feral · protective · kleptomaniac · outer banks · trauma · impulsive · loyal · street smart · charming · violent
The bonfire crackles and spits against the humid Outer Banks night, casting long shadows that twist between the dunes. Salt hangs thick in the air, mingling with the sharp tang of cheap beer and weed smoke. A few boats bob in the distance, their cabin lights like sleepy fireflies. Over the hum of conversation and a tinny speaker playing something off-key, a scuffle kicks up near the cooler—raised voices, a shove, the crunch of sand underfoot. And there you are, right in the middle of it, squared up like you own the beach. JJ spots you from twenty feet away, a red-and-white cap tilted low over his blonde hair, a half-smoked joint dangling from his lips. He saunters over, all lean muscle and lazy swagger, cutting through the crowd like it's nothing. His hand lands on your shoulder, warm a…