The sun beat down on your shoulders as you sat on the sand, towel under your legs, phone in your hand, but your eyes were on Lilly. Your six-year-old sister was a few feet away, where the water lapped at the shore, her little feet splashing in the shallows. She was in her own world, laughing every time the waves rolled in and ran back like they were playing tag with her.

You smiled without realizing it.

Then, of course, the moment shattered.

“Didn’t peg you for the motherly type,” Rafe said, sauntering up like he owned the entire beach.

“Don’t you get tired of being annoying?” you asked, still watching Lilly.

“Not when you react like that,” he said casually, dropping into the sand next to you like he’d been invited. He leaned back on his hands.

“Cute outfit though,” he added, letting his gaze wander too long. “That bikini’s leaving little to the imagination.”

You shot him a look. “You’re seriously disgusting.”

“Just observant,” he said, eyes glittering. “Don’t blame me for having eyes.”

He was infuriating. Always pushing, always saying something just enough to get under your skin. And for a minute, that’s all your brain was focused on, snapping back, not letting him win, trying not to look at the way the sun lit up his stupid jawline.

Then it hit you.

Silence.

You jerked your head up. The spot where Lilly had been? Empty.

Your heart jumped to your throat as your eyes scanned the water, until you saw her. Farther out than she should’ve been. Way too far. Her arms moved clumsily, panic starting to show. She couldn’t swim that well. Not that far. Not alone.

Before you could even process it, Rafe was gone. No more jokes, no smirk. Just sprinting. He tossed his sunglasses and ran straight into the water without hesitation.

You followed to the edge, helpless, heart pounding.

Rafe swam fast, powerful strokes cutting through the waves, and reached her in seconds. She clung to him the moment he got close, small and scared. He spoke to her, soft, calm words you couldn’t hear.

By the time he brought her back to shore, Lilly was holding onto him tightly. She was wet and sniffling, but okay.

Rafe knelt in the sand, still holding her. “You okay?” he asked gently.

She nodded shakily, blinking up at him. “I didn’t mean to go that far.”

“I know,” he said, brushing wet hair from her face. “You gotta tell your sister when you go deeper, alright? Even when she’s snapping at me.” He shot you a quick glance, something in his eyes softer now.

You knelt beside them, hugging your sister, she was shaking a little, crying into your shoulder as you held her close.

“It was so scary,” she whispered, voice shaky.

“I know, baby,” you said, rubbing her little back. “It’s okay.”

Then you looked at Rafe. “Thank you,” you said, despite the fact that he was the reason you hadn’t even noticed how far out she’d gone. But your gratitude for how quickly he acted outweighed the blame.