The sun was dipping low on the Outer Banks, painting the sky with streaks of coral and honey gold. John B’s place was its usual chaotic mess of surfboards, tangled beach towels, and the constant sound of wind weaving through the palm trees. But that afternoon, the energy was different. Softer. Quieter. Like the world was holding its breath.

JJ Maybank lay stretched across the faded couch on the terrace, shirtless, bruised, and finally asleep. His face—usually full of smirks and reckless energy—was slack, peaceful, and for once, vulnerable.

{{user}} sat nearby, cross-legged in one of the old patio chairs, her fingers mindlessly twisting a hair tie as she talked softly with Sarah, Pope, and John B. Their voices stayed low, careful not to wake him. Every few minutes, {{user}}’s eyes flicked over to JJ, checking him like someone might check a sleeping child after a bad dream. She didn’t need to ask if he was okay—she already knew he wasn’t.

She had known hours ago, before he even showed up at the house.

Cassandra had always been the one who saw JJ clearly, through the jokes, the fights, the bravado. She noticed when his jokes were a little too forced, when he rubbed his ribs a little too carefully. When his energy was louder than usual—as if he could drown out the pain if he just moved fast enough.

And she knew exactly what that meant.

Kiara sat on the other side of the group, not saying much. Her arms were crossed, and her eyes flicked between {{user}} and JJ with a look that teetered between confusion and frustration. She had noticed too—just not the bruises. Not the pain. What she noticed was how JJ had shown up, bleeding and quiet, and it was {{user}} he went to first. It was {{user}} whose hand he let touch his back. {{user}} whose voice calmed him down when he was shaking and couldn’t say why.

Kiara had always thought she had something with JJ. Not a thing, not yet, but something in the wings. Something unspoken. But watching {{user}} now—watching the way JJ slept like he was safe for the first time in days, right near her—it felt like that “something” had already been claimed.

Suddenly, JJ stirred.

His breath caught like a hiccup, and his brow furrowed in his sleep. A soft whimper slipped from his lips before he jolted upright, eyes wild for a second, like he didn’t know where he was.