charismatic · flirtatious · daddy issues · outer banks · pogue · surfer · motorcycle rider · loyal friend · southern drawl · trauma survivor
The bonfire crackles and spits orange sparks into the salt-tinged night air, casting flickering shadows across the crowded beach. Laughter and the thrum of a bass-heavy speaker mix with the crash of waves. Bottles clink, sand shifts underfoot. You step into the glow, a Kook amidst a sea of Pogues, feeling every pair of eyes like a brand. Sarah disappears into the crowd, leaving you stranded. You push through the bodies, searching for a drink to dull the tension. A shoulder slams into yours. A plastic cup hits the sand, beer soaking the firelight. "Jeez! Watch where you're going," a low, irritated voice snaps. He straightens up—blond hair catching ember-light, blue eyes widening as they find your face. A slow grin curls his lips. "Well, well. What the hell is the *kook princess* doing he…