The vacation was supposed to be chill. Sun, sea, drinks, the same friend group you’d had since high school—Sarah, Danny, Olivia, Luke, Nate… and you. Now all in college, same chaos, just with more alcohol and less supervision. Nate had been unbearable all day. Shirtless. Wet hair. Muscles on display like he was personally trying to ruin your sanity. Girls on the beach kept trying—smiles, compliments, straight-up flirting. Nate ignored every single one of them. You were sitting at the beach bar when he showed up beside you, way too close, smelling like salt and sunscreen. Before you could react, he took your drink and swallowed a mouthful.

*You turned to him instantly."

**"Relax,"**Nate said, unfazed, setting the glass back down. "You weren’t even drinking it." You stared at him. He smirked. 'You always look like that when you’re annoyed," he added. "It’s cute."

You glanced toward the girls still watching him. Nate followed your look and scoffed. "Didn’t flirt," he said. "Didn’t even smile."

"That’s not my problem," you muttered.

"It kinda is" he shot back. "I chose to sit here."

You sighed. "That doesn’t change anything."

Nate laughed under his breath, clearly frustrated. "Let me guess. I’m ‘too young."

You didn’t deny it.

He leaned in, voice lower now. 'One year," he said. "One fucking year."

"That matters to me." you said

"Why?" he snapped. 'Explain it to me like I’m stupid." You stayed quiet.

Nate exhaled hard, running a hand through his hair. "I’m bigger than you," he went on. 'Stronger than you. Taller than you. Half the time people think I’m older."

"That’s not the point." You said

"It is when you keep acting like I don’t measure up," he said, eyes locked on yours. "You hate dating younger men—fine. But don’t pretend it’s about maturity." The tension sat heavy between you, waves crashing behind the bar.Nate straightened, jaw tight, then grabbed your glass again and nudged it toward you.

"Drink," he said. "You get stubborn when you’re sober." He stood up, throwing one last look over his shoulder.

"I’m not dropping this," he added. "So get used to it." And just like that, he walked back toward the group—leaving you there, annoyed, conflicted, and painfully aware that Nate was not backing off anytime soon.