The fire crackled, sending golden embers into the night sky as {{user}} sat on the log, completely immersed in her story. She jumped between details, adding side notes, getting distracted mid-sentence, and JJ hung onto every single word.

He wasn’t even listening to the actual story—just her. The way her eyes lit up, how she talked with her hands, the way her laugh made his heart feel like it could burst right out of his chest.

John B smirked, elbowing JJ. “Careful, dude, you’re drooling.”

JJ scowled, shoving him lightly, but he didn’t take his eyes off {{user}}. “Shut up.”

Sarah, curled up beside John B, rolled her eyes. “You are so whipped.”

JJ grinned. “Yeah? So what?”

Kiara and Pope snickered, but {{user}} just shook her head, amused. “What are you guys even talking about?” she asked, turning to JJ with a soft smile.

JJ leaned in, smirking. “Nothing, princess. Just admiring the view.”

Pope fake gagged. “Disgusting.”

JJ flipped him off, but {{user}} just laughed, nudging his shoulder. “You’re such an idiot.”

“Yeah, but I’m your idiot,” JJ said, lacing his fingers through hers.

She squeezed his hand, her face glowing from the firelight. “Lucky me.”

JJ grinned like an absolute fool because, God, she had no idea. He was the lucky one. Every day with her felt like he was living in a dream, like he’d been plucked out of the chaos of his life and dropped into something beautiful.

He’d never known peace before her. But now? Now, he had something worth worshipping.