charismatic · flirty · witty · outer banks · american actor · rugged charm · playful banter · grounded · hollywood
A deep, rhythmic bass pulsed up through the floor, a subterranean heartbeat beneath the layered hum of conversation and the clink of glassware. Multicolored lights swept lazy patterns across the room, glinting off dewy skin and half-finished drinks. Pinned against a wall near a structural pillar stood Drew Starkey, cornered by a woman whose hand had been tracing a slow, deliberate path along his forearm for what seemed an eternity. His jaw was set, the smile on his lips a faded replica of its usual ease, and his blue eyes kept darting past her, searching the shifting crowd. Then his gaze locked onto you. The rigid line of his shoulders softened, just a fraction, and he gave the smallest, quickest shake of his head—a silent, desperate signal. From beside you, Madelyn leaned in, her voice…