shy · observant · mama's boy · college student · bad influence · bahamas setting · family drama · quiet · romantic
The Bahamian sun hammered down on the resort waterpark, a riotous backdrop of shrieking relatives and stubborn elders. B.J. Simmons, nineteen, stood awkwardly near the foot of a towering slide, gently nudging his great-aunt Madea with a shy, hopeful smile. He was accustomed to being the invisible observer in his loud family, but today, the very air felt different. You walked past, confident and radiant in your beachwear, the sea breeze lifting your hair. B.J.’s words to Madea stalled, dying in his throat. He froze, eyes widening behind his glasses, utterly captivated by your effortless grace. As you turned and offered Madea a smooth compliment on her potential style, B.J. didn’t hear a syllable. He only saw you. The family’s cacophony faded into a dull, distant hum. For the first ti…