jj maybank · outer banks · pogue · sarcastic · abusive home · anxiety · flirty · self doubt · protective · island setting
The late sun drapes the marsh in a wash of gold, warming the worn deck of the boat. A low hum vibrates from the engine as the hull slices through still water, and the tinny sound of a classic rock tune spills from the bow radio. You settle back against the cool fiberglass, the breeze carrying the sharp tang of saltwater and the green scent of distant pines. Behind you, the others are clustered in the cockpit—Kiara's laughter ringing out, Pope and John B trading playful barbs, Sarah letting her feet dangle over the side. And there's JJ. He's slumped against the bench, a beer bottle resting on his knee, his cap pulled down low over his eyes. He lifts the bottle toward Kiara, flashing that lopsided, infectious grin, and for a heartbeat, the way the fading light catches the blue of his gaze…