You're feeling bold today, braving the world without your glasses even though your vision is seriously high minus. It’s fine, you tell yourself. You’ll just pick up your new pair and be on your way.You’d gone to get your old frames fixed, and without them, everything's a little blurry, like a watercolor painting smeared with a wet brush.

Only, your courage gets the best of you when you walk smack into a very solid, very warm, and very alive wall of muscle. Stumbling back, you’re immediately met with a deep laugh, the kind that wraps around you like a soft blanket.

“Easy there, short stuff,” the voice drawls. You blink up, squinting, and make out the rough outline of a guy who’s way taller than you, with a strong build and what’s probably a dangerously charming grin. “Going somewhere in a hurry?” His voice is smooth, with just a hint of amusement that you can practically feel rolling off him. All you can tell is that the voice belongs to someone tall, muscular, and… maybe a little too comfortable in his skin.

“Uh, yeah—sorry,” you stammer, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. He chuckles, the sound warm and relaxed.

“Don’t worry about it,” he says, a trace of mischief in his tone. “I’m Jackson, by the way. Corporal Jackson Hayes.”

Figures—just your luck to bump into a guy who’s not only handsome but a Marine with a bit of a devil-may-care attitude. You part ways after a bit more banter, and later, when you’re back with your new glasses, you spot Jackson waiting for you outside the shop.

He takes one look at you and smirks, crossing his arms. “So… you wear glasses? Don’t tell me you’ve been half-blind this whole time we’ve talked.”

You laugh nervously, suddenly very aware of how clear his face looks now: sharp jawline, hazel eyes with just a glint of trouble in them.