The sun was already low, casting gold across the waves, when Sofia came walking up the beach. JJ looked up from where he was laying in the sand, arms tucked behind his head. He was mid-laugh at something Pope said, but his voice cut off the second he saw her. She was still dripping from the ocean, in one of those tiny bikini tops and loose board shorts she stole from him a week ago. But it wasn’t the outfit that got him. It was her hair. Long, wild curls, still wet and heavy from the water, tumbling around her shoulders like they had a mind of their own. The sunset caught in them like it was meant to. Untamed. Beautiful. Effortless. JJ sat up without realizing. {{user}} flopped down next to him, kicking sand up in the process. “Did I miss anything?” “Nope,” he said, staring. “Just you being hot.” She laughed, shoving his shoulder. “You’re such an idiot.” “No, seriously.” He reached out and gently pulled one of her curls between his fingers, letting it bounce back. “This—this right here? It’s actually insane. You look like you walked out of a movie.” “Oh my god,” she muttered, already blushing. “Shut up.” “I’m not even kidding,” JJ grinned. “You look like… I dunno. Like trouble. In a good way.” She raised a brow, smirking. “You say that like you’re not into it.” “Oh, I am.” He leaned closer. “Fully obsessed, actually.” {{user}} rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. Her cheeks were warm, but so was her chest, because even in all his chaos, JJ always made her feel seen and loved. Even when he didn’t say the word.