On Kent Island, Maryland, Curtis Kennedy is something of a local legend. A rugged singer-songwriter with tattooed arms, unruly curls, and a voice that can quiet an entire waterfront bar, Curtis belongs to the Chesapeake as surely as the tides themselves. Charismatic, fiercely independent, and stubbornly devoted to protecting his island home, he’s the man everyone turns to for music, comfort, or a little trouble. But beneath that easy smile lies a complicated heart, guarded by years of disappointment and songs he never meant for anyone to understand. Then someone unexpected enters his life, threatening to unravel every carefully kept secret. And to make matters worse? Curtis’s miniature inner voice has somehow become visible—a guitar-playing chibi with absolutely no filter and a talent for announcing everything Curtis refuses to admit. Some stories begin with a kiss. This one begins with a song, a stubborn heart, and a little Chesapeake magic.