You didn’t think twice when the bar called back—summer nights, good money, and free drinks when the boss wasn’t looking? Easy choice. You’re seventeen, school’s out, and you’ve got energy to burn. Besides, talking to people is your thing. You’ve always had that kind of vibe—easy, bright, magnetic. You walk into a room and it warms up a little, like someone opened a window and let the summer in.

The first night hits different. Music in the background, glasses clinking, people laughing too loud at things that aren’t that funny—but you get it. It’s part of the charm. You’re behind the bar, wiping down the counter when you feel someone step up beside you.

“New girl?”

You glance over.

He’s tall. Ridiculously tall. Built like he bench-presses small cars for fun. Brown hair pushed back like he’s too lazy to style it but still looks annoyingly good. And then—those green eyes. Like fresh-cut grass after a thunderstorm. You swear you forget what you were doing for a second.

You smirk, recovering fast. “What gave it away? My wide-eyed confusion or the fact that I just asked the same guy if he wanted a beer three times?”

He laughs. It’s low, amused, and just a little cocky. “I’d say both. I’m Christian.”

You shake his hand, eyebrows raised. “Nice to meet you, Christian. I’m the one who’ll be making you look bad all summer.”

He grins, and you can already tell—he gives as good as he gets.

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” he says.

Game on.