he was holding his breath, then leans in, pressing the gentlest kiss to your forehead. It lingers, just for a second.

Saxon groans behind you. “I’m actually gonna throw up.”

Lochlan laughs against your skin before pulling away. “Go to bed, Sax.”

“You go to bed,” Saxon mutters, already walking off.

You and Lochlan exchange another look, another quiet smile. He hurriedly walked back over to you giving you a gentle, sweet, quick kiss on the lips before reluctantly walking away back to his room.

And then, finally, you slip back into your room, feeling lighter than you have all night.

I dunno if I like this and I can definitely do better I just wanted to show off the concept of how I wanted to write them but I might change it around. PLEASE send in requests for him I’m begging

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