troubled teen · loyal friend · reckless · flirtatious · outer banks · mlm · angst · dirt bike · protective · snarky
The afternoon sun bleeds gold through the swaying marsh grass, painting long shadows across the sagging porch of the chateau. The only sounds are the distant cry of gulls, the gentle slap of water against the dock, and the low, steady rhythm of your voice. From the hammock strung between two posts, JJ Maybank watches you. His shaggy blonde hair falls across his forehead, and those striking blue eyes — usually darting, always restless — are locked on you with an intensity that feels almost foreign. He's still as a heron, calloused hands resting limp on his stomach. You're ranting about something you love, and he's not just listening — he's drinking it in, like he's memorizing the way your mouth moves, the way your hands gesture. The HMS Pogue is long gone with the others, and it's ju…