Me and the Devil

10.

The next morning, I head over to the beach to help in a community clean up. It's all for Ward's latest PR stunt - he's up for some award and needs to show his loyalty and compassion to the OBX. This "event" is my only work for the day. Normally, I'd be looking forward to this, but ever since Ward fired John B, I can't shake the bitterness. I even tried to reason with Ward, but despite my plea and defense of John B's character, it was all for nothing.

When I arrive at the beach, I scan the crowd. I see Sarah and Topper talking. I approach them, knowing Sarah has always been nice to me, and as I do I hear her defending John B to Topper. I smile.I'm just about to call out to her when a hand appears over my shoulder with a jar of who knows what.

"You look thirsty" the familiar voice whispers in my ear. Rafe. How does he always appear out of nowhere?

Ignoring him, I keep walking toward Sarah and Topper, but not before Topper sees Rafe and grabs the jar.

"Okay, what do we-- what have we got here? Topper sips the drink, handing it off to Sarah who also takes a sip.

"y/n?" She hands me the jar, and I take a sip as well. It's absolutely vile. It's vodka and crystal light; however, it's mostly just vodka. I grimace and pass it back to Rafe, my fingers brushing his. A jolt of electricity shoots through me ,and I swear I see it in his eyes too, the way they darken as our fingers linger a moment too long. I force myself to break the contact and move on, focusing on the cleanup. But that touch, it's all I can think about.

A few hours later, and honestly a few too many sips of Rafe's drink, II meet up with JJ at the club. The power's still out on The Cut, and we need the club's wifi to look up the coordinates on Big John's treasure map. JJ works here sometimes, and since I'm technically a member through my mom and Ezra, it's the perfect cover.

JJ and I stroll in the front door of the club, receiving inquiring looks. We cut through the kitchen to get to the computer lab. As soon as we enter, I rush to one to log on.

"Let me get in there. I gotta check out my Insta models." JJ jokes.

I roll my eyes. "What? Am I not good enough for you?" I spin the chair to face him and wink. I meant this in our usual joking, flirting manner but I see JJ's brow furrow and I can sense something stirring between us that feels heavier than our usual teasing.

"y/n. You know the rule. No Pogue on Pogue macking." he says half joking.

Maybe it's the alcohol or the lingering electricity from Rafe's touch still buzzing in my veins. "And when have you ever followed the rules?"

Before I know what's happening, JJ moves towards me, closing the distance in an instant. His lips crash into mine, had and desperate, like he's been holding back for years. I freeze and it takes me a minute to get over the initial shock of kissing JJ Maybank. Sure he may have been my first kiss ever, but we were eight and his mom had just left. Then, instinct kicks in. I kiss him back, my hand slipping behind his head, fingers tangling in his hair.

The kiss is passionate. He slips his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss. I can feel his hands all over my body. Reciprocating his effort, I slip a hand beneath the hem of his shirt. Caressing his bare back. I've seen JJ shirtless more times than I can count, but this feels new. JJ's lips leave mine and travel down my neck. I let out a slight moan, until that sound snaps me back to reality.

Rafe.

The thought of him pulls me away. I push JJ gently, trying to catch my breath, the weight of what just happened settling between us.

JJ steps back, his chest heaving." We should get back to work." I say avoiding his eyes.

JJ's face twists with frustration. "We just kissed like that, and all you can think about is this treasure hunt!?John B's dad has only been gone for 9 months. I've been waiting for 9 YEARS to kiss you again."

His words hang heavy in the air, and for a moment, guilt twist in my gut. I reach up, brushing his hair off his forehead, then run my fingers over his cheek, tracing his lips. I'm trying to feel something - trying to remind myself that this is where I'm supposed to be. With JJ. With the Pogues.

"Fuck it." I mutter under my breath before pulling him down to me, kissing him again. This time it's different. More deliberate, more like I'm trying to drown out something else. I kiss him hard, my hands roaming under his shirt as I cling to the feeling of him, but no matter how deep the kiss gets, Rafe's presence lingers at the back of my mind.

JJ doesn't notice. He lifts me up, setting me on the desk, his hands gripping my things as he pulls me closer. For a moment, I forget everything else, the intensity between us building. He's so hard. I need him. JJ must feel the same because he starts to kiss my neck again. His hands roam underneath my shirt.

Then we hear the click of the door, and reality comes crashing back. JJ pulls away, rushing to sit in the chair while I quickly smooth out my clothes. We barely manage to compose ourselves before John B, Pope, and Kiara walk in.

"What are you two doing in here!? The computer isn't even on." John B's voice, laced with suspicion.

JJ shares a mischievous grin with me. "Chill out, dude. The computer had to restart due to the power surge."

As if on cue, the screen flickers on. John B quickly logs in. 34° 57' 30" north. 75° 55' 42" west, he types into the search bar. The coordinates pop up showing that it's right on the continental shelf, off the deep end. I can hear Pope sigh dramatically.

"It's not gonna be much of a treasure hunt, is it?" he says.

Upon further inspection, I notice that the coordinates fall on the high side. Only 900 feet. I point this out to the group.

JJ pipes up, "That's not too deep. Yeah, totally doable."

"Will we be taking your personal submarine?" I jokingly ask. The group snickers.

"The salvage yard. They got a drone that can drop 1,000. It has a 360 camera and everything. It's for, like, deep dives and stuff. It's exactly what we need." JJ explains.

The mood shifts. Once again everything seems attainable.

"Can your dad get his grimy little hand on that? John B asks JJ

JJ shifts uncomfortably. He sheepishly starts to explain that his dad got fired from the salvage yard because apparently the captain frowns upon showing up to work shitfaced. I know JJ has spent a good deal of his life being ashamed of his background. If there weren't three Pogues between me and JJ right now, I'd give him a reassuring pat on the back, but all I can do is interject to take the attention off of him.

"How much did you say was on The Royal Merchant again?"

"400 mil" my friends remind me.

I get up and rush to the door. 400 million dollars. We can figure out a way to get the drone from the impound.

"Can't we do anything legal for money?" Pope groans as we all rush out of the club.