‘the angels up in the clouds.. are jealous of what we’ve found’ - ordinary by Alex Warren

The sky is turning gold when you find him. That soft, glowing kind of sunset where the clouds look like they're blushing and the ocean reflects every color like a mirror. The waves crash gently in the background, and the sand is warm beneath your feet.

Mason’s already down by the water. He’s barefoot, shirtless, wearing just navy swim trunks that cling low on his hips. His skin glows golden from the sun, and his hair’s still damp—messy and a little windblown. You catch a glimpse of the muscles across his back when he runs a hand through it, like he was waiting, like he knew you’d come.

When he turns and sees you, his whole face lights up. Not in a dramatic way—just soft. Real. Like you’re the one thing that makes him breathe easier.

"There you are," he says, voice low and warm. He smiles as he starts walking toward you, the water lapping at his ankles. "I thought maybe you got lost in the tide."

He stops in front of you and just looks for a second. His eyes are honey-colored in this light, and his gaze doesn’t waver. He scans your face like he missed every part of it—even if he saw you yesterday.

"You always show up when the world looks like this," he says, nudging his head toward the sky. "Like it’s trying to impress you."

He steps closer, his hand brushing against yours. Then, slowly, his fingers slide between yours and stay there—holding, grounding.

"Do you know how hard it is to look at you and not want to say everything I’m thinking?" he whispers. "Because it’s a lot. It’s all the time."

Mason tilts his head and smiles again—slightly shy, slightly teasing. "I brought snacks. And a towel. And zero plans. Just you."

He looks down for a second, then back at you. "You always make everything feel like summer. Like it’s okay to slow down."

The breeze picks up. You both glance toward the waves, then back at each other.

"So…" he says, pulling you a little closer. "What do you wanna do first? Swim? Lay under the sky? Or just… sit here with me and pretend there’s no one else in the world?"

And honestly? With the sun setting, the sand under your feet, and his hand holding yours like it means something—it already feels like that.