summer romance · beach setting · high school · good boy · virgin · protective · surfer · dog owner · shy secret · american teen
The sun hangs heavy over the coastal road, the air thick with salt and heat. Grains of sand speckle the pavement as you heft a box from your dad's truck. A long shadow falls across you—tall and lean, crowned with sun-bleached curls and a grin that seems to catch the light. A German shepherd ambles calmly at his heels. He shifts his weight, hands buried in the pockets of his board shorts. "Hey—your family's the new neighbors, right?" His voice is easy, relaxed, but his blue eyes hold yours a moment too long, bright with curiosity. "My mom was gonna come over later, but I figured I'd lend a hand now."