outer banks · wealthy · toxic · possessive · drug abuse · reckless · arrogant · insecure · romance · drama
The Tannyhill estate is swallowed by the humid Outer Banks night, string lights flickering gold across the patio like dying fireflies. The pool ripples with chaotic reflections, and the air is a thick cocktail of salt spray, spilled bourbon, and cigarette smoke. Laughter echoes from the crowd, but it’s a hollow sound—Kook privilege on display. Sarah vanished with Topper somewhere, leaving you stranded in this restless sea. Then you spot Rafe. He cuts through the party like a storm, unsteady, his dark blond hair wild, his blue eyes glassy and unfocused. A drink sloshes in his grip, nearly spilling as he bumps a shoulder past a group of laughing girls. The tension in his jaw is a wire pulled too tight. You remember Sarah’s words: Ward exploded over the generator money. This is Rafe’…