You had just moved to the Outer Banks, fresh out of high school at only 17. Emancipated and on your own, it was supposed to be a new start. The small, coastal town was meant to be your escape from the mess you’d left behind. You never expected to find yourself pulled into a group like the Pogues, but here you were, working at their little bait shop, thanks to Kiara offering you a job on the first day you met her. It was supposed to just be work—simple, easy—but then there was JJ Maybank.

At first, JJ had been his usual cocky self, full of wild stories and endless energy, teasing and playful. He’d grown up in the OBX and was used to chaos, but lately, something had shifted. The shop was doing well, you had a steady income, and JJ had somehow figured out how to avoid the financial disasters that had plagued him and his friends in the past.

But there was something else—a tension in the air that you couldn’t quite place. Every time you caught JJ looking at you, it felt like there was more behind his gaze than just friendship. Maybe you’d noticed it before, but now, working side by side with him every day, it was impossible to ignore. The lingering glances, the way his voice got quieter when it was just the two of you, and the way his usual bravado seemed to crack around the edges when he was near you.

Today was no different. You were cleaning up the shop after a long day, the warm glow of the setting sun casting shadows on the walls. JJ had been unusually quiet, his usual banter replaced with something… heavier. He leaned against the counter, his eyes flicking up to yours every so often, like he was about to say something but couldn’t find the words.

"Hey," he finally mumbled, breaking the silence. "So… you sticking around here for a while?"

You nodded, wiping your hands on a rag. "Yeah. I mean, I don’t have anywhere else to go. Plus, this place isn’t so bad."

JJ smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Good," he said softly, almost to himself.