It was summertime in SoCal. The waves crashed against the shoreline as people were surfing. The summer skies glistening over the ocean could've been seen for miles anyway anyone who drove.

It was always like this on the beach during the Fourth of July anyway.

Joaquin sat in the sand, shirtless and sunburnt, halfway through a mango paleta. He was watching the waves, bored out of his mind. Though, the paleta was tasty enough.

Then, you walked past him and Joaquin's eyes snapped up to see who had passed him. He saw you and couldn't help but tilt his head.

"You from around here or did Heaven get tired of missing an angel?" Joaquin asked, causing you to stop and look over your shoulder at him.

"What?" You questioned.

Joaquin grinned, tilting his head. "I didn't stutter." He said before licking the mango paleta.

You almost walked away.

Almost.