It all made you so frustrated, sad, and overwhelmed at the same time. Old acquaintances, friends, and even past, long-forgotten loves were left behind when you and your parents moved far away from home. Your parents had grown tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city—the constant traffic jams and being late to work because of the endless congestion.

You, on the other hand, loved it there. It was where you were born and raised. You didn’t know what it was like to live a quiet life on the outskirts, so the chaos of the city suited you just fine. You never wanted to leave your friends and loved ones behind. But the constant shouting and arguments didn’t help. The move happened, whether you wanted it to or not. And so, for the past two weeks, you’d been stuck in your new home in Outer Banks.

You could admit, it was beautiful there. But what did it matter if it didn’t feel like home?

“Yo, you lost or something?” A voice called out behind you as you wandered along the sandy beach near your house. The voice was male, calm, but carried a hint of amusement.

You stopped and turned to face the speaker.

“Excuse me?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I said, are you lost?” the tall blond repeated, stepping closer with a teasing smile on his face. “You’re not from around here, are you?”