He lowers me until my feet hit the sand, and when I’m done steadying myself I look up to find a challenge written in his expression.
“I’ll show you how well my legs still work.” He charges toward me.
A scream flies out of me as I try to run away, but he’s too fast, and I’m too dizzy. He wraps his arms around me from behind and squeezes and we descend into hysterical laughter, the happiness of this moment bubbling out of us. Our audience runs up to us, popping bottles of champagne and snapping flash photos of our sweaty faces.
This moment is perfect. I’m filled with a gratitude so deep it feels heavy as I look at my friends’ jubilant, laughing faces and even Gwen’s awkward attempt at celebration. Getting to this moment required things I found terrifying: forgiveness and trust and grief. Even falling in love with Declan was scary. But being in love with him? Being loved by him? It was more natural to me than breathing.
The tiniest tug of grief threatens to pull me out of this moment as I remember Lottie’s absence, but when I look at Declan’s beaming face, I know that even having lost someone I loved, I have gained another someone back. And I will never lose him again.
Five Years Ago
Declan picks me up at the house at seven p.m.just like he said he would.[The words ‘just like he said he would’ are circle in pen, with an arrow pointing to a handwritten annotation in the margins saying, ‘keeps his word even on the small stuff > > >’]
I expected him to be waiting in his caras per usual,[Waiting in the car = platonic Knocking on the door = dating!!!]but when I throw open the front door, he’s standing stock-still beneath the soft glow of the porch light with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. He looks like a modern-day James Dean.[A hand-drawn bouquet of flowers with two tiny hearts next to it is drawn on the margins.]
I actually mentally whistle.
Declan tightens his grip on the bouquet, crinkling the brown paper.
“If the look on your face meansyou’re reeling a bit, thenyou’re not the only one,”[Can you imagine being JUST FRIENDS for over a decade, and then suddenly, FINALLY, transitioning to dating?]he says with a sweet lilt in his voice.
He knows exactly what to say to disarm hischronic charmand put me at ease.
He extends his arm, holding the bundle ofcotton-candy-pink and blue hydrangeas[My real-life favorite flower because there aren’t many in Texas!]out to me. I take in a sharp breath at the sight. My favorite flowers, because I’ve always loved how they look like colorful cotton balls from far away.
“Wow,” I exhale. “These are beautiful. How did you even get them?” We don’t have many hydrangeas in Seabrook.
“I’m glad you like them.” He leans in and gives me a quick peck on the cheek, the brief encounter with his warm sandalwood scent doing my heart rate zero favors. “Shipping is a crazy invention.” He winks.
I stare down at the fluffy flowers in a stupefied state.Pretending not to like someone for over a decade starts to become second nature. And my body hasn’t caught up with the fact that I don’t need to anymore.[Blair’s mom will point a similar finger in her face in the future. Some habits continue on!]
“These are gorgeous!”Aunt Lottiesays,pushing past me[Lottie has no problem appreciating them! LOL.]to say hi to Declan.
“Hi,con,” Lottie says, patting him on the cheek. She has to reach her arm up to do so, his height towering over her by an entire foot. “Take care of my baby, okay?” she chides,pointing the infamous finger at him. But coming from her, it’s more endearing than fear-inducing.
“Yes, ma’am. I will.” Declan beams down at her, dimples flashing from his cheek and chin.
She pats him on the cheek twice before turning around and shoving me out the door. “Okay,con![I have such fond memories being called con by my mom and aunts. :)]Have fun!” She shoos me toward Declan and then slams the door shut.
“Woah! Well then!” I say, giggling as I fall into Declan’s arms.
“I guess that’s our cue,” he says.
“I guess so.”
“Alrighty,Little Bird[I love how he calls her “Little Bird” their 1st time at Secret Beach because a few years later… He’ll BE PROPOSING ON THE SAME BEACH!]. Right this way.” He steers me from behind as I keep my hands firmly over my eyes. We stomped through a grove of trees until we reached the edge.
“Okay, you can open your eyes now.”
I blink a few times, adjusting to see that we’re in the center of a semi-circle created by massive cliffs hemming us in. Beneath my feet is a small patch of sand that gives way to clear turquoise water.
“Uh-huh.” I scoff-laugh, momentarily dazed by the sight. “How did you find this place?”
“Google Maps is crazy useful, it turns out,” he remarks.
I drop the awe from my expression and pin him with a glare. “First ‘shipping is a crazy invention,’ and now Google Maps. Excuse me for being curious.”
“I’m kidding!” He laughs. “I found this place when I was on a run. I thought the trail was just a random dirt path, but it spit me out onto sand. And Iknew instantly[when he finds a cool spot and instantly pictures taking Blair > > >]I wanted to take you here on ourfirst date. Your curiosity is removing the smoke screen from all the romantic tricks I have up my sleeve.”
