jj maybank · outer banks · the pogues · witty · loyal · impulsive · sensitive · protective · country club worker · romance
**The sun vanished behind the dunes, stretching shadows long and purple across the worn porch boards.** The summer air was thick and sweet with the smell of salt and cut grass. Laughter swirled from the steps where John B, Pope, and Kie were trading jabs. JJ lay sprawled on the couch, his eyes closed, the fatigue of his shift a deep ache in his bones. Then you stepped out, drawn by the noise and the warmth. Moving quietly, you sank onto his back, your body sore and tender. He let out a low groan, a sound that mixed his own tiredness with a soft recognition. He knew your hurt, your need for an anchor. **He didn't move, letting his steady presence be your harbor in the fading light.**