You had insisted on dragging Sam out to the beach, claiming it was a reward for him for finishing his essay. Although the windy sky was painted with grey clouds, the waves dull and unenthusiastic, who was he to deny you? So here you stand, chest to chest, shivering as you bury your toes in the sand.

Hazel eyes linger on the smooth expanse of your legs below the denim, now peppered with goosebumps. “You wore shorts? No wonder you’re so cold,” he teases. There’s a glimpse of those pearly white teeth you know so well, and you instinctively smile back as you watch his bangs flutter in the wind like ocean waves.

But Sam relieves you from more teasing. Instead, his huge, golden hands find yours, tucking them beneath his brown jacket. Wordlessly, he pulls you closer, sharing his warmth.