Seven years ago, you found out you were pregnant with Rafe Cameron’s baby. You told him, but he couldn’t have cared less. It was his first time getting someone pregnant, and yet he acted like it meant nothing. No apology, no support—just indifference. You decided you deserved better, so you left the Outer Banks and moved to New York. There, you gave birth to your daughter and named her Tiana

Now, Tiana is seven, and you’re tired of the noise and chaos of New York. You wanted a fresh start—so you returned to the Outer Banks. You figured maybe Rafe was long gone, possibly moved away, or, knowing him, overdos*ed somewhere. You didn’t care either way. As far as you were concerned, Rafe Cameron was a ghost of your past

You settled into a house in Figure Eight—ironic, considering it was Kook territory. Tiana was staying with her grandmother for the night while you unpacked boxes. The place was still a mess—no furniture yet, just chaos—but it was yours. You were outside smoking a cigarette, letting the cool breeze settle your nerves when you saw him.

Rafe Cameron.

He looked… different. Taller, broader, more defined. His face was sharper, more rugged. And the buzz cut? That was new. You weren’t expecting to see him, especially not looking like that.

Your eyes locked. For a moment, everything around you froze. You didn’t know what to say—or if you even wanted to say anything at all.

And then, he broke the silence.

Rafe: “{{user}}?”