Maybe it was the gray skies that added to it, because there really hadn’t been much of an actual sunriseorsunset recently. Yesterday was the first cloudless sky they’d had in over a week, and that big ball of sunshine was a welcome reprieve.
This evening, Tabitha was going to take advantage of what little daylight remained. After her shift at the hospital, she’d gone home, laced up her sneakers, thrown on a windbreaker, and texted Ben, asking him to join her for a run along the shore. He had showed up twenty minutes later in athletic wear, ready to go.
Their pace was quick at the start, their feet pummeling the packed sand as they ran down the beach. But by mile two, they’d both slowed up, not because their stamina had waned, but because they wanted to talk while they jogged. Ben had asked about her day, something they didn’t do much of before. But now those sorts of conversations had become a new normal. Tabithashared about her surgeries and a few of the cases that came through the hospital, and then she reciprocated by asking Ben about the most recent house he’d listed, the one with the indoor pool bigger than her entire downstairs at the beach house. They weren’t doing this exchange out of obligation. Tabitha had a true interest in the things that were important to Ben and vice versa.
By mile three, they’d decelerated into a walk. Ben reached for her hand, fitting their fingers together.
“Have you thought about what you might wear to the gala?”
The question caught her a touch off guard, almost as much as the handholding. “I still need to go shopping for a dress.” It honestly had been the last thing on her mind. “Have you picked out a suit?”
“None of the ones I currently have fit. Turns out all the running has taken a few inches off my waistline. Go figure.”
Tabitha had noticed. Ben had never really been what she would call overweight, but in the last year he’d toned up and was looking the most fit she’d ever recalled him being. He looked great.
“We could go together to find our outfits. If that’s something you’d like to do,” she suggested.
His thumb ran along the back of her hand, sweeping across her skin.
“I’d like that. We both know I can’t put a decent outfit together to save my life.”
“I don’t know.” She turned her head to take him in. “You look pretty put together right now.”
His joggers and long-sleeved moisture wicking shirt made him appear as though he’d stepped off the pages of a fitness magazine. Tabitha never understood how it was that men just got better with age, but Ben was a prime example. Truthfully, she’d never been more attracted to him.
“I honestly just went to the athletic store and bought this off the mannequin.” He waved a hand over his torso. “I’m helpless otherwise. Needs to be completely laid out for me.”
“Well, then I’m happy to help you.”
They had doubled back at this point, and the wind met them head on now. Tabitha hadn’t thought to twist her hair up into a ponytail, so it currently just whipped around her face, coils of dark strands obscuring her vision.
Ben swung around to face her. Letting go of her hand, he brought both of his up to cup her cheeks and surprised her with the sweetest, slowest kiss.
“What was that for?” She asked when he drew back. She smoothed the hair from her face.
“I just felt like doing that.”
They’d never been spontaneous, and she was beginning to wonder why. Because she loved the way that kiss took her by surprise. Loved the way Ben kept surprising her over and over lately with small gestures that had a big impact.
“You’re welcome to do that whenever you like,” she said, trying her best to flirt but not entirely sure it translated. She’d been out of practice.
“Welcome to kiss you?”
“Yes.” Tabitha nodded once. “I mean, since we’re boyfriend/girlfriend and all.”
Ben chuckled and swung back around to continue their walk side by side. “Sounds so juvenile, right?”
“It does, but I’m not sure there’s a term for us. For what we’re doing.”
“You don’t think there’s a term for two exes falling back in love?”
Tabitha’s feet rooted beneath her. “Is that what we’re doing?”
“Falling in love?” Ben was a few steps ahead with his hand stretched back, still holding hers.
Tabitha’s throat was too thick to answer. She just nodded again.
“I mean, that’s what I’m doing. I’m not entirely sure I ever fell out of it with you, Tabs.”
