That night, the campfire burned low and lazy, snapping softly as waves murmured in the distance. Sand clung to damp legs, the stars stretched wide overhead, and laughter flowed as easily as the wine.
No music tonight.
Just voices.
The group had migrated from the deck to the beach itself, dragging cushions and blankets and half-finished bags of chips. The flames painted everyone in flickering amber. The sea breeze carried the scent of salt, charred marshmallow, and coconut body oil.
"I swear," Elias said between sips of sangria, "if I had a boat like that, I'd live on it."
"You'd crash it within a week," Luca muttered, tossing popcorn into the fire just to watch it spark.
"I'd party on it within a week," Elias corrected, winking at Eliana.
She smiled, curled up beside Nicky again, their shoulders touching lightly beneath the shared blanket. He was warm beside her. Always warm. Always steady. He'd braided a few strands of her hair earlier while they watched the sunset. Now it hung in soft waves against her cheek.
They'd been laughing for hours. Telling stories. Making stupid dares. Roasting marshmallows, then letting them catch fire on purpose just to watch the flames dance.
Valeria lay stretched across two pillows, heels kicked up, sipping rosé straight from the bottle. She had glitter dusted on her collarbones, catching the firelight every time she turned.
"This," she declared dramatically, waving the bottle, "is what we should be doing more often."
"Agreed," Renee said, propped up beside her with her long legs crossed. "We are too hot and too fabulous to be wasting our weekends packed into sweaty clubs."
"Clubs are fun," Nicky said, shrugging. "But this is better."
"Exactly!" Valeria threw up her hands. "No heels, no cover charge, no weird guy breathing on you during Rihanna's third chorus."
Everyone laughed.
Eliana tucked her knees under her chin and nodded. "I haven't felt this... free in a while."
And it was true. There was something sacred about this night. The soft conversations. The way everyone felt loose and safe and real. Not performing. Not pretending. Just... here.
The fire cracked again, sparks floating up toward the stars.
Then Nicky's phone buzzed.
He fished it from the blanket, glanced at the screen, and stood casually. "Back in a sec," he said, brushing sand from his legs. "Need to take this."
He wandered off toward the house, voice low as he answered.
No one said anything at first.
Then Luca raised an eyebrow. "That his boyfriend?"
Renee nodded, stuffing a marshmallow into her mouth. "Yep. Same guy. The one from Greece, remember?"
"Oh right," Elias said. "Vacation boyfriend turned real boyfriend."
Valeria smirked. "They're still going strong, huh?"
"Yeah," Renee said. "Long-distance is brutal, but they make it work. I think they're open though?"
"They are," Valeria confirmed. "I asked once when we were wine-drunk. He said they trust each other enough to keep it open when they're apart."
Eliana didn't say a word.
She stared into the fire.
Watched the flames dance and lick the logs until they cracked and glowed red. Her chest felt warm in a way that had nothing to do with the wine or the fire. It was a slow ache. A soft, sad throb under her ribs.
Of course he had someone.
Of course he loved someone.
Of course he never looked at her that way.
She should've felt relief. She should've laughed it off, made a joke, rolled her eyes.
Instead, she stayed quiet, fingers curled around her paper cup, thumb tracing the rim slowly.
"So he's like... dating, but not exclusive exclusive?" Luca asked, stretching.
Renee nodded. "Yeah. I think the rule is they can do whatever as long as they're honest about it."
"That sounds exhausting," Elias muttered. "But I respect the hustle."
Valeria sat up, wine bottle now nestled in the crook of her arm. "Honestly, I admire them. It's rare. Like, finding someone who gets you and lets you be free."
There was a pause.
Then she added, a little too brightly, "Wish I could say the same."
Renee tilted her head. "You and Marc still good?"
Valeria smiled—but it didn't reach her eyes. "We are. He's perfect. Supportive. Sweet. Best sex of my life, honestly."
Renee made a loud appreciative noise.
"But," Valeria continued, "his mama hates me."
The air shifted.
"Still?" Elias asked softly.
"Oh yeah," Valeria sighed. "She still calls me that friend. Refuses to call me by name. Told Marc I was 'distracting him from God's path.' As if I want to be on his damn path."
"She sucks," Luca said flatly.
"Hard," Renee agreed.
"I don't get it," Eliana said, finally speaking, her voice soft. "How can someone hate you just because... you're you?"
Valeria smiled at her then—this gentle, sad thing that held a thousand years of strength. "Because I remind her of everything she's afraid of. Everything she can't control. But that's her problem."
Eliana swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Marc loves me. That's enough."
Everyone fell quiet for a moment, the fire crackling between them like it was the only thing holding the night together.
Then Elias, bless him, threw a marshmallow at Valeria's face. "Let's not get too deep. You're killing my buzz."
She caught it in her mouth like a pro. "Buzz revived."
They laughed again. Easier. Softer. But Eliana kept stealing glances toward the house.
Toward the boy with the mesh shirt and the sea-salt curls and the soft, tender voice.
And she hated herself a little bit more every time.
Because she wanted something she wasn't supposed to want.
Because he was someone else's.
Because she knew—she knew—he didn't see her that way.
But he touched her. He leaned on her. He held her when she was cold. He made her feel like something sacred. Something chosen.
And she didn't know how to untangle herself from that.
Not yet.
When Nicky finally returned, his cheeks were pink from the cold night air. His smile was easy.
"Miss me?"
"Who was it?" Elias asked, teasing.
Nicky flopped down beside Eliana again, slipping back under the blanket like nothing had changed. "Tomas," he said casually. "Just checking in."
Renee grinned. "Tell your boyfriend we say hi."
"I did," he said, nudging Eliana's knee. "He sends love. Also he said to stop tagging me in thirst traps, Elias."
"No promises."
They laughed.
The fire burned low.
Someone passed around the last bottle of rosé. The stars pulsed high above. The waves rolled in and out, slow and certain.
And Eliana just watched him.
Sat beside him.
Let her body rest against his. Let the ache bloom in silence.
Because maybe this was all she'd get.
A moment.
A night.
A memory of warmth and saltwater and smoke.
She'd take it.
She'd take it all.
Even if it was never really hers.