The sun was dipping low over the horizon, casting a warm, golden light across the waves as Jake and his older sister Gaby stepped onto the familiar sandy stretch of beach in Jacksonville. It had been months since she was last home from college in Kentucky, where she played goalkeeper for the university’s soccer team and juggled volleyball, flag football, and school all at once. But today, she had time—just for Jake.

He carried the beach bag while Gaby ran ahead, already kicking off her slides and wiggling her toes into the sand. “Come on, slowpoke!” she called, glancing back with a teasing grin. “This beach isn’t gonna wait forever.”

Jake rolled his eyes but smiled, jogging to catch up. “You’re acting like you haven’t seen the ocean in a hundred years.”

“Feels like it,” she said dramatically. “Kentucky is all land and cornfields. I miss this place. And you, I guess.”

Jake laughed. “Wow, thanks. Real heartfelt.”

They picked a spot near the water and spread out their towels. Jake started digging into the bag for snacks, but Gaby had other plans. She stood up, stretched, then bolted for the waves. “Bet you can’t catch me!”

Jake groaned but jumped up anyway, chasing after her. The two of them ended up splashing around like they were little kids again, yelling, laughing, and trying to dunk each other in the shallows. Gaby, being older and taller, kept winning.

After the chaos, they collapsed onto their towels, soaked and covered in sand. Gaby threw her arm around Jake and sighed. “It’s good to be home.”

Jake glanced over. “I’m glad you’re back, even if it’s just for a little bit.”

Gaby nudged him with her shoulder. “Next time, maybe I’ll sneak you up to Kentucky. You can crash my practices.”

Jake snorted. “Only if I get to meet your teammates and show off how I’m better than all of them.”

“Dream on,” she smirked. “You’d get wrecked.”