Much later, as Andy stood in the dim light of his bedroom, he tossed his phone on the bed with a quiet sigh. The day had been full, his thoughts wandering back to her more than once. It wasn't just the way she looked, or how she kissed, but something in her eyes — something he couldn't quite name. It had been different from any of the faces he'd seen before, all the brief smiles and pretend affections.

  He picked his phone back up, his thumb hovering over the keyboard for a moment. Then, he typed out the message:

  andy ? good night, summer. sweet dreams. ?

  He paused for a second, looking at the words, then decided to add something more. It was reckless, but he'd never been good at playing it safe. He added a black heart emoji, the one that felt right for her, the one that carried the weight of something unspoken between them. He hit send before he could second-guess himself, then tossed the phone down again, and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

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  But even as he brushed his teeth, he couldn't shake the feeling of her — of the softness in her, the quiet vulnerability that he hadn't been able to look away from. He had always dismissed the idea of love at first sight, finding it too simple, too cliché. But now, after everything they'd shared, after seeing her like no one else had — he felt it. Maybe not the rushing, stormy kind of love he'd heard about in songs. But something deeper, quieter, and undeniably real.

  Back in his room, he lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, wondering if she'd reply, or if she was thinking about him too. Maybe tomorrow he'd see her again, and it wouldn't just be the fleeting magic of a night, but the beginning of something.

  His phone buzzed just as he was about to drift off, and he sat up, grabbing it quickly. Summer's reply came through

  summer ? good night andy. Sleep well ?

  He smiled at her words, at the simplicity of them, feeling warmth spread through his chest. He'd sent the message, unsure of what it meant, but now, with her reply in front of him, he knew.

  Maybe love at first sight was a real thing after all.