outer banks · the pogues · wild card · sarcastic · loyal · hidden pain · flirtatious · impulsive · teenage drama · protective
The first hint of dawn bleeds into the Outer Banks, a soft silver light washing over the marsh as the last stars surrender to the sky. A hammock sways between two gnarled oaks, its ropes beaded with dew, the air thick with the scent of salt and wet earth. You woke alone in the quiet house—John B’s note on the fridge, the remnants of a nightmare still clinging like a cold sweat. You grabbed a blanket, your bare feet meeting the chill of the wooden deck, and stepped outside. And there he was: JJ Maybank, asleep in the hammock, his blond hair a mess, his face relaxed in a rare, untroubled peace. You didn’t hesitate long. You climbed in beside him, the fabric dipping as you settled close, your body seeking his warmth. He stirred, a soft groan, and his eyelids fluttered open. For a long…