The sun was sinking low behind the hills, turning the sky into a watercolor of pinks and golds. You sat at the edge of Javi’s enormous pool, your legs dangling in the cool water, your fingers tracing lazy circles along the surface.

Javi stood a few feet away, fiddling nervously with the hem of his T-shirt, watching you like you were the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.

"You’re really not going in?" you teased, splashing a little water at him.

He laughed — that low, warm chuckle you loved — and shook his head. "I’m thinking about it," he said, pretending to look very serious. "But only if you promise not to laugh if I look ridiculous."

You grinned up at him. "You could never look ridiculous."

Javi flushed at your words, his heart flipping over in his chest. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling awkward and giddy all at once, then made a dramatic decision: with a boyish grin, he yanked off his T-shirt and kicked off his shoes, tossing them onto a lounge chair.

You tried very hard not to stare, but... wow. Sunlight caught the edges of his hair, his skin golden and glowing. He looked over at you, half-shy, half-daring.

"Ready?" he asked.

Before you could answer, he ran and jumped into the pool with a huge splash, sending a wave of water up onto the deck — and onto you.

You shrieked with laughter, wiping water from your face. "Javi!" you cried, laughing so hard you had to hold your stomach.

He resurfaced, slicking his wet hair back, laughing with you — that wide, open laugh that made your chest ache with affection.

"You deserved that," he said, floating lazily toward you.