I hated how pleased I felt. Hated the butterflies that erupted anyway. Hated that I was smiling.
Ethan turned then, finally really looking at me.
The grin slid right off his face.
He stared.
Not subtly. Like he’d forgotten where we were. Like the beach had gone quiet around us.
I suddenly became very aware of my two-piece. Of my skin. Of the heat. Of the way his eyes lingered with an intensity that made my stomach flip and my pulse trip over itself.
Lily saved me.
“Claire,” she said loudly, peering at my face. “Why are you red, like a lobster?”
I groaned.
Ethan bit his lip, failing spectacularly at hiding his smirk. “Yeah, Claire,” he said lightly. “Why are you so red?”
I shoved both of them away, mortified. “Go in the water. Both of you. Now.”
“Oh!” Ethan said, snapping his fingers. “We almost forgot.”
He dug into the bag and pulled out the sunscreen, applying it quickly to Lily while she bounced in place, barely tolerating the delay. He smeared some on himself with exaggerated seriousness, then turned to me.
“You want help?” he asked, far too innocent.
“I already did it,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But thank you for the selfless offer.”
He laughed, loud and easy, and then suddenly scooped Lily up again.
She squealed as he bolted toward the waves, her laughter carrying over the sand as they ran.
I picked a spot away from the densest crowd and dropped my towel, settling down to watch them. Lily shrieked with delight as Ethan splashed her, their laughter blending with the sound of the waves.
Something warm and bittersweet settled in my chest.
Not long ago, I’d fought against him having custody of her. I’d been scared. Protective. Certain I knew best.
Watching them now, it was impossible not to see how wrong I’d been.
Ethan glanced over at me, caught my eye, and then he and Lily charged back toward shore.
I knew what was coming.
“Attack!” Lily yelled.
I barely had time to protest before they grabbed me, mostly Ethan, and despite my shrieking insistence that I did not want to get wet, I was unceremoniously dumped into the cold water.
I came up sputtering, laughing despite myself, reaching for him.
And then it was on.
We dunked each other mercilessly, splashing and laughing while Lily cheered from the shallows like a referee who had clearly picked sides.
Later, we decided to eat at one of the ocean-side restaurants that lined the beach. I managed to secure us a table on the crowded outdoor deck after a bit of maneuvering, it required a bit of smiling apologetically and pretending I hadn’t absolutely been aiming for that exact spot. As I sat down, the breeze carrying the smell of salt and fried seafood, it struck me that this indeed had been a very good day to come here.
A very good day for a date.
