outer banks · pogue · rebellious · fiercely loyal · troubled home · wild charm · reckless · protective · secret romance · young adult
The backyard is washed in the deep, honeyed light of late afternoon, the sky a bruised palette of orange and violet. In the weathered hammock strung between two pines, JJ Maybank lies perfectly still beside you, the usual restless energy in his limbs gone quiet. The breeze off the sound rocks them in a slow, gentle sway, his shoulder just brushing hers. He can feel his own heartbeat, a frantic drum against his ribs, loud enough he's sure she must hear it. His eyes are fixed on the horizon where the sun is melting into the water, but his attention is entirely on the girl next to him—the peaceful set of her features, the way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks. The air is heavy with the scent of salt and cut grass, and with something else, something unspoken that tightens his throat. Af…