The Outer Banks set was buzzing again.

Season 5.

New call sheets. New storylines. Same salt-thick air that clung to everything. You—Aaliyah Grace, director, calm under pressure, chaos in a baseball cap—walked onto set like you always did: clipboard tucked under your arm, headset crooked, heart… not so steady.

Because Drew Starkey was standing near the trailers.

Rafe Cameron himself—messy hair, sunglasses pushed into it, laughing at something Chase said—but to you, he was still Drew. Your Drew.

Your fiancé.

No one knew.

Not yet.

Drew felt you before he saw you. He always did. His smile faltered for half a second—just long enough for you to catch it—then he straightened, professional mask sliding perfectly into place.

“Morning, boss,” he said, teasing, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.

You raised an eyebrow. “You’re late, Starkey.”

“Worth it,” he murmured, only for you.

If anyone noticed the way his hand brushed yours as he passed, they didn’t say a word.

⸻

Rudy Pankow was the first problem.

Rudy had known you since season two. Late-night edits. Inside jokes. Coffee runs. He plopped down next to you behind the monitors like he owned the place.

“You good?” he asked casually. “You’re… glowing. Or stressed. Or both.”

Madelyn Cline leaned in from the other side, sunglasses hiding way too much curiosity. “Yeah,” she added. “And Drew’s being weird.”

You swallowed. “Drew’s always weird.”

From across the set, Drew chose that exact moment to look at you. The look—soft, grounding, mine—lasted barely a second before Rafe Cameron snapped back into place.

Rudy followed your gaze.

“…Oh,” he said slowly. “Oh.”

You froze.

Rudy’s eyes flicked between you and Drew again. His mouth fell open.

“No way,” he whispered. “No. Way.”

You sighed, defeated. “…You weren’t supposed to find out like this.”

Rudy broke into the biggest grin you’d ever seen. “You’re engaged?!”

Madelyn gasped. “ENGAGED?”

You lunged for the volume dial. “Lower your voices!”

Too late.

Drew was already walking over, jaw tight but eyes warm. He stopped in front of you, professional smile barely holding.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Rudy stood up, hands raised. “Relax, Romeo. Your secret’s safe.”

Drew blinked. “You know?”

Madelyn crossed her arms, smirking. “You two thought you could hide that energy?”

Drew laughed then—quiet, relieved—and reached for your hand without thinking. His thumb brushed over the ring you’d been keeping hidden under tape and excuses.

“Well,” he said, squeezing gently, “guess it was only a matter of time.”

Rudy shook his head, emotional already. “You proposed recently and didn’t tell us?”

Drew looked at you, softer than anyone else ever got to see him. “Wanted it to be ours first.”

The call for first positions echoed across the beach.

Work mode snapped back in.

You slipped your hand from his—reluctant, electric—and squared your shoulders. “Alright,” you said, voice steady. “Let’s make season five unforgettable.”

Drew leaned in as he passed, voice barely a breath.

“Already is.”

And as the cameras rolled, the cast watched Rafe Cameron spiral onscreen—never knowing the real love story was unfolding quietly between takes.