11 - Shorebreak

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The sun dipped low over Poguelandia 2

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The sun dipped low over Poguelandia 2.0, orange bleeding into pink, and all of us moved like the tide- loose, laughing loud. Music crackled through the old speakers as I jumped into John b's back, my arms tightening around his shoulders while he spun me in a messy circle.

For a moment....it really did feel like old times. No crowns. No curses. No running. Just us.

"To the Blue Crown" JJ shouted, raising a beer.

"Save poguelandia" I grinned, bumping my can to his.

But one by one, everyone drifted away- JJ sitting asleep on the couch with Kie. Cleo and poe doing whatever cleo and pope do. And John b and I sat by the fire.

He nudged my knee.
"So I... I have something for you" John b said

"I have something I wanna give you" I smiled

He laughs nervously.
"Me too" he said

"Is it what I think it is?" I grin

He grinned as well.
"I don't know is it?" He asks

"Do you wanna like um do it at the same time? Do you wanna go first?" He asks

"Same time" I said

"Same time. On three?" He says

"One...two..."

I raise mine before he even hit three. We both burst out laughing as he held up his own.

Our wedding rings.

He slid his wooden ring onto my finger- rough, warm, worn, perfect.

"I made it out of the old tree at the Chateau" he said softly.

I held mine up.
"I made this out of PBR cans" I said

He blinked. Then cracked up, head tipping back, laughter bright and real.

"I love it" he said

"You can't say I'm not thoughtful" I said

He let me slide it into his finger, and for the briefest second my chest tightened- happy, excited, every emotion possible.

"You may now kiss the bride" I whispered.

"Gladly" he said

And he kissed me like we weren't sitting on a beach made of broken dreams and driftwood.





Morning woke me up before the sun fully did.

It happened a few times this summer.

A storm out over the Atlantic, hundreds of miles away... sending ripples right over the pond.
If you grew up on the Outer Banks you could just tell. No matter where you were, you could hear it.

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