The salty breeze whipped gently across my face as I sat across from Will at a table outside the Beachcomber Café. The sound of waves crashing nearby mingled with the hum of happy chatter from other diners, creating the perfect backdrop for our lunch.
Will leaned back in his chair, a relaxed smile playing on his lips. “I could get used to this,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.
“You mean the view or the company?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Both,” he replied smoothly, his eyes meeting mine with that mischievous glint that always made my stomach flutter.
The waitress arrived with our food, placing a grilled mahi sandwich in front of him and a vibrant salad in front of me. For a moment, we both focused on our meals, the silence between us comfortable.
“This feels unreal,” I admitted after a few bites, setting my fork down.
“What does?”
“This,” I said, gesturing between us. “Having time together in broad daylight. Just us. No kids, no interruptions. No hiding.”
Will nodded thoughtfully. “It’s nice, isn’t it? Feels like we’re finally getting to breathe a little.”
I smiled, watching him as he ate, his movements unhurried, like he wanted to savor the moment.
After lunch, we wandered down the beach, shoes in hand. The sand was cool beneath my feet, the tide gently lapping at the shore. We walked side by side, close enough that our arms brushed every now and then.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about how we can make this work,” Will said, breaking the comfortable silence.
“With our kids?” I asked.
“Yeah. I want this to feel…natural, you know? For everyone. But I also know we can’t force it.”
I nodded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. “I think we need to take it slow. The kids are still adjusting to everything. If we rush into this, it could backfire.”
“Agreed,” he said. “So, here’s what I’ve been thinking: we line up our schedules. When I have my kids, you’ll have yours, and when they’re with their other parents, we’ll have time to ourselves.”
“That makes sense,” I said. “Natalie and Will weekends. I like the sound of that.”
He grinned. “We’ll make the most of them. Lazy mornings, long walks, and plenty of time for…” He trailed off, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
“Time for what?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”
“But you like me this way.”
I bumped his shoulder lightly. “I do. And I like the idea of us not pushing the children too fast. Maybe we see each other a couple of times during the weeks when we have them, but we don’t force the families together right away.”
“That sounds right to me,” he said. “And when it’s just us…”
“When it’s just us?” I prompted.
“Well, let’s just say I plan to spend most of that time naked in bed with you.”
I burst out laughing, the sound carried away by the breeze. “You’re shameless.”
“Just honest,” he said, his tone teasing but his eyes serious.
We walked further along the shore, our conversation fading into a comfortable silence. The waves lapped at our feet, and the sun hung high in the sky, castinglight across the water.
Out of nowhere, Will turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eye.
