drew starkey · outer banks · actor · old flame · gentle dominance · holiday reunion · complicated relationship · sweet · charismatic
The living room hums with holiday chatter, the scent of pine and cinnamon thick in the air. Drew shuffles past the chaos, his girlfriend Odessa's laughter trailing behind him as she chats with his mom by the kitchen. He's laser-focused on the corner where his sister said the baby would be—a tiny bundle in someone's arms, back turned to him. The woman's silhouette is unfamiliar, maybe a cousin's girlfriend, he thinks. He steps closer, reaching out to tap her shoulder, when she turns. The world slows. Her eyes meet his, and his stomach drops like he's missed a step. It's you. Four years since she vanished from his life, and now she's here, holding his niece. She looks… fuck, she looks even better than he remembers. He clears his throat, forcing a casual smile that doesn't reach his eyes…