It was a Sunday.
Not just any Sunday—the kind that feels suspended in sunlight.
The air was warm, Angelique's giggles were louder than the waves, and Samantha had sand in her hair, salt on her skin, and a quiet joy in her heart.
Ryan was carrying their cooler with one hand and Angelique on the other, pretending both were too heavy to lift.
"I'm being crushed," he groaned dramatically. "My arms weren't made for this. You guys are trying to kill me."
Angelique squealed, holding onto his neck. "You said you're a superhero!"
"Retired superhero," Ryan panted, flopping onto their beach mat. "I'm in my civilian era."
Samantha laughed. Not the polite, soft kind.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXXXsMVb4C
The real one—loud, open, free.
They spent the day building castles, swimming, and eating overpriced ice cream from a cart Angelique flagged down like she was royalty.
At one point, Samantha looked over and caught Ryan staring at them—eyes soft, lips parted just slightly.
Like he was afraid to blink and break the moment.
She didn't look away.
Neither did he.
That evening, back at home, Samantha made hot chocolate while Ryan helped Angelique into her pajamas.
"She really adores you," Samantha said when he returned to the kitchen, voice low.
"I adore her," Ryan replied. "But not as much as I adore you."
Samantha blinked, heart stuttering.
He took her mug, set it down, and pulled her into his arms.
"I know what this looks like, Sam. And it's not just something casual. You and Angelique—you're not my escape. You're my future. If you'll let me have that."
Samantha didn't answer right away.
Instead, she stood on her toes and kissed him softly—slowly.
"I already did," she whispered.
Across town...
Henry sat in his room, staring at a photo on his screen. A new one.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1qPpCH1By
Someone had posted about a beach outing.
Ryan.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlrwkjXBuG
Samantha.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5V2sazDGL
Angelique.
Smiling.
Complete.
And something twisted in his chest—not jealousy, but grief.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9FJPV2MTu
Grief for what he threw away.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dMzHsMF13
What he'll never get back.
He clicked out of the tab.
He was about to log off when a new message popped up from Trina:
"Need to talk. Now. It's serious."
He didn't respond.
For the first time in his life...69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXpG3uGRdc
He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what came next.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qy8EYU4Zu
and then Add to home screen.