Chapter Four

Gemma giggles. “Oh, it’ll survive… barely. But tonight? Definitely unforgettable.”

The beach house was warm, the faint scent of salt and sunscreen lingering in the air. I pulled my damp hair back and shook off the last traces of water from the walk over, tugging at my outfit one last time.

I had picked a white, slightly cropped blouse with delicate lace at the sleeves, paired with high-waisted denim shorts—snug, comfortable, and perfect for running along the sand if I needed to. Simple leather sandals completed the look, and I added a gold anklet I’d worn every summer since forever.

Gemma was already at the dresser, holding up a coral sundress and grinning. “Light, flowy… perfect for tonight.”

I smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah, simple but cute. Hopefully Gavin notices.”

She laughed softly. “He will. Just don’t let him catch you staring too obviously.”

I pulled out my makeup bag, keeping it natural: bronzer for a sun-kissed glow, soft peach blush, waterproof mascara to avoid clumping near the water, and a swipe of neutral lip gloss. Just enough to highlight me without being over the top.

Gemma hummed as she applied her own makeup—soft winged eyeliner, a touch of shimmer, and a light pink lip. “Ready,” she said finally, grabbing her sandals.

I slipped on mine, looping my crossbody bag over my shoulder. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Josh was already heading out the door, his wet hair plastered to his forehead. “Finally,” he said, smirking. “About time we hit the water again.”

I glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “You do realize it’s not about the water this time, right?”

He just grinned. “We’ll see.”

Gemma looped her arm through mine as we stepped outside. The sun had dipped lower, painting gold and pink across the sky, the scent of the ocean strong and warm. In the distance, the faint crackle of a fire could already be heard, and laughter carried on the breeze.

I felt my chest tighten slightly at the thought of Gavin and Eben waiting, and I couldn’t help sneaking a glance toward the Miller house. Gavin stood there, adjusting his wet hair, arms crossed, his gaze flicking briefly in our direction before returning to Eben. My stomach did a little flip.

“Ready?” Gemma asked, nudging me gently.

I smirked, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Josh was already half-running toward the fire, dragging me along. Gemma laughed, keeping pace beside me, and I felt the familiar thrill of summer rush through me—the warmth of the sun, the sand beneath our feet, and the anticipation of what the night would bring.

And just like that, we were back at the water’s edge, the fire blazing ahead, the night stretching out in front of us.

Gavin finally shifted, breaking his usual calm stance, and his eyes found mine across the firelight. He opened his mouth, like he was about to say something—but before any words could leave him, a girl appeared beside him.

“Gavin?”

She stepped into the light, tall and confident, with dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her expression held a mix of surprise and mild irritation, like she wasn’t entirely happy to see who was here.

Gavin’s lips pressed into a straight line. “Mara…”

“Mara?” I thought, tilting my head slightly. She glanced at me with sharp, appraising eyes, and a faint edge of annoyance lingered there.

Gavin ran a hand through his wet hair. “Uh… yeah. She just—”

Mara’s gaze flicked between Gavin and me. “I didn’t realize you’d be… entertaining company.” There was something in her tone—subtle, controlled, but possessive—that made my stomach twist slightly.

I froze, unsure how to respond. Gemma nudged me, whispering with a smirk, “Uh… that’s new.”

Josh, completely oblivious, ran past the fire, kicking sand as he laughed loudly. Eben grinned, clearly amused at the sudden tension.

Mara looked at me again, her dark eyes assessing me. “Right… enjoying the party?” Her voice was polite, but the sharp undertone hinted she didn’t entirely approve of my presence.

Gavin ran a hand through his hair again, glancing between us, looking slightly flustered. “Yeah… we were just—” He stopped, his usual calm now tinged with hesitation.

I forced a small smile, keeping my voice neutral. “Yeah… sure.”

Gemma whispered in my ear, “Well… that’s definitely… interesting.”

Mara gave me one last look before stepping closer to Gavin, and he didn’t pull away. The words he’d been about to say—whatever they were—dissolved into the crackle of the fire and the distant laughter.

I looked away, forcing myself to focus on the flames and Josh and Eben laughing, but a small, stubborn part of me couldn’t help wondering what he was going to say—and why Mara had appeared so suddenly.

I took a slow step back from the fire, forcing myself to focus on something else. The crackle of the flames and the clinking of bottles in the sand were a small comfort. “I should grab a drink before this gets… more awkward,” I muttered to Gemma.

She raised an eyebrow but smirked. “Good idea. I’ll come with you.”

Josh, of course, was already halfway to the cooler, grinning as he held up a beer he’d just grabbed. Eben had his own in hand, leaning back against a log and laughing at something Gavin had said. Mara was still beside Gavin, her arms crossed, giving subtle, sharp glances in my direction that made my stomach twist.

Gavin shifted slightly, lowering his voice. “Mara… how did you get here?”

Mara blinked, caught off guard for a moment, before her smirk returned. “I came with a couple of friends. Didn’t think it’d be a big deal.” There was a faint edge in her tone, like she wasn’t entirely pleased to have me nearby.

Gavin’s jaw tightened ever so slightly, and he didn’t say anything more, just letting the silence stretch. Mara’s eyes flicked toward me once, sharp and assessing, then back at him.

I glanced at Gemma, who gave me a small shrug and a knowing smirk. “Drinks first,” she whispered. “Words later. Trust me.”

I nodded, grateful for the excuse, and reached for a bottle of beer from the cooler. Gavin lingered a moment near the fire, his expression unreadable but his gaze occasionally flicking toward me, Mara keeping close. I tried to calm the flutter in my chest and focus on Gemma beside me, hoping the night wouldn’t get much more awkward.

The fire crackled louder as the party picked up. Eben was leaning casually against a log, his grin effortless, tossing playful compliments at anyone who passed by. “That’s a perfect shot for the camera!” he called to someone taking a selfie. “No, wait—look over here, you need me in the shot.”

Josh had found Maddy somewhere near the cooler, both of them laughing loudly, trading ridiculous dares over the foam of spilled soda. Josh’s energy was uncontainable, dragging her into one mini-challenge after another, and the way she rolled her eyes while laughing only seemed to fuel him.

I stayed near the edge of the fire with Gemma, sipping my drink and watching everything unfold. Eben’s antics made everyone laugh, while Josh dominated his own little corner of the party.

Gavin sat on a driftwood log not far from the flames, a beer in hand, leaning slightly back. He had Mara at his side, one arm casually draped around her shoulders, keeping her close without looking overbearing. He laughed quietly at something she said, but every so often, I caught his gaze flicker toward me. Quick, subtle glances—nothing overt, but enough to make my heart skip.

I tried to act casual, taking a sip from my bottle and pretending to focus on Gemma, but it was impossible not to notice. The way Gavin held himself—relaxed, controlled—but still attentive, still aware of me in little bursts, sent a tiny jolt of excitement through me.

Mara leaned slightly into him, her dark hair brushing his arm, and I could see a faint crease in his brow at her sudden proximity. He didn’t pull away, but the way he looked at me when he thought no one was watching was something else entirely—curious, unreadable, fleeting.

Gemma elbowed me softly. “Stop staring. You’re gonna burn a hole through him.”

I laughed quietly, shaking my head. “I can’t help it.”

Eben, meanwhile, had moved closer to the center of the fire circle, tossing teasing remarks at a small group of friends. “Come on, don’t act like you’re too cool for me,” he called, his grin widening as a few girls rolled their eyes and laughed. His energy was magnetic, impossible to ignore, and even from across the circle, I could feel the pull of it.

Josh’s voice suddenly rose above the fire. “Bet you can’t take Maddy into the water without getting soaked!” And with that, he grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the waves, laughter trailing behind them.

I glanced at Gavin again. He shifted his weight slightly, beer in hand, eyes flicking to me and then back to Mara. The contrast—the way he was close to her but couldn’t completely ignore me—made my chest tighten.

Gemma leaned closer, whispering, “He notices. Don’t pretend he doesn’t.”

I took another sip of my drink, letting the firelight play across my face, hoping I could act casual while internally my heart was doing cartwheels every time his eyes found mine, even if just for a moment.

Gemma and I had stepped a little away from the fire, sipping our drinks and laughing quietly at Josh and Maddy splashing each other in the shallow waves. The warmth of the flames behind us didn’t quite reach the way my chest tightened every time Gavin glanced my way, his arm still draped casually around Mara.

“Hey there,” a voice said from the shadows, smooth and confident. I looked up to see a tall guy leaning slightly on a driftwood log, a playful grin on his face. “Mind if I join you?”

Gemma tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. “Depends. Can you handle two?” she teased, her tone light but clearly protective.

“I think I can manage,” he said, flashing a charming smile. He stepped closer, his gaze lingering on me for a beat too long before darting to Gemma. “You’re… fun to watch. You both seem like you know how to enjoy a party.”

I felt my cheeks heat slightly. “We just… like to stay out of the chaos sometimes,” I said, forcing my voice steady while subtly glancing back at the fire. Josh was still wrestling Maddy into the waves, Eben was laughing at some joke, and Gavin… well, Gavin was exactly where he always seemed to be: watching, observing.

The guy leaned a little closer, voice lower. “I bet you get that a lot,” he said, a teasing note in his tone. “Ari, right?”

I blinked, surprised. “Yeah… and you are?”

He smirked, not giving his name immediately, just enough to keep the charm rolling. “Let’s just say I appreciate good company… and good attention.” His eyes lingered on me for a beat before flicking to Gemma again, clearly trying to gauge our reactions.

Gemma snorted softly. “Flattery doesn’t work on me,” she said, crossing her arms but smiling nonetheless. “I’m more into… action. But Ari seems… amused.”

I forced a small laugh, taking another sip of my drink. “Amused doesn’t mean anything,” I said lightly, though my pulse had quickened. I couldn’t help stealing another glance toward Gavin, who was sitting a few meters away. He hadn’t moved or reacted, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was aware of the interaction, quietly observing from his corner.

The guy tilted his head, catching the glance. “Someone special over there?” he asked casually, nodding toward the fire where Gavin and Mara were seated.

I felt a pang of frustration, masking it with a sip of soda. “Just… friends,” I said quickly, though my voice didn’t sound as convincing as I hoped.

Gemma gave me a subtle nudge. “Don’t make it obvious,” she whispered, smirking.

The guy shrugged, leaning back slightly. “Fair enough. I’ll take my chances with fun company over here then.” He raised his bottle in a mock toast before settling nearby, still flashing glances that were more curious than threatening.

I let out a quiet breath, trying to steady myself, and turned back to Gemma. “Well… that was interesting.”

She laughed softly. “You handled it. But keep an eye on the broody one. He’s still watching.”

I glanced at Gavin again, and sure enough, his dark eyes were on me for a split second before he looked away, back to Mara. My stomach fluttered, and I couldn’t help but think: this night was going to be more complicated than I imagined.

the guy leaning closer—still wearing that teasing grin, his eyes flicking between Gemma and me.

“So… two of the most fun girls at the party, huh?” he said, voice smooth and playful. “I’m not usually shy with names… but I think I’ll keep mine a secret for now.”

Gemma raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Uh-huh. You’re cute, I’ll give you that—but can you keep up with both of us?”

“I like a challenge,” he said, leaning casually on the driftwood nearby, glancing at both of us with that easy, flirty charm.

I forced a laugh, trying to keep my voice steady, though my pulse was quickening. “We’ll see,” I said lightly, keeping the interaction playful, careful not to give him too much attention.

Across the fire, I caught Gavin’s eyes—brief, careful glances—but enough to make my chest tighten. He sat slightly back on a log, a beer in one hand, Mara’s arm casually draped around him, but his head kept tilting subtly in our direction. Protective, but trying to stay casual. The faint narrowing of his eyes whenever the guy got too close didn’t escape me.

Gemma elbowed me quietly, grinning. “Look at him. Classic ‘I’m totally casual but also owning the perimeter’ move.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide the flutter in my stomach. Gavin’s control, his subtle watchfulness, made it impossible to look away.

The flirty stranger laughed softly at something Gemma said, then turned to me, his gaze lingering. “You’ve got that… spark. The kind that makes a party way more interesting.”

I froze for a fraction of a second before forcing a smile. “Thanks… I guess?”

Gavin’s eyes found mine again. He shifted slightly, leaning toward Mara as if to maintain appearances, but the tension in his shoulders, the subtle protective curl, was impossible to miss.

Gemma gave me a knowing nudge. “I think he notices you too,” she whispered. “He’s playing it casual… but it’s there.”

I took another sip from my bottle, trying to calm the quickening beat of my heart. Around us, Eben laughed and flirted with anyone in reach, Josh dragged Maddy further into the water, and the party swirled with energy—but all I could focus on was the quiet, watchful presence of Gavin, keeping tabs without anyone realizing it.

The guy—still nameless—kept leaning closer, joking, teasing, trying to pull both Ari and Gemma into conversation. I was laughing along, but every so often, my gaze drifted to Gavin.

He sat a little back on the log, beer in hand, Mara’s arm draped around him, yet his head subtly tilted toward us. His eyes flicked to me whenever the mysterious stranger laughed too close, his jaw tightening just slightly. Protective, careful, trying not to make it obvious.

Mara noticed it too. Her eyebrows lifted, a faint crease appearing on her forehead as she followed his gaze. “You’re watching them a lot,” she said casually, leaning into him. “Paying more attention than usual, aren’t you?”

Gavin gave a quick shrug, forcing a nonchalant grin, but his eyes betrayed him. “I’m just… making sure they’re okay,” he said smoothly, though he avoided looking directly at her.

Mara smirked, clearly not fooled. “Uh-huh. ‘Making sure they’re okay,’” she echoed, her tone teasing. “Looks like someone’s got a little too much interest in the girls on the sidelines.”

He shifted his arm slightly around her, leaning just enough to mask his movements, yet every subtle tilt of his head, every brief glance, made it obvious he was watching me and Gemma more closely than he let on.

I noticed the slight tension in his posture, the quiet way he adjusted to stay casual while keeping an eye on us. My stomach fluttered—part nervous, part… something else entirely.

Gemma elbowed me lightly, whispering, “See what I mean? He’s got that watchful thing going on. Can’t hide it even if he tries.”

I glanced at Gavin again. He was still leaning casually, pretending to focus on Mara, but the brief flashes of his eyes toward me were unmistakable. Protective. Careful. And completely, quietly aware.

Gavin shifted on the log, his arm still casually around Mara, his gaze flicking toward Ari and Gemma with that quiet, calculated attention. Mara, clearly trying to assert herself, leaned closer to him and said, “You came here to be with me, didn’t you?”

Gavin’s lips twitched into a faint, almost unreadable smirk. “Funny… you weren’t even supposed to be here tonight,” he said under his breath, just loud enough for her to catch it.

Mara’s face tightened instantly, a sharp frown forming. “Excuse me?” she snapped, her voice sharper than before. “Not supposed to be here? Really?”

He took a slow sip of his beer, tilting his head toward the fire as if distracted, but his eyes flicked back to Gemma and I with that same quiet focus. “Just saying… wasn’t expecting you,” he added, keeping his tone casual, almost innocent.

Mara crossed her arms, clearly irritated, but Gavin didn’t flinch. His attention subtly drifted back toward us—me and Gemma—still watching us like a low-key sentinel.

Meanwhile, the nameless flirt kept leaning in, slyly holding out a bottle. “Come on, a little more won’t hurt,” he said smoothly, voice playful. “Keeps the party fun, right?”

Gemma raised an eyebrow, though her tipsy laugh gave her away. “I don’t know… maybe one more,” she said, tilting her head toward me.

I hesitated for a moment, but the warmth from the fire, the drinks, and the energy of the party made me give in. “Okay… just a little,” I said, clinking my cup with hers.

The too friendly stranger’s grin widened, clearly enjoying the subtle control he had over us. “See? That’s the spirit,” he said, leaning closer with that teasing tone, watching our reactions.

Across the fire, I noticed Gavin shift again, his posture tightening almost imperceptibly. Mara was beside him, still visibly annoyed, but his eyes kept darting back toward us—careful, protective, and impossible to miss if you were paying attention.

Gemma laughed, a little slurred now, “You’re not even trying to resist, Ari! One more, come on!”

I shook my head, grinning despite the tipsiness, “Fine… one more.”

The mysterious yet flirtatious mans grin grew wider as he handed us another drink. And even though the night, the fire, and the alcohol blurred the edges of caution, I couldn’t stop noticing Gavin—watchful, quiet, protective—never letting his gaze leave us for long.

Mara finally had enough. She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, her frown sharp. “Seriously, Gavin,” she said, leaning closer and planting herself right against him. “You’ve been watching them this whole time. It’s annoying.”

Gavin shifted slightly, trying to keep his posture casual, but the faint tension in his jaw and the way his eyes flicked toward Ari and Gemma betrayed him. “I’m… just keeping an eye,” he said softly, though it sounded more like an excuse than reassurance.

Mara rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Oh, come on,” she muttered, leaning even closer until she pressed her lips to his in a quick, sharp kiss. “Maybe this will get you to focus on me for once.”

Gavin froze for a heartbeat, caught off guard. His arm around her stiffened slightly, and I could see the momentary hesitation in his eyes as he glanced toward me and Gemma. Then, with a quiet exhale, he let himself lean into her just enough, his lips moving against hers—but not completely. His body stayed subtly angled, still aware of the small movements across the fire where me and Gemma laughed and swayed with their drinks.

Mara pulled back slightly, a smirk on her lips, clearly satisfied at having provoked a reaction. “Finally,” she murmured, resting her forehead against his shoulder. “I was wondering if you even notice me tonight.”

Gavin let out a small, controlled laugh, his arm still draped around her, but his eyes darted back to me and Gemma briefly, checking in with that quiet, protective rhythm he couldn’t quite hide. He was here with Mara, but every subtle glance reminded me he hadn’t stopped watching.

Gemma nudged me, eyes wide but teasing. “See? Told you. Still can’t take his eyes off us,” she whispered, barely containing a laugh.

I bit my lip, trying to mask the flutter in my chest, sipping my drink while keeping my attention—half reluctant, half fascinated—on Gavin’s careful, impossible-to-ignore vigilance.

The guy, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, laughed and leaned in, clearly trying to keep the momentum of his teasing going. “Looks like someone’s having fun,” he said smoothly, flicking his gaze between us, completely unaware of the silent battle of attention being waged across the fire.