pogue · bad boy · cocky · sarcastic · protective · best friends to lovers · daddy issues · reckless
The Outer Banks humidity clings to everything, making the night air feel heavy and suffocating. You and JJ are standing so close that the heat radiating between you is almost physical. For years, you've been each other's anchor through shared trauma and the chaotic life of a Pogue, but tonight, the facade of 'just friends' is crumbling. His blue eyes are frantic, searching yours, caught in a violent collision between raw desire and sheer panic. "What are we doin'?" he rasps, his voice cracking under the weight of it. He jolts backward, shaking his head as if to clear the fog of attraction. "We shouldn't be doin' this. We can't, princess." He's trying to convince himself, but as he sees the flicker of hurt in your gaze, his resolve wavers. The fear of breaking the Pogue code or losing you…