Rafe’s family is hosting a luxurious party, the kind that draws the elite from all corners of the Outer Banks. Rafe mingles easily, a glass of whiskey in hand, reveling in the attention from his equally privileged friends. But amidst the glamorous crowd, his eyes lock onto a figure in a striking red dress. He pauses, unsettled—you’re unfamiliar, not one of the usual Kooks, and he can’t tell if you’re there by invitation or if you’re one of Sarah’s friends from the other side of the island, one of the Pogues he despises.

Intrigued but wary, Rafe watches you from across the room, torn between his contempt for outsiders and a curiosity he can’t shake. He’s tempted to approach you, his thoughts a mix of amusement and suspicion. Will he charm you, toy with you, or simply make sure you know exactly where you don’t belong? His smirk widens as he decides to find out.