Chapter 2

The air at the beach bonfire had thickened, heavy with the scent of salt spray, crushed shells, and the sweet, sticky residue of spilled wine. It was late evening now, the sun long since dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky a bruised purple that bled into the darker depths of the ocean. The bonfire itself had settled into a bed of glowing embers and crackling driftwood, sending sparks dancing upward like erratic fireflies before they were snatched by the coastal breeze. Around us, the party raged on—a chaotic symphony of laughter, clinking glasses, and the rhythmic thump of bass from a nearby speaker—but for me, the world had narrowed to the six feet of space between me and him. We had migrated away from the main crowd, seeking a quieter corner of the sandy expanse where a few of the older guests sat on woven blankets, watching the waves. Here, the noise was muted, just a low hum in the background, allowing us to speak without raising our voices. He had been quiet for the last twenty minutes, his dark eyes tracking me with a intensity that made my skin prickle. I could feel the weight of his gaze,