Madelyn’s living room was filled with the whole Outer Banks cast—JD, Chase, Madison, Carlacia, Madelyn, Drew—and you, all squeezed together in one chaotic circle.

All of you had decided to meet up again after wrapping the last season, and the group chat had unanimously agreed it was going to be game night at Maddie’s place.

You were all sitting around the round table, half-full glasses scattered everywhere, a bowl overflowing with chips, and charade cards tossed messily across the polished wood.

Drew, your boyfriend for the past few months, was up next, grabbing a card from the small pile.

As he read the words, a slow grin spread across his lips, his eyes flicking toward you and Madelyn since the three of you were a team.

“Ready?” he asked.

You and Maddie both nodded, so he started. Suddenly, Drew dropped to the carpet and began doing a body wave, except it looked more like a hurt baby dolphin flopping on land.

“A whale!” you guessed quickly, laughing, but Drew shook his head, chuckling under his breath.

“I don’t know how to do this,” he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair before trying again.

This time, he repeated the body wave, but slower. His hips rolled against the carpet, lingering just a little longer than necessary, his shirt riding up enough to reveal the sharp lines of his abs.

Madelyn gasped beside you.

“A shark?” she guessed, eyes wide.

Drew shook his head again, biting his lip as he tried once more.

He rolled his hips again, longer this time, grinding against the carpet in a way that made your throat suddenly feel dry. His eyes flicked to yours mid-motion, a teasing spark lighting them up.

“Uhm… a fish, though?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady despite the heat crawling up your neck.

Drew shook his head again.

“You in bed with {{user}}?!” Madelyn blurted, grinning wickedly.

The room erupted in laughter as everyone instantly caught the implication of her words, whistles and teasing filling the air. Heat rushed to your cheeks, but you couldn’t help grinning right back at them.

Drew blushed lightly too, rubbing the back of his neck but the smug curve of his lips didn’t disappear.

“I’ll give up,” he laughed, dropping the card onto the table. “My word was Magic Mike.”

Madelyn groaned dramatically, rambling about how she should’ve guessed it since she’d gone to the show last year, while everyone else kept throwing teasing comments your way.

After a couple of hours, all of you were kind of bored from playing games all night, so everyone eventually piled onto the couches, the soft glow of the TV washing over tired faces.

Drew was sitting next to you, one arm lazily draped over your shoulder, his fingers occasionally tracing absent-minded circles against your arm. His legs were stretched out in front of him, close enough that your thigh brushed his every time you shifted.

At one point during the movie, while everyone else was focused on the screen, Drew leaned forward, his lips brushing dangerously close to your ear.

“You know… the pose from earlier…” he murmured, his voice low enough that it sent a shiver crawling down your spine.

“The one from charades?” you asked, raising an eyebrow, though your voice came out softer than you intended.

He nodded, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah… that one.” His fingers tightened slightly on your shoulder. “And… do you remember Maddie’s answer?”

You nodded slowly, a small, knowing smile curving your lips as Madelyn’s words replayed in your head.

“What about it?” you whispered.

Drew leaned even closer, his breath warm against your skin, sending goosebumps racing down your arms.

“I was thinking…” he murmured, voice rough with quiet amusement. “If even our friends believe we’d be that freaky…”

His thumb brushed your shoulder again, slow and deliberate.

“…maybe we should prove them right later… when we get home?”