I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “You’re making that up.”
“Maybe,” he admitted with a laugh. “But isn’t it more fun to imagine?”
As we approached the cabin, I looked more closely. The old building spoke of time and the elements, its gray cypress planks bleached silver-gray by countless days of sun and salty air. The tin roof, rusted and pitted, sagged slightly in the middle, as if bearing the weight of untold stories.
A small porch jutted out from the front, its floorboards warped and uneven. The railing had long since collapsed. The wooden planks creaked under our feet as we stepped inside. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the walls, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.
After taking in the dry interior, I glanced up at thebeams stretching across the ceiling. “The roof is still holding.”
Eli nodded as he ran a foot over a large area rug that lay in the center of the room. “It’s still watertight, just a little musty.”
I took in the sparse furnishings arranged around the perimeter. “It’s like stepping back in time.”
He ran his hand along an old table. “I always wondered about the people who sat here, what stories they might’ve told.”
I turned to him, surprised by the wistfulness in his voice. “I didn’t peg you for a history buff.”
He shrugged. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Jules.”
That was a fair point. “You’re right. And I didn’t give you enough credit for what I did know.”
He shot me that adorable grin. “Well, I didn’t cover myself in glory where you were concerned, either. So let’s call it even.”
After nodding in agreement, I inhaled the dry air of the cabin. “You’re right, though. It does make you wonder who has been in this cabin and what they were trying to escape from.”
Eli moved back to the entry and opened the door, gesturing to me. “Maybe that’s an adventure for another day. Let’s get some fresh air before we get swallowed by the mystery of the past.”
“Good call. I’d prefer to avoid any ghostly encounters today.” I sent him a smile as I crossed the creaky floor.
As we emerged from the cabin’s shadowy interior, the brilliant sunshine momentarily dazzled my eyes. The beach stretched before us, a pristine expanse of white sand that seemed to glow in the afternoon light. A gentle breezerustled through the palm fronds, carrying with it the salty tang of the ocean.
“You know,” Eli mused as he swept his gaze across the idyllic scene, “as intriguing as that old cabin is, it’d be a crime to waste this perfect weather cooped up inside.”
I nodded in agreement. “Agreed.”
He gestured to the boat. “Why don’t you pick out the spot while I grab the picnic stuff?”
I found a flat area near the trees that threw dappled shade over us as he quickly returned from the boat, cooler in his arms. We spread out a blanket on the sand, and I sighed in sheer happiness. The sun warmed my skin as Eli unpacked sandwiches and drinks.
“This is perfect,” I said before taking a bite of my sandwich.
Eli nudged my leg with his. “Yeah, doesn’t get much better than a great dive followed by a picnic on a perfect beach with my girl.”
As we ate, a sense of contentment washed over me. The gentle lapping of waves, the rustling palms, the easy companionship—it was all so far removed from spreadsheets and bottom lines. All something I never knew I was missing. And all because my best friend wanted to get certified for an underwater wedding that wasn’t going to happen now.
I grinned at the irony, though the whole thing was Lacey to a tee. Which reminded me. “I had breakfast with Lacey yesterday at Sweet Dreams.”
“Oh yeah? How’s the bride-to-be?”
“She never changes.” I laughed, shaking my head fondly. “I swear, that girl could find a silver lining in a hurricane. But she was worried about me, if you can believe it.”
“About you?” His hand froze as he was lifting a chip to his mouth. “Why?”
I sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “The venue change. She was convinced I was upset about it.”
“And were you?”
I leaned back, resting my hands on the blanket. “Honestly? At first, maybe. But seeing the relief on her face when I assured her it was fine… It was like this weight just lifted.” I laughed, remembering the rest of our conversation. “Even when the plan was for the underwater ceremony, I never actually canceled my bridesmaid dress order.”
