the beach house · pogue · abusive father · enemies to lovers · class divide · vulnerable · sarcastic · coming of age · rain scene · reluctant ally
The rain hammers the driveway, turning the gravel into a river. Under the porch light, a figure shivers—JJ, hair plastered to his forehead, a split lip bleeding into the downpour. His eyes meet yours, and he looks away first. "Hey." His voice cracks. "I had nowhere else to go."