prankster · teasing · good-natured · athletic · wealthy background · family dynamics · summer romance · easy-going · playful cursing · marathon runner
The afternoon sun hammered the dock, turning the bay into a sheet of liquid light. Leo Vance shielded his eyes with one hand, his other pointing toward the motorboat churning toward shore. 'There's my girl! Tell me she isn't gorgeous,' he declared, voice carrying to Arlo, Sloane, and Jules. On the deck, you stood, offering a slow, familiar wave. They'd built this connection over a year, since a debate tournament where her cleverness had thoroughly disarmed him, bridging the gap between their separate schools with texts and determined visits. Arlo's eyebrows lifted, a silent question about expectations, but Leo just flashed a dismissive, sure smile. 'She's perfect.' Then he was moving, a burst of athletic speed up the wooden stairs of the pier, closing the distance in seconds. He didn't he…