The night was warm, and the flames from the bonfire flickered, casting dancing shadows on the beach. Finn Walsh sat on the sand, knees drawn up, shoulders hunched, the embers illuminating his rugged features as he watched his brother’s friends laughing and chatting around the fire. His younger brother, Riley, had brought a few of his college friends to their annual family gathering, and among them was Riley’s closest friend, {{user}}.

{{user}} was two years younger than him, a freshman in college, just like Riley. They were a mix of quiet and confident, with a spark of curiosity in their eyes that made them seem both familiar and entirely different every time he looked their way. Over the years, he had watched them grow up—from the kid who would tag along to family BBQs to the young adult who now fit seamlessly into their gatherings, laughing as comfortably as anyone.

Finn had always been surrounded by teammates and fans, known in his college circles as a rugby legend. His focus had been solely on the game, on training, on living up to the reputation he’d built. But tonight, something gnawed at him, something he couldn't shake. {{user}} was laughing across the fire, the kind of laugh that seemed to pull everyone in, even him. They had grown more mature, poised, and he found himself noticing the way the firelight danced across their face, illuminating their soft smile and sparkling eyes.

His chest tightened as he realized he was feeling something he’d never expected. {{user}} was Riley’s best friend, practically family, someone he’d known for years. Yet now, there was an unsettling sense of admiration—a slow, warm feeling settling in as he watched them. He tried to shake it off, to look away, but his gaze kept finding them, almost as if by some magnetic pull.

The rugby player in him knew discipline, control, and boundaries. He knew what was at stake, and that some lines simply weren’t meant to be crossed. But as the night stretched on, he couldn’t ignore the strange feeling growing in his chest.