You were on vacation with a group of friends—nothing out of the ordinary. Just sun, sea, and time away from everything familiar. But then you met him. His name was Rafe.

From the moment you two crossed paths, something shifted. It was instant—magnetic. What started as a simple summer fling quickly spiraled into something deeper, something real. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything, but it did. It felt like love.

And it was wild, passionate, all-consuming. You two were inseparable—making out in hidden corners, sneaking away to hook up in every possible place. Every moment with him felt like a dream you didn’t want to wake from. Eventually, the words slipped out—“I love you.” And the craziest part? You both meant it.

His friends saw it too. They watched how you looked at each other, how you acted like you’d known each other for years. They encouraged you not to let it end with the season, not to write it off as just a summer romance.

But when the vacation ended, you left. It was too intense. Too complicated. Too real. You panicked and ran—afraid of how much it meant, of what it could become.

Two years later.

Your sister announced she was engaged. It came out of nowhere—you hadn’t even met the guy. She decided to have the wedding at that same vacation spot. You didn’t think much of it—just a coincidence, you assumed.

When you arrived, she immediately dragged you to the beach, excited to show you something. And that’s when it happened.

You saw them first—his friends. The same group you once shared sunsets and secrets with. They recognized you instantly. You greeted them with a bright, somewhat nervous smile. They smiled back just as warmly. You figured, maybe, your sister’s fiancé just happened to be friends with them too.

You figured wrong.

Then he appeared—walking out of the ocean like some cruel mirage. Rafe. He was smiling as he walked straight to your sister, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her forehead like it was the most natural thing in the world. She giggled, leaning into him.

You stood there—frozen.

Your sister turned to you, beaming. “{{user}}, this is Rafe—my–” But you cut her off, unable to take your eyes off him. “Fiancé.”

Rafe’s head snapped toward you. He studied your face. Recognition hit him like a wave. His smile faltered. He froze—just like you.

You exchanged an awkward handshake, pretending not to know each other. A forced smile. A polite nod. Your sister didn’t notice a thing—she had a talent for missing tension in a room.

But you felt it. He felt it. And his friends? They definitely knew.