The fire had burned low now.
Most of the crowd was gone.
The beach was quieter.
Just waves.
Wind.
And the two of them.
Autumn stood, brushing sand from her hands.
"I should probably head home soon."
"Yeah."
Neither of them moved.
Luca stepped closer again.
Just like earlier on the beach.
Except now the distance between them was even smaller.
Autumn's heart began racing.
"You're doing that thing again," she said softly.
"What thing?"
"Standing too close."
"Do you want me to move?"
She hesitated.
And that hesitation said everything.
Luca reached out slowly.
His fingers brushed lightly against her hand.
"Autumn," he murmured.
Her breath caught.
For a second it felt like the entire world had gone silent.
Like the ocean itself had paused.
Then—
"Autumn!"
Lily's voice cut across the beach.
They both jerked apart.
Lily ran toward them.
"We're leaving!"
Autumn stepped back quickly.
"Okay!"
Luca rubbed the back of his neck.
The moment had shattered.
But as Autumn walked away—
She glanced back.
And Luca was still watching her.
Like the night wasn't over yet.