The crackling sound of the fire was the only noise breaking the stillness of the beach. The flames danced and flickered, casting a warm glow on your face as you sat beside JJ. The air was crisp with the salt of the ocean, the night cool but not too cold. The stars above twinkled like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky, each one as distant and mysterious as the thoughts you and JJ kept buried inside.

He leaned back on his hands, gazing at the fire, the glow reflecting off his tousled hair. The flickering light cast shadows across his sharp jawline, and you noticed for the first time tonight how relaxed he looked. His usual tough, reckless exterior was softened by the serenity of the moment. Maybe it was the peacefulness of the night, or maybe it was the fact that it was just the two of you, away from the chaos.

The warmth from the fire reached your skin, making you feel like time itself had slowed down, and you were suspended in this perfect moment. You couldn’t remember the last time you felt this calm, not with everything that had been going on in your lives.

JJ broke the silence, his voice low, a hint of vulnerability underneath.

“We should do this every weekend.” he said, casually tossing a marshmallow onto a stick before handing it to you. His eyes met yours, the firelight catching them in a way that made them look even more intense than usual. But there was something else there, something quieter. Maybe it was the warmth of the fire or the way the night felt so right, but his expression was softer, more sincere than you were used to.