He frowns. “First, faculty was my life, and the meals truck enterprise on the aspect. Then, there was the apprenticeship, and that was all I considered. And eventually, it was the restaurant the place I labored.”

“What about your co-workers? And certainly you dated some.” I attempt to say it casually, however on the within, I’ve to mentally put away the claws on the considered every other girl courting my man.

Not that he’s mine. We haven’t put a reputation to any of this. Then once more, that kiss the opposite night time—it felt like a declaration. A claiming of kinds. It was for me, anyway.

“I imply, yeah, my co-workers have been nice, and I bought to know them to a sure extent. However I used to be the boss, in order that at all times type of put me at a distinct degree. Not larger or something like that. Simply…I don’t know. They revered me, and we have been pleasant, however not associates.” He research my hand in his and rubs his thumb over mine. “And as for relationships…there have been a couple of.”

Retract, claws. Retract!

“However nothing important. I didn’t have time. Or somewhat, I didn’t make the time.” Then his gaze connects with mine, and it’s so piercing that I suck in a breath on the depth written there. “I assume what I’m saying is, there was no one again in L.A. that made me notice there’s extra to life than chasing success. No one that compelled me to get out of my routine. To think about doing issues otherwise.”

No one again in L.A. However perhaps any individual in Hallmark Seaside?

I wish to ask the query, however earlier than I can, he’s releasing my hand. “Come on. Let’s discover.”

Huh? However as I climb from the automotive and shut the door behind me, I perceive. Earlier than us, simply down the steps main from the parking zone, spreads essentially the most lovely seashore I’ve ever seen. The solar is midway down the sky now, and as an alternative of sand, the bottom is suffering from stones of all shapes, sizes…and colours.

Oh, the colours.

Yellows, greens, blues, reds. The rocks are clean and glistening, and I’ll guess something that after they have been jagged and dry. The ocean, over time, has beat in opposition to them, has sanded them down into one thing beautiful, and now they embellish the panorama—proof that issue can typically produce issues of magnificence.

That simply since you began one place doesn’t imply that’s the place you’ll keep.

And I can’t assist however suppose how this seashore is an ideal illustration of me and Blake. Of us, collectively.

I solely hope our story has an ending as lovely as this seashore.

twenty-five

BLAKE

Right this moment has been totally good.

As I add wooden to the fireplace I constructed on Firestone Seaside, I flip my focus again to Lucy, who’s wandering just a bit methods down the seashore, on the lookout for a stone. What sort of stone? She doesn’t know. Once we first began exploring the seashore a couple of hours in the past, she simply stated she’d know the proper stone when she noticed it. We wandered the seashore, climbed the waterfall, took a dip within the ocean, and have spent the entire time right here alone, with bouts of stone looking.

And nonetheless, no good rock.

However the reality Lucy’s nonetheless trying is one thing I really like about her. She’s bought the sunniest disposition. I used to suppose it was a bit inauthentic, however now I simply suppose it’s Lucy. Her glass-half-full mentality balances out the day by day dose of actuality I’m consistently taking…and it’s type of good to see issues from her viewpoint. To return right here right now and not likely have a plan past being along with her. Nothing to “accomplish.” No objectives aside from attending to know her higher.

In fact, the entire day’s been a follow within the artwork of self-control, particularly given the way in which she seems proper now. Even from afar and within the waning daylight, her particulars are clear to me. Her hair is hanging damp down her again, and she or he’s nonetheless carrying her swimsuit prime with low-slung cutoff shorts and nothing on her ft as she fastidiously steps over the stones and sometimes squats to look at them extra intently.

I strike a match and set hearth to the kindling I’ve positioned within the ring of rocks I spent the final thirty minutes arranging whereas Lucy combed the seashore, her lovely off-key singing drifting again towards me. We’re the one two right here, one thing I didn’t plan for however don’t hate. Positive, I may have taken her on a date in Hallmark Seaside, however there are many prying eyes—a incontrovertible fact that grew to become all too clear the second we stepped from the rock outcropping on the celebration on Friday night time.

So. Many. Seems.

We didn’t even maintain fingers as we left, however many an outdated dude shot me a thumbs up, whereas among the older girls—I’m you, Alberta Jenkins—flashed me frowns of disapproval. Fortunately, Jordan and Marilee didn’t say a phrase to me, simply allow us to be part of their volleyball sport.

However I’m positive they observed the way in which I couldn’t hold my eyes off of Lucy.

Type of like now.

She should discover my staring, as a result of her head pops up and she or he breaks into an enormous grin, waves. Standing, she walks again towards me, empty handed. “No luck.”

“I like your persistence.”

“Some would possibly name it futile, however I’ll discover the proper stone. Simply you wait.”

“I’ve little question you’ll do no matter you place your thoughts to.” Even when it’s one thing as inconceivable as discovering perfection.

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