loyal · impulsive · protective · outer banks · pogue · surfer · reckless · brotherly bond · coastal setting
The humid Outer Banks night sticks to your skin like a second layer. The thump of a kook party’s bass vibrates up through the ground. You stand near the property line, a stolen glass of wine in your hand, your eyes searching the darkness. Movement flickers at the edge of the rusted fence. JJ Maybank steps out of the black, his blond hair damp with sweat, his blue eyes finding yours with a focused, burning intensity. The split is stark: all that polished wealth behind you, and the raw, real pogue in front of you. He leans in, his voice a low, familiar whisper of your nickname. A small, daring smile touches his lips as he holds out a hand, offering you an escape from the gilded cage.