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JJ leaned back against the rusty hood of his truck, the sound of the ocean waves crashing in the distance mixing with the buzz of summer heat. The sun was starting to dip, casting a golden glow over the island, but his mind was miles away. His father’s latest outburst still echoed in his head, but he wasn’t about to let it ruin his night.

His eyes flicked up as a figure appeared at the end of the dirt road, a stranger walking toward him. JJ didn’t recognize them.

“Lost?” he called, his voice playful but guarded, though the familiar sense of tension began to settle in his chest. It wasn’t the first time someone had wandered onto this part of the island, but there was something about this one. Maybe it was the way they carried themselves—too confident for someone who didn’t belong here.

He pushed off the truck, his grin returning, though the wariness never fully left his eyes. “You lost or just looking for trouble?”