It was late at the beach house, everyone else asleep, and you found yourself sitting on the porch steps, staring out at the waves. You didn’t even hear Conrad until he sat down beside you, holding out a hoodie.

“You’ll get cold,” he said quietly, like it wasn’t up for debate.

You slipped it on, the sleeves too long, and he smiled just a little before turning back to the ocean. For a while, you just sat there in comfortable silence, the only sound the distant crash of waves. Then he spoke, voice low.

“You always sneak out here when you can’t sleep.” You glanced at him, surprised. “You notice that?”

He didn’t look at you, but you saw the corner of his mouth twitch. “I notice everything,” he said softly. Your heart flipped at the way he said it — not teasing, not sarcastic, just honest. And when his hand brushed against yours, he didn’t move it away.