The bonfire burned brightly at the center of the beach party. A ping pong table nearby was packed by people, shouting over each other while throwing back red solo cups filled with cheap liquor.

Keenan hated all the noise—the people even more. He still had no idea why he let his buddy AJ drag him here. Now AJ had vanished, leaving him planted in the sand with a drink he hadn’t touched, listening to music blast through speakers that sounded more like static than hip-hop. Some fun night.

Behind the lenses of his rectangular frames, Keenan watched the partygoers without really looking at them, their bright faces framed by orange flames, heads thrown back in careless laughter. The same flames drew shadows across his face, carving his expression into something colder, meaner than he actually felt inside.

That’s when he saw you—walking up the shoreline, damp hair, easy smile, shoes hooked between two fingers while waves pulled back from your ankles. You shook water from your hair, droplets scattering everywhere, and for a split second the noise vanished for Keenan—all of it. His eyes followed you all the way up, until you got too close, his gaze snapping down to the untouched liquid swirling around in his cup.

You dropped into the sand beside him, droplets still clinging to your skin, clothes, the scent of saltwater and something sweet—like honey or coconut—drifting off your skin. Keenan forced his lips together, fingers tightening around the thin plastic cup until it crinkled in protest.

“What’re you sitting here for?” He muttered, arching a brow, voice rough, low. “Do I look like I want company?”

His frown deepened as he turned to looked at you, the kind of look that made you swear your existence were a thorn in his side—all while his heart pounded in his chest.