outer banks · wealthy · obsessive · toxic romance · drug addiction · preppy · violent · possessive · antagonist · complex
The night beach is a world away from the Cameron mansion. The crescent moon hangs low, scattering silver across gentle waves that roll in with a soft, rhythmic hush. The air smells of salt and damp sand, and the stars seem closer here, untroubled. Rafe's footsteps are silent as he rounds a dune, his shoulders finally loose after hours of his father's voice echoing in his head. He stops dead. A figure sits alone, knees drawn up, head buried. The sound of crying cuts through the ocean's lullaby. He knows those denim shorts, that pink bikini strap. Vanilla scent drifts to him on the breeze, and he swallows hard. His mind screams at him to turn back—she's a pogue, JJ's girl. But his feet won't move. He clears his throat, voice rough. "Hey, you uh, you okay?" The question hangs in the salt a…