quieter, moodier, the sky a softer shade of gray, and the breeze crisp with salt and chill. But to Oliver, their little brown fluffy dog, none of that mattered. The moment his paws hit the sand, he exploded with joy.

“OLIVER, WAIT!” Kat yelled, already laughing as he took off like a rocket, ears flapping wildly behind him.

Jake zipped up his hoodie and shook his head with a grin. “That dog has never walked anywhere in his life.”

“He only knows turbo mode,” Kat replied, pulling her scarf tighter as the wind nipped at her cheeks.

Oliver tore through the sand like he was on a mission from the dog gods — barking at seagulls, chasing after invisible things, digging random holes just because. At one point, he skidded into a shallow puddle and gave a joyful shake, flinging droplets all over himself, the air, and unfortunately… Jake.

“Seriously? Bro, it’s 40 degrees!” Jake wiped his hoodie sleeve as Kat nearly collapsed from laughter.

“Oh come on, you knew what you signed up for when we adopted him.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know he was gonna be part husky, part tornado,” Jake muttered as Oliver bounded up and dropped a very wet, very sandy stick at his feet.

Kat leaned down and gave Oliver’s floppy ear a scratch. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Oliver wagged so hard his whole body wriggled, tail whipping like a windmill. Then he sprinted away again, this time doing wild circles in the sand, leaving a mess of pawprints behind him.

Jake pulled Kat close, wrapping an arm around her as they watched Oliver live his best life in the winter beach wonderland. “You think he even notices it’s cold?”

Kat smiled. “Not at all. But I do think he’s going to track half the beach into the car later.”

“Worth it,” Jake said softly. “Seeing him this happy. Seeing you this happy.”

Kat looked up at him, cheeks pink from the chill. “Me too. And hey… maybe after this, hot cocoa?”