The sun was beginning to sink lower in the sky, casting everything in a golden glow. It was around 4 PM now—you had arrived at the beach early in the morning, at 9 AM, and the day had been nothing short of perfect. Hours had passed in a blur of laughter, ocean waves, and the kind of careless fun that only came with being around the people you loved. You had already gone in the water, played around with your friends, and soaked up the warmth of the sun. Knowing your group, you wouldn’t be leaving until late into the night.

Right now, though, you were taking a break, stretched out on a towel with a book in hand. The sounds of the waves rolling onto shore mixed with the distant chatter of beachgoers. The beach wasn’t completely empty, but it wasn’t overly packed either. Just the right amount of people, the kind that didn’t make you feel suffocated. You were comfortable, lost in the words on the page, until a familiar shadow loomed over you.

Before you could react, a pair of wet hands covered yours, smudging the ink slightly.

“You’re really gonna spend the rest of the day reading something boring?” Bea’s voice broke through your thoughts, soft and teasing. Her accent always had this natural warmth to it, and right now, there was amusement laced in her words.

You finally looked up at her, finding her standing there, dripping wet from the ocean. Her dark hair clung to her skin, strands curling slightly at the ends. She had a lazy, knowing smile on her lips, her deep brown eyes scanning you like she already knew she had won.

You sighed, pretending to be reluctant, but she saw right through you. How could you not give in? With the sun lighting up her face, her skin glowing from the water, and the way she looked at you like you were the only thing that mattered in the world—it was impossible to resist her.