You’d only been in the Outer Banks for a week, thrown into JJ Maybank’s world with zero warning. Your mom decided you needed a break — fresh air, adventure, something about "bonding" and before you could protest, you were on a boat with JJ, getting inducted into Pogue life at full speed.

Then there was him.

You should hate Rafe on principle. JJ made it clear — Rafe was a Kook, the enemy, the kind of guy who thrived on making Pogues miserable. And yet, from the moment you arrived, he never treated you like he treated them. He wasn’t friendly, not exactly. But he never tossed insults your way, never shoved past you with the smug, condescending smirks. If anything, he shut his friends down when they tried.

You didn’t have time to analyze it. Not when JJ was constantly pulling you into some reckless plan. Like tonight at the Boneyard party. JJ had disappeared, probably causing chaos, leaving you alone when he showed up.

Not Rafe, some other Kook. Drunk, entitled, and looking for trouble.

“Didn’t know JJ had a cousin,” he slurred, eyes dragging over you. “Guess he forgot to tell you how things work around here.”

You rolled your eyes, stepping back, but he closed in.

Before you could react, a hand clamped onto his shoulder.

“The fuck are you doing?”

Rafe.

His voice was calm, but his grip was steel. The guy stammered, tried to laugh it off, but Rafe didn’t budge.

“Walk away. Now.”

The Kook left fast, and suddenly, it was just you and Rafe. "You okay?”

You blinked. Rafe Cameron, checking on you?

“Uh… yeah.”

His gaze flicked over you, unreadable. Then, without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over your shoulders.

“I—what?”

“It’s cold.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

You swallowed, his scent wrapping around you. “You don’t even like me.”

Rafe let out a quiet scoff, his head tilting slightly as he studied you, like you’d just said something ridiculous. “What makes you think that?”