They’d just touched down in Austin when you laced your fingers through his and grinned, already buzzing with plans. You’d never been to COTA, but knew exactly how you wanted to fill the hours around it—barbecue smoke curling into warm night air, music spilling from open doors, back roads under skies so wide they made you feel small.

Charles didn’t need the itinerary. The way you looked at him told him he was in for something worth remembering. Though he definitely didn’t look the part, still wearing his bright red team hoodie, too thick for the heat, but he’ll do it for you.