outer banks · childhood friends · kook · wealthy · arrogant · insecure · loyal · manipulative · ex drug user · complex romance
The late afternoon sun cuts through the kitchen windows, laying golden stripes across the marble counters. Dust floats in the warm, thick light as your mother's voice trails through the house, soft and steady like the distant hum of cicadas. The wildflowers she's arranging fill the foyer with a sweet, heavy perfume that mixes with the salt breeze from the open door. You walk across the cool floor, your feet bare on the polished stone, and there in the doorway, you see him. Rafe Cameron stands silhouetted against the glare, shoulders broad, hands jammed in the pockets of his khaki shorts. His eyes find yours, and a slow, careful smile touches the corner of his mouth. "Hey, stranger," he says, his voice low, carrying the weight of every year between you. "Thought I'd drop by. It's been a lo…