𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

𝘴 𝘶 𝘳 𝘧

LIVING IN Outer Banks, no matter what part, had its unique charm. The wind was blowing warm air, creating a perfect blend of cool and warmth as it swept across the sandy shores. Everything seemed to pause because the weather called for a beach day.

The whole OBX forgot about all their worries and embraced the perfect beach day.

Today was one of those days.

The weather was perfect for a surf day.

Ariella watches as JJ held Cora Lynn on his hip, using his other hand to wax the bottom of her small yellow and black surfboard that matched JJ's larger one.

Cora Lynn loved it, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ariella sat on her back porch swing with Sarah, the two of them swinging back and forth, laughing when Sarah almost fell forward.

John B stood next to them, grinning, while Kiara was across from JJ, waxing her own board. It was a good day, one of those rare moments when they were more than happy to put everything on pause and enjoy the day ahead of them.

Simply let the waves take their problems away.

"Are you guys seriously surfing today?" Pope's voice broke them out of their little moment, drawing all their eyes to him.

"Oh, don't. Don't." John B quickly shook his head, not wanting the mood to be ruined.

"As opposed to what?" Kiara questions, raising an eyebrow.

"Popey, we never turn down a day like this!" Ariella exclaims, jumping to her feet and going over to Pope, who was behind the makeshift bar counter grabbing his belongings.

She smiles widely at him, her enthusiasm infectious. Pope had to look away from his best friend before he gave in.

"I don't wanna sell the million dollars I have in my hand for 50K, so I'm gonna look into this." Pope held up the amulet, now wrapped in a blue bandanna.

"Wait, Pope, it's a perfect swell day!" JJ shouts.

"Surf, Uncle Popo!" Cora Lynn said happily, thrashing in her father's arms out of excitement.

"You're going to have so much fun, babygirl." Pope smiles at his goddaughter, her little giggles so infectious. His gaze moving to JJ. "But there'll be other swell days."

"Oh, wow." Kiara scoffs. "Pope, you can't be serious."

"Pope, come on!" Ariella groans, her voice playful yet exasperated as she skips around the counter, suddenly leaping onto his back.

He stumbles slightly, caught off guard by the surprise move, but quickly steadies her, laughter bubbling between them.

"That's like saying there's other pizza to eat, all right?" JJ chimes in, shifting his focus to his own board while Cora bounces eagerly at his side, ready to help. "Like, are you serious?"

"Listen to your Earth Mother, Pope." Kiara adds with a teasing grin, gesturing dramatically to the sun-kissed beach ahead. "She's, like, begging you to surf."

Ariella clings tighter to Pope's back as he finishes packing up his backpack, maneuvering around the counter with her still perched on him. "We're supposed to have a family day, Pope!"

"I get it, but I think my Earth Mother is telling me to maximize our intel." He replies, chuckling as Ariella nearly topples off his back, almost losing her grip on him.

"You guys wanna maximize beach day?" John B glances around at the group, his gaze lingering on Sarah.

"Ari and I were gonna maximize our tans."