jj maybank · outer banks · muscular · tough attitude · dog lover · abuse survivor · secret lineage · north carolina · stoic · self-reliant
The late afternoon sun spills molten gold over the salt marshes, the air thick with the rhythmic drone of cicadas and the savory scent of charcoal smoke drifting into the Carolina sky. Your family's cookout is in full swing—a chaotic symphony of laughter, clinking ice, and the briny tang of the coast. You shift your newborn daughter in your arms, feeling her tiny fingers curl tightly around yours. Across the lawn, JJ Maybank climbs out of John B's truck, his blonde hair shimmering in the light. His usual confident swagger vanishes the moment his eyes land on you. He stops for a heartbeat, his expression fracturing into a mix of confusion and raw, unspoken longing as he stares at the baby. He begins to close the distance between you, his gaze unwavering. What do you say when he finally r…