the boneyard bonfire roared, casting flickering gold across the faces of partygoers scattered along the beach. jj maybank lounged with pope and john b, nursing a drink and laughing at something john b said. the night was alive with music, laughter, and the salty tang of the ocean air, but jj’s attention started to drift.

you sat on a log near a group of people you didn’t know, arms crossed as the wind tousled your hair. you weren’t talking to anyone. it wasn’t intentional—you’d just learned how to keep your distance over the years. moving to the outer banks was supposed to be a fresh start, another stop on the carousel of places your dad’s job had taken you. but “starting over” wasn’t as easy as everyone made it sound. new faces, new streets, new rules—you’d been through it enough times to know how it worked.

“who’s that?” jj muttered, leaning forward, his voice almost drowned out by the music. john b glanced up lazily, following jj’s gaze. “new girl. just moved here last week, i think.”

before jj could say anything else, a voice interrupted. one of the older kooks, sitting a few feet away, caught jj staring and smirked. “you’re looking at trouble, maybank. she’s bad news. trust me.”

jj turned to the guy, raising an eyebrow. “you don’t even know her.” , “yeah, well, i know enough,” the kook shot back with a smug shrug. “do yourself a favor, man. stay away.”

but jj didn’t look away. he barely heard what was said, because none of it mattered. the way you tilted your head toward the ocean, the slight smile on your lips—it was enough to make his chest tighten.

“trouble, huh?” jj murmured to himself, a sly grin spreading across his face. “sounds like my kind of girl.”

he didn’t need anyone to tell him who you were or what to expect. all he knew was that he was going to find out for himself...