**Chapter 3: Longing for Touch**

The next morning, Nick woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, his mind still replaying the digital exchange with Max from the night before. He couldn't help but smile as he thought about their flirtatious messages and photos, and he felt a pang of excitement at the prospect of seeing Max soon. He had planned to meet up with his friends later that day, but his mind kept wandering back to Max, and he found himself wondering what the day would bring. As he got dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen, Nick's phone buzzed with a text from Max. "Good morning, handsome. How's your day shaping up?" Nick's heart skipped a beat as he read the message, and he quickly responded with a photo of himself sipping coffee and enjoying the sunshine. The rest of the morning flew by in a blur as Nick tried to focus on his plans for the day. He had agreed to meet up with his friends at the beach, and they had planned to spend the day soaking up the sun and playing volleyball. But as he lay on his towel, trying to enjoy the warm breeze and the sound of the waves, his mind kept drifting back to Max. Despite the distraction, Nick tried to make the most of his day with his friends. They spent hours lounging in the sun, playing games, and laughing together. But as the day wore on, Nick found himself checking his phone more and more frequently, hoping to catch a glimpse of a message from Max. As the sun began to set, Nick's friends suggested that they grab dinner at a nearby restaurant. Nick agreed, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't help but feel like he was going through the motions, his heart not fully in the moment. As they sat down to eat, Nick's phone buzzed with a text from Max. "Hey, babe. Just got out of class and I'm thinking about you. Can't wait to see you soon." Nick's heart skipped a beat as he read the message, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He excused himself from the table, pretending to need to make a phone call, and quickly sent a response to Max. "I'm thinking about you too," he wrote. "Can't wait to see you soon. What are your plans for the rest of the week?" Max responded almost immediately, "I've got a few more days of classes, but then I'm free to come see you. I've been thinking about flying down to Florida for a visit. Would that work for you?" Nick's heart soared as he read the message. He had been hoping that Max would make the trip soon, and now it seemed like it might actually happen. He quickly sent a response, "That would be amazing. I'd love to see you." The rest of the evening flew by in a blur as Nick tried to focus on his friends and the activities they had planned. But his mind kept wandering back to Max, and the prospect of seeing him soon. He couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation, and he knew that he would be counting down the hours until Max's visit. As the night drew to a close, Nick said goodbye to his friends and headed back to the vacation home, his mind reeling with thoughts of Max and their impending reunion. He couldn't wait to see Max's face, to touch him, and to be with him again. The digital intimacy of the past few days had only seemed to fuel their desire for each other, and Nick knew that he would have to wait no longer to satisfy it.