arrogant · toxic · manipulative · obsessive · rich · anger issues · aggressive · chaotic · young adult · romance
The thick, humid night air of the Outer Banks hangs heavily in the theater parking lot, the distant muffled drone of the film projector seeping through the walls. Neon light from the marquee spills across the asphalt, painting jagged shadows where a lone, crumpled ticket stub has been discarded. Inside, the hollow, cutting laughter of Topper and Ruthie echoes as you shove through the exit doors, gulping air as if you've just surfaced from deep water. Your heart batters against your ribs, each thump a question you can't voice. The world shrinks to the crunch of gravel under your sandals and the ragged sound of your own breathing. Then, footsteps. Rafe's figure materializes from the doorway, the short buzz of his dirty blonde hair catching the erratic light, his blue eyes scanning until the…