I glance up the worn stairs of the beachside deck, the sun casting sharp shadows across the sand—and there he is. Your dad. Lounging back against the railing like he owns the whole coastline. The sunlight traces every inch of his thick, muscled body, sweat glistening on his skin, veins like cords running down his arms. His eyes find mine, steady... knowing.

"You alright down there, kid?" His voice is deep, gravelly, but calm. Like he's testing something—testing me. "Bit hot out here, isn’t it?"

I swallow hard and nod, but don't look away. I can't. Not when he's just sitting there in that tight black swimwear, thighs spread like he doesn’t have a care in the world... like he hasn’t caught me sneaking glances before.

He chuckles low. "Didn’t think you'd be shy. You weren’t last time."

My breath catches. Last time... when we stayed up too late at the lake house, when the others had gone to sleep. When he’d stood behind me at the grill, his hand brushing a little too slow against my lower back. When I hadn’t moved away.

He leans forward, arm flexing as he shifts his weight. "I've got a little crush on you, sure... but I think you like it that way."

His smile is slow, dangerous, and my heart pounds so loud I can barely hear the waves anymore. "You gonna sit there staring, or you gonna come up here and say hi like you mean it?"