“It's incredible. No one has ever done anything like this for me before.” She looks back at me as the setting sun hits her blue eyes, making them sparkle.
“I’m happy to be the first.” I take her hand as we walk onto the blanket before sitting down. “So, do you want to do dessert or our game first?”
She smiles shyly, “Dessert. Always. While we eat dessert, you can tell me what game you have planned.” I pull over the picnic basket and unlock the clasps.
“I can do that. So, for dessert, you have choices of two types of cookies, or a double chocolate brownie cookie, which I happen to hear is your favorite, all freshly baked.” Her eyes scan over the numerous choices, taking in the sweets.
“Levi, this is incredible. I have to have one of each; I can’t believe you’ve gone through all the trouble to make this date everything it is.” She grabs a small slice of brownie cookie and takes a bite. “Mmmmm, oh my god, this is the best thing I have ever had in my mouth. Amazing.” My eyes grow wide as a cheeky grin displays across my face.
“Peach, hurtful.” I fall dramatically into the sand, “My heart, owww.” I grab my chest, and she laughs before placing her hand on my chest.
“One of the best things.” She winks at me, finishing her last bite. “So, tell me, what’s the game? Never have I ever? Truth or Dare?” All good choices, but neither.
“Not quite.” I turn around, digging into the picnic basket, pulling out sand toys meant for children. I smile proudly, holding out two small buckets with shovels and little trinkets. “We are having a sand castle building contest, for one minute, first one done, wins.” She smiles widely and laughs.
“It’s so on, you're going down, Levi.” Maddie jumps up and grabs a bucket. We move next to the blanket and start building.
Maddie is rocking it; her castle stands tall and proud as she uses the wet sand to pack it. Noted. Following her movements, I run and grab wet sand, shoveling in quickly, knowing my time is running out. She runs over to get more sand when I drop my bucket, wraps her arms around me, and I scoop her up, running her to the water in the opposite direction of her castle. Maddie kicks her perfectly toned legs and squeals at my sabotage. Setting her down, I kiss her cheek before turning and running for my bucket. “Better luck next time, Peach.” Placing my pail firmly on the ground, knocking on the sides, I pull it up, and the entire castle falls. Next to me, Maddie busts out laughing as she lifts her bucket, and her sand stays in perfect uniform, just as the timer beeps. My castle looks as though it has been through battle, while hers stands beautifully, just as she does with a glowing smile on her face.
We take a step back and admire each other's hard work. Maddie’s is sturdy, with one big castle in the middle, two tiered, and four small ones surrounding it. I walk over, taking it in. “Peach? Is that a moat? You not only made a top-notch castle,but it also has a moat!?” Placing her hands on her hips, she stands proud.
“I came here all the time with my mom when I was younger, and this is what we did: we would make the biggest castles, with moats, and we’d bring little Barbies pretending they lived in it. Back when we were really close, anyway, you don’t want to hear about all that. Your umm… castle looks like it’s seen better days.”
I look at my fallen castle and smile. “Yours looks incredible, you’ve always been good with your hands, baby.” I wink, making her blush and smile. I extend my hand, a silent plea for hers, “Let’s walk.” She places her sandy hands in mine, and we start down the beach.
“So tell me, Peach, about your days on this beach.” She looks at the view, then at me, and I watch her bite the inside of her cheek. I squeeze her hand, reassuring her. “Or tell me something that makes you happy, anything.”
Her ocean eyes find mine, and I drink them in. Swallowing, because damn, is she gorgeous. “My favorite thing when I was younger was coming to this beach, and building sandcastles with my mom, then we would walk over to the slushy shop, and I’d get a red and blue slushy.” It makes me smile to think of her little self slurping down an entire slushy. “My mom and I used to be close, but my dad works a lot, and he always takes her with him on business trips and to meetings, and now it's just me. I wish I had someone like Scarlett. I love the love you have, and I know it hasn’t been easy, but I’ve never had anyone care for me the way you care for her.” She squeezes my hand. “Tell me what makes you happy, Levi King.” She looks at me, as I watch the slight smirk and glossy eyes.
“Being with you. Watching you smile and opening my eyes to a world I never knew existed. I didn’t make a good castle because that was my first time. I was nervous at dinner because that wasmy first date. You make me happy, Maddie.” She blushes and kicks the water rolling over our feet into my pants. “You wanna play dirty, huh?” She scrunches her nose and takes off running back toward the picnic blanket. Sliding onto the blanket, she falls on top of me when my arms wrap around her waist.
Her nose touches mine. I want to kiss her, but I am trying to be a gentleman, so I nudge her nose with mine, as she says, “I’m happy with you, too, handsome.” We fall onto our backs and look up at the night sky, now illuminated with stars. “This view is beautiful.” Her eyes are zoned in on all the stars above, while mine are locked on her.
“Yeah, it really is.” She turns her head now, looking back at me, watching as her eyes dart from my eyes to my mouth, back to my eyes. Placing my hand on her soft cheek, my thumb glides along her jaw. Our lips gravitated towards one another until her soft lips grazed mine. Not wanting to lose this moment of pure happiness, I plant my lips on hers. Tasting her cherry lip gloss, pulling her body into mine, wanting to keep her here forever. My muscular arm locks around her, begging her not to let go, while my other hand rubs her face, holding her into me. Her flowy dress rises, revealing her tanned thighs and hips, making my mouth water. A soft moan escapes her, sending waves of lust and desire straight down to my cock that I have been telling to behave all night.
“Maddie,” I gasp when I pull away. My voice is deep, desperate to devour her and all her tenderness. “Play one last game with me.” She smirks and gives me a side eye.
“Sure, you wanna lose again?” She replies as I sit up, resting on my elbow.
“The only way I’m losing this game is if you don’t play.” She stands, dusting off her dress.
“Name the game, handsome.”
“It’s simple, really. First one to the water gets to ask any question they want. We go on the count of three. One. Two.” She looks forward to getting into her competitive zone. “THREE,” I yell as I take off like a bat out of hell, determined to win. She squeals behind me, hollering my name. My feet jump into the water, as cold splashes land randomly across my body. Turning around, I see Maddie sprinting toward me. She’s in her bra and underwear, her clothes discarded along the sand, for fuck sake, she’s gonna catch her death in this weather. She comes crashing into me, laughing hysterically, falling into my arms. Her unadulterated happiness is all the warmth I need right now.
I twirl her around, holding her so tightly to my body that I’m certain she can feel my racing heart. “I win,” I whisper in her ear. She kisses my neck, leaning into me.
“So, ask me a question.” She looks up at me with curiosity.
“Tonight has been full of firsts for me, Maddie. First date, first sandcastle, and I’ve got this strong feeling, you’re my first love. I was wondering if you’d want to be my first girlfriend. We only have to wait a few more months until we can love each other openly and kiss each other without worrying who sees.”What she doesn’t know is that I want her to be my first and last. I know some might think it’s silly to fall in love so young, but when my dad saw my mom, he knew. In one moment, he decided she was his forever, and I feel it. I feel the love that is talked about in movies. The all-consuming love, the kind that makes a strong man weak, the type of love that makes a cold heart warm - she makes my fragile heartbeat twice as fast, and I never want it to slow.Her lips crash to mine, pulling me from my secret love confession.
“Yes, she whispers into our kiss. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me. Here I thought you’d changed your mind after Iwhooped you at your games. Although I have to admit, I don't mind losing this one.”
“Maddie, I’m not ever changing my mind, not when it comes to you.” I lift her out of the water, carrying her like one would across the threshold, after a wedding. Grabbing her clothes along the way, I sit her in the car and blast the heat. “Warm up, Peach, I’m going to clean up.”
Throwing the basket together and shaking out the blankets, I toss them into the trunk before hopping in. Maddie is rubbing her hands together, now fully dressed.
“Warm?” She nods her head. I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Next time you strip down to undies and a bra, I will absolutely take advantage of the situation. Tonight is our first date, and I don’t put out on first dates.” She laughs at my bad joke and smiles.
