Saying the same bullshit she said at the airport.
He didn’t even have to think—his fingers moved on instinct.
Jaxon:I’m heading to the place where the tide meets the sand.
Claire sat on her towel, sunglasses pushed up, phone in hand. Her thumb hovered for a second before finally hitting send.
She immediately regretted not calling.
What if he’s busy? What if he forgot me? What if he doesn’t recognize the number? What if I sound desperate?
When her phone buzzed, she opened the reply with her heart halfway up her throat.
“Where the tide meets the sand”?
She stared at it, confused. The entire beach was a tide meeting sand. Was that poetic or just vague? Was he being mysterious or…
Sara interrupted her thoughts by slapping a wet towel across Macie’s legs and laughing hysterically. Chaos.
Claire turned back to her phone and typed:& where would that be?
The reply came fast.
Jaxon:Let me show you. Dinner tonight at 7:00?
Her stomach flipped. She didn’t hesitate this time.
Claire:7:00 is fine. Let me know where, and I can meet you there.
Seconds later, a dropped pin came through with a text:
Jaxon:Here’s the address. I’ll see you then.
Claire sat still for a beat. Heart racing. Heat rising. It wasn’t just the sun anymore.
An hour later, the girls packed up their towels and umbrella like a band of sunburned warriors preparing for the speed-walk of their lives.
“Why does the sand feel hotter now?” Taylor whined.
“It’s scientifically proven that it gets hotter the closer you are to heatstroke,” Macie deadpanned, jogging past everyone.
Claire was already halfway to the golf cart. “Let’s go!”
“Damn Claire, give us a second to climb in!” Macie shouted.
“Sorry,” Claire laughed. “Hold on tight.”
Once they got back to the house, the group fell into the kitchen like they’d just crossed a desert. Macie and Sara immediately attacked the fridge like it owed them money.
“I need a snack and a nap,” said Sara, opening a bag of chips like it was an emergency ration.
“Claire,” Taylor called over her shoulder, “you and Sara have been here more than us. Where should we eat tonight?”
Claire casually leaned against the counter. “Well… it depends on what you want.”
“What does that mean?” Macie asked, mouth full. “Where are you going to be?”
Claire didn’t say anything for a second. Then, with a too-sweet smile, she dropped the bomb.
