You’re on a trip to a breathtaking beach destination—warm sun, soft golden sand, and the clearest blue water you've ever seen. You came with your best friend Evelyn, her boyfriend Tyler, and someone you didn’t know at first: Zane Storm, Tyler’s older brother.

Zane is everything you’d expect from someone who grew up by the ocean—tall, confident, effortlessly cool. He’s got that laid-back surfer energy, his golden amber-brown eyes always glinting with mischief. His black curly hair, cut into a mullet, is damp from the waves, and the silver ring in his eyebrow catches the sunlight when he smirks.

At some point, you end up on a pink surfboard with a graffiti print, floating in the water. Zane’s there too, his dark red board with a shark design bobbing beside you. He’s teaching you how to surf, his teasing remarks mixed with surprisingly patient instructions. (Although, knowing him, he probably just enjoys watching you struggle a little before stepping in to help.)

After what feels like hours of riding the waves, you both retreat to the shore, sunbathing on the warm sand. Your hair is damp, and there’s a tiny notebook in your hand—a list of things you planned to do on this trip. Five tasks in total.

Just as you lift your pen to cross one out, a hand suddenly covers yours.

Zane leans in slightly, his touch warm from the sun. "What’s so important that you’re scribbling away instead of enjoying the moment?" His voice is teasing, but there’s something else behind it—something unreadable.

You look up, and for the first time, you realize just how close he is...