Grinning up at me, she folds her arms round her physique. That’s once I discover that she’s bought goosebumps all down her pores and skin. The setting solar and the breeze off the ocean really feel superb to me, however Lucy’s clearly chilly.
“Geez, Sunshine. Come sit by the hearth I constructed you.” I pop open a pink tenting chair and set it close to the hearth—although not too shut. “Right here. I’ve a sweatshirt too if you happen to want one.”
“Thanks, sort sir.” But as a substitute of sitting down, she simply steps nearer to me. Glances up with these large, harmless eyes—ones rimmed with mischief. “However I used to be type of hoping you’d heat me up as a substitute.”
If ever a man wanted an invite, that is it. However whereas I’ve been dying to kiss Lucy all day, I additionally don’t need her to suppose that’s all I’m interested by. I’m on a date along with her as a result of I like her. As a result of I can see a doable future along with her. Not simply because she’s stunning.
She’s extra.
Nonetheless, I additionally don’t need to pal zone her. I?—
“Flake,” she says, a teasing lilt to her voice. “You’re overthinking this. Simply maintain me for a minute, okay?”
She’s proper. I’m overthinking, identical to I at all times do. Not all the pieces needs to be deliberate or exactly calculated. “Come right here.”
Then I pull her into my arms, and he or she matches so properly. Collectively we stand there, watching the solar disappear behind the horizon. Darkness descends round us, however the hearth retains us heat and brings mild to our world. The timber down the shoreline are tall, darkish spires within the sky. The ocean ebbs and flows, delivering a relaxing hush to my coronary heart and thoughts.
Or possibly that’s simply Lucy. Although I can’t see a transparent path ahead between us, being in her presence makes all the pieces clear. She teaches me how you can simply be. The best way to keep nonetheless and cease striving so onerous. To be content material within the little moments.
That’s no small feat.
“I might keep like this endlessly,” she murmurs.
I nuzzle my nostril into her hair, breathe within the hints of vanilla by some means nonetheless clinging to her regardless of our earlier dip within the water. “I used to be simply considering the identical factor.”
“How did you discover this place, anyway?” She burrows deeper into my arms, and I relaxation my chin on her head.
I blink, attempting to recollect the primary time I used to be ever right here. “I used to be in highschool, I do know that. Bought right into a struggle with Dad over one thing. I believe I mentioned I didn’t need to check out for soccer, and he thought I’d be throwing away a possibility for a scholarship.” I sigh on the reminiscence. “Every little thing was a possibility to him.”
“A chance for what?”
“To get out of Hallmark Seashore.”
She stiffens in my arms. “Oh.”
Holding maintain of her, I pull barely away so I can see her. So she will see me, even when it’s darkish out. I wish to suppose that doesn’t cease her from seeing what’s in my eyes. “Lucy…” How can I make her perceive? “Did I ever inform you in regards to the time once I was eleven and my dad took me to New York Metropolis?”
Shaking her head, she eyes the chair I arrange for her. “Come inform me.”
When she plops into the chair, I pull one other out of its case and set it up proper beside hers. I additionally dig in my bag and seize out certainly one of my Bruins-blue UCLA sweatshirts. I hand it to her, and he or she eagerly dons it. The sight of her drowning in my clothes…I nearly can’t deal with the way in which it makes my chest ache in all the perfect methods.
The fireplace pops and crackles, encouraging me identical to she does as she turns in her seat and reaches for my fingers. “What occurred in New York?”
Please let me talk this properly. I swallow onerous, grit in my throat. “We went there to go to my dad’s previous school roommate, Steve. He and my dad had been greatest buds. Steve was really the one who initially advised they trip in Hallmark Seashore after graduating from Stanford with their MBAs.”
“And that’s when your mother and father met.”
“Yeah, precisely.”
“After which what?”
“Nicely,” I rub the again of my neck. “My dad fell head over heels for my mother, however she informed him flat out that she’d by no means transfer from Hallmark Seashore. That it was her house, the place all of her buddies—like your Aunt Bea—had been, and that as a lot as she cherished him, she couldn’t see herself surviving life in New York, the place he was headed on the finish of the summer time. See, he and Steve each had job presents there at an enormous funding agency.”
“And he gave it up for her.”
“He did.” I look away, into the flames. Every one sparks, grows, and offers manner for the following. A circle of life, in a manner. “And I at all times thought he was okay with that. However once I was eleven and we took that journey—and we noticed the lavish life that Steve led…I imply, Lucy, he had a butler, was the CEO on the agency the place he’d began, had all this mad respect from the individuals who labored for him, field seats on the theater, the fanciest automobiles. And I simply noticed it in my dad’s eyes.”
“What did you see, Blake?” Her hand tugs at mine, and I flip my consideration again to her face. Her eyebrows knit collectively, like she’s attempting to piece collectively the puzzle.
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