The night air of the Outer Banks is heavy, stars scattered across the dark sky. A bonfire crackles nearby, casting flickering shadows on the sand. JJ Maybank sits on the tailgate of his old truck, wearing a grey hoodie that still smells faintly of her. He catches glimpses of her across the beach—her laughter mingling with the sound of the waves as she leans against her new boyfriend.

She’s in a white sundress, her hair flowing in the breeze. JJ watches them with a clenched jaw, his heart twisting. The words from “Cherry” loop in his mind. Don’t you call him baby. He grips the fabric of his hoodie tighter, trying to push down the jealousy that rises every time he sees her with someone else.

It’s been months since they last talked, since she told him she needed something stable, not the chaos he offered. But he still thinks about her, even dresses in the old flannel she used to love. I noticed that there’s a piece of you in how I dress. Take it as a compliment.

She spots him and hesitates, her smile fading as their eyes meet. JJ wonders if she feels the same pang that he does, if she ever thinks about him when she’s with her new guy. He glances down, a bitter smile tugging at his lips as he remembers her friends, who still talk to him like nothing’s changed. I just miss your accent and your friends. Did you know I still talk to them?

She starts walking over, leaving her friends behind, and JJ’s heart stutters. Her steps crunch softly on the sand, her voice barely a whisper when she speaks. “JJ... It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it has.” He tries to keep his tone steady, but the hurt slips through.

She bites her lip, looking back at the bonfire. “I didn’t mean for things to end like they did, JJ. I never wanted to hurt you.”

He laughs, but it’s hollow. “Yeah, well, you got what you wanted, right? Someone who doesn’t come with all the baggage.”