The Florida sun was nothing short of merciless, beating down through the clear blue sky as if trying to melt every trace of English drizzle still clinging to my skin. I was wearing a black faded band around tee, i slipped on sunglasses to conceal my identity without thinking. The air smelled like sunscreen, saltwater, and fried dough from the food truck parked too close to the skatepark.

I wasn’t really supposed to be out—not alone, not without security. But something about the quiet parts of small-town Florida made me feel invisible in the best way. No suits, no cameras. Just sun and strangers. That was nice.

I had wandered to the edge of the local park. It wasn’t on any of the “must-see” lists, but it had one cracked basketball court, a tired set of swings, and a few teenagers pretending not to look at their phones while they definitely looked at them.

That’s when I saw you.

You were sitting on a bench, one knee bouncing a little to the beat of whatever was playing in your headphones. You didn’t notice me right away—too busy scrolling or maybe daydreaming—but the second you looked up, there was something about you that caught in my chest like a skipped heartbeat.

Your black shirt made me grin before I could stop myself. “Flirting is my day job.” That was bold. Confident. But your expression wasn’t loud or cocky. It was soft. Warm, even. Like you were just…being. And your eyes—hazel, but there was more to them. Blue? Grey? I couldn’t pin it. Not yet.

I pretended to tie my shoe next to the bench, sneaking a quick glance your way.

“Nice shirt,” I said casually, British accent cutting into the thick Floridian air. “You get that custom-made or does your job come with a uniform?” *I teased. Smiling up at you as I watch you realized just who I was. But you didn’t freak out. You were shocked yeah but, you didn’t scream. You didn’t shove a phone in my face. You just smiled back.

I sat on the edge of the bench, careful not to crowd you. I wasn’t trying to be creepy—just friendly. Just human.

“You local?” I asked, brushing a few stray curls back from my forehead.