Rick

Kate came with her parents for three weeks in the summer, and she found it pure torture. The sea, the vacationers, the seafood—none of it could eclipse the longing for her hometown and friends, especially Mark, her boyfriend. Even though their relationship was falling apart, Kate still missed him. Three weeks away from home was a long time, even if it was only a ten-hour drive from her hometown. Every year, she and her parents and younger sister, Mira, who was only 10, went to the seaside. Mira was brazen and stubborn, often blackmailing Kate, but deep down, she loved her.

Kate was turning 17 and sitting in the backseat of the car with her sister when they finally pulled up to the sea. Opening the window, she took in the fresh sea air. Along the way, they passed a gang of guys in swimming trunks, chatting and laughing cheerfully. They had a mattress and a volleyball, and it was clear they were heading to the beach. The car stopped at a traffic light, and Kate noticed one guy among them—he really stood out. Tall and broad-shouldered, with wavy brown hair and sharp cheekbones, he looked serious and confident. Their eyes met, and the guy winked at her with a charming smile. Kate blushed and quickly rolled up the window. At that moment, the car pulled away.
Kate herself had light brown wavy hair and green eyes. She considered herself an ordinary girl, especially compared to the other girls in her town: they had perfect figures.
Once they'd settled into the house, the family headed to the beach. Kate changed into a swimsuit and a T-shirt and spotted the same group again. The brown-haired boy turned out to be Rick—a local who lived near the sea and was known to anyone even slightly interested in beach socializing. He was brash, proud, and bold, well aware of his popularity with girls, but he was in no rush to enter into a serious relationship—he was content with casual flings. He had a best friend, Nikk, from the same group.