Max puts the truck in reverse, exits the driveway, and turns toward the beach. Music strums in the background, and my heart skips a beat when he reaches out for my hand, holding it while gently stroking his thumb over my bandage.
"I didn’t really think about the stitches. Is it okay to go to the beach today? We could do something else."
The thoughtfulness makes me feel warm and gooey inside. I’ve never been out with a man who so selflessly considers me—this should be bare minimum, but the bar is very low these days.
"Yeah, Vera put this second-skin stuff on it. I can get it wet and everything. I’ve just been keeping the bandage on as an extra layer of precaution, and because it’s kinda gross to look at."
His dimple pops, but his eyes stay trained on the road.
"Good. I want to swim in the ocean with you. When was the last time you did that?"
It takes me a minute to think as I slide my phone from my pocket and open my calendar. "Well, the last time I was here during the summer was four years ago. But I don’t remember coming to the beach."
"Jesus, Sade. Maybe your boss wasn’t over-exaggerating. When’s the last time you took a vacation?"
"Okay, let’s not get judgmental. It’s harder than you think to take time off. My job isn’t on the same schedule as the team. I work year-round, planning and preparing during the off-season."
Max squeezes my hand. "I wasn’t judging, just asking. And I’m kind of glad."
"What? Why?"
He pulls into a parking spot near the public beach access entrance. "Because it’ll be more fun doing this with you. Like experiencing it for the first time."
I unbuckle, biting my tongue so I don’t crack up.
"Hate to break it to ya, big guy. You don’t have to work so hard to get me to like you." I scoot closer, feeling bold. "This backwards hat, and these big brawny arms do it for you."
Leaning in, I press a quick kiss on his lips. I’ve never been overly affectionate like this, but something about seizing the moment, and knowing this has a deadline, makes me feel like I can just go for it. Or maybe it’s just easier with him.
Max wraps his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me close enough that our lips are almost touching. "You’re making me feel like a piece of meat, Sade." He smiles against my mouth. "Keep it up, and we won’t actually see the beach." He slides his lips up and presses a kiss to the center of my forehead.
Holy hell, I’m in over my head.
Max pulls the handle on his door, exiting the truck and skirting around it before I can make it back to my side.
"Ready? It’s SOGO season."
Cocking my head to the side, I struggle to put together what the acronym means.
"Sun’s out, guns out." Max flexes before wrapping his hands around my ribs and lifting me down. He’s ridiculous in the best way.
"Remind me not to make your head bigger than it already is." I nudge him with my elbow when my feet are safely planted on the ground. "One teensy compliment, and I can already tell you’re going to remind me all day."
Max laughs, grabbing my bag from the truck and sliding it onto his shoulder over the two beach chairs already slung on his arm. We walk side by side across a wooden plank pathway over a small sand dune. Sea oats line both sides of the path, intermingled with flowers that perfume the salty air. As the ocean comes into view, so do the waves lapping at the coast. There are large boulders intermixed with the cream-colored sand and a few patrons sprawled out on a rainbow of towels.
Max leads the way, heading left down the sand until he finds the perfect clearing. He drops my bag and the chairs, and I immediately grab two towels while he assembles our seats. It hits me that we seem to make a good team, with unspoken communication passing effortlessly between us.
Stepping to drape my red and white striped towel over the back of the chair, I do a double take. In the sand, about five feet behind my seat, are the words:Quite The Pair, Indeed.It’s as if the words are a response to my own thoughts, as if somehow the universe knows what I’m thinking.
"Um, Max. Do you see that?" I point toward the letters, but as soon as he spins to look, a gust of wind kicks up the sand, erasing any sign of them.
"See what? The sand?"
I shake my head. "No, I could swear something was just written there. Like, you know how people will draw their names and stuff." I cross my arms."It’s fine, nevermind."
Max places his towel on his chair and flops down as he pats mine, pulling my seat closer to his. "What did it say?"
"Quite the pair, indeed."
