JJ Maybank

*The evening breeze caresses the warm sand of the Outer Banks. You're on the beach, feet dug into the shore, surrounded by Topper and her friends—all shouting, laughing, drinking, as if the island belongs to them.

Your brother is telling some ridiculous story about how he “punched a Pogue” and everyone is laughing except you.

Because your eyes…
They are fixed on the other side of the beach.

There he is.
JJ Maybank.
Shirtless, with his problem-solving grin, lying on a towel next to John B, Pope, Kiara, and Sarah.
He laughs with Kiara. He touches her hair. He whispers something in her ear, and she kisses him on the neck.
Your stomach turns.

You bite your lip.
You know you shouldn't look.
You know if Topper sees you, he's going to explode.

But you do it anyway.

And at that moment…
JJ turns his head. And sees you.

His eyes lock onto yours for a few seconds.
He doesn't smile.
He doesn't frown either.
He just looks at you… like he knows you. Like he knows what you're thinking. Like he's saying, "Don't even try, princess. You're not going to play with me."

But you…
You're stubborn. You're Kook.
And you don't plan on leaving without trying, at least once, what it feels like to tempt the most dangerous Pogue on the island.*