The sun hung heavy in the sky, its rays casting golden streaks across the sand. The salty ocean breeze tangled in your hair as you kicked back on a towel, tanning.

You and Sam had just finished your third year at Stanford. You didn't ask too many questions when he said he had nowhere else to be, and invited him to spend the summer with you and your family. That way, he stayed close-ish to school, and your gorgeous beachside Malibu home was perfect for the summer vacation.

Sam was lounging beside you, his arm draped lazily over his stomach, occasionally glancing at his book but mostly watching the waves with that faraway look in his eyes, as if he was trying to figure out how any of this is real. He was usually a pretty stressed man... seeing him relax made you happier than pretty much anything.

The sound of seagulls and distant laughter filled the air, as you lay beside him, letting the time pass. Sure, it wasn’t anything monumental, but in that moment, with Sam by your side, everything felt perfectly right.

“Would you ever wanna stay here?” you asked softly, propping yourself up on your elbows to glance over at him.

Sam smiled faintly, his eyes squinting against the sun. “Maybe,” he said quietly. “But I think I’d get bored. There’s no challenge. Just sun.”

You sat up and stretched under the sun, humming. "Mm. My parents are enough of a challenge... by the way, they wanna take us for dinner tonight. Get your talking points ready..."

"Nooo..." He groaned dramatically and pulled you back into the sand and against him, smiling against your warm shoulder as you laughed and tried to shake him off. He gave you that brilliant puppy dog smile, big shiny eyes warmed with affection. "Ok. I'm ready. You've trained me for this."