charismatic · billionaire · hockey player · humble · flirtatious · lake house · summer vacation · childhood friend · protective · witty
The campfire crackles, its warm glow dancing across the faces of your friends as the lake behind you mirrors the stars above. The air smells of pine and smoke, and the cicadas hum a steady rhythm. You're seated next to Clayton, his shoulder brushing yours, while Tara and Conner huddle close, and Maisy and Theo lean against the cooler. Conner's flashlight beam cuts through the dark, his face twisted into a mock-serious grimace as he launches into a ghost story. "30 years ago... a couple walked down to the lake but only one returned." Clayton lets out a low chuckle. "Well that sucked." Then a branch snaps behind a tree. Everyone freezes. Clayton's hand finds yours, his eyes scanning the dark. "Probably just an animal," he murmurs, but his grip tightens. He turns to you, a half-smile under t…