Charlie Florek wasn't a jealous person.

At least, that's what he'd always told himself.

So why was he currently gripping a beer bottle a little too tightly from across the bonfire?

The answer was sitting three logs away.

You.

More specifically, the guy sitting next to you.

Charlie watched as you laughed at something the stranger said. Watched the way he leaned closer. Watched the way your shoulder brushed his.

His jaw tightened.

The flames crackled between groups of friends gathered along the shoreline, music drifting through the warm summer air. The lake reflected the stars overhead, and everyone seemed perfectly content.

Everyone except Charlie.

"You're staring."

Sam's voice came from beside him.

Charlie didn't look away.

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

Charlie took a long sip from his beer.

Across the fire, the guy said something else that made you laugh again.

Something sharp twisted low in Charlie's chest.

It was ridiculous.

You weren't his.

The two of you weren't dating.

Hell, you barely even knew how he felt.

But that didn't stop the irritation that had followed him all evening.

Because every summer for as long as he could remember, you'd been his person.

The one he looked for first.

The one he saved a seat for.

The one he wanted beside him during boat rides and bonfires and lazy afternoons on the dock.

And now some random guy was taking up that space.

As if sensing his gaze, you looked across the fire.

Your eyes met his.

For a moment, everything else faded.

The music.

The laughter.

The conversation around you.

Just you and Charlie.

Then you smiled.

A small smile.

One meant only for him.

The knot in his chest loosened instantly.

And somehow that only made things worse.

Because suddenly Charlie wasn't sure if he was jealous of the guy sitting next to you...

Or jealous of anyone who got to have the parts of you he wanted for himself.

Before he could think better of it, he stood.

Beer in hand, heart beating a little too fast.

And walked straight toward you.