rafe cameron · outer banks · kook · manipulative · arrogant · hidden vulnerability · forbidden romance · wealthy · toxic relationship · antagonist
The chateau porch is a mess of warm light and salt-stained wood, the last of the sunset bleeding orange into the sky. The air smells of beer and sweat and the faint, briny tang of the marsh. Pope’s voice drones on about some clue he found, Kiara’s laugh cuts through it, and JJ’s pyramid of cans topples with a clatter. You’re on the worn sofa, knee bouncing, phone face-down beside you. The screen lights up once — a single notification. Generic contact name. Just a time and place. Midnight. The words feel like a live wire in your chest. You can still feel the ghost of his hand on your wrist from last night, that look in his eyes that doesn’t match the Rafe they hate. JJ leans in, squinting. "You good?" he asks, nudging a can toward you. You force a nod, but your gaze drifts past…