And despite the attempted murder hike, he’s not so bad.
“You good, baby?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Lead me to your death trap.”
Cayden chuckles as he takes my hand again, leading me further into the forest.
And then I see it, the opening beyond the trees. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The sound of waves crashing fills my ears, the smell of salt filling the air. The beach. Cayden brought me to the beach.
“Bella mentioned you always wanted to come here.”
I can’t respond, the words trapped in my throat as I stare out to the beauty beyond me. It’s even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. It’s like something from another world. The sand is warm, soft, and bright. The waves wet the sand further up, and I feel the urge to just run into the water, clothes be damned.
Even if I have to spend twenty minutes in wet clothes on the walk back.
“Go ahead, love. I have spare clothes for you.”
I don’t wait a single second taking off my shoes and running into the water. It’s freezing cold and freeing. I feel so free. An unwilling laugh escapes and I run around the water, feeling the waves crash into me.
The salt hits the stitches on my ribs; it burns, but even that’s not enough to get me to leave. I never want to be anywhere else again.
I wish Lauren was here to see this.
Then I see Cayden watching from the shore, his eyes on me and a smile on his lips. And for the first time, everything just feels right.
Cayden
There’s a softness to Darlia I’ve never seen before, a spark in her eyes that’s only from pure joy. I wish I could bottle up this moment and take it with her everywhere she goes, so that Darlia can always feel this happy.
Right now, Darlia looks like a kid in a candy store. And she’s mine. All mine.
The most beautiful girl in the world, and she trusts me, loves me; even if she hasn’t admitted it to herself yet.
Darlia’s laughter is infectious, carrying from the waist-deep water back to the dry sand. And of course, like an idiot, I remembered everything for her, but nothing for me. She is always the priority.
“Cayden! Come in here!” I want to, so fucking badly I want to share this moment with her. Fuck it. Throwing off my sweatshirt and pushing down my jeans, I strip down to my boxers and run in after her.
The water is fucking freezing, how Darlia isn’t already trembling is beyond me.
Walking out to her, I watch as she splashes the water, wetting me and immediately stifling a laugh. Cheeky girl.
I splash her back, and Darlia gasps as the cold water hits her face. “Cayden!!!” Her laughter going straight to my heart where every other part of her already belongs. Fitting in like the missing piece to a puzzle I didn’t know she was building.
“Cayden?”
“Yes, my love?”
“Thank you.”
I don't respond, instead I pick her up and spin her around in the water, watching her head fall back and laughter escape her chest.
Darlia is always beautiful, but right now she is magnificent. And I would do everything all over again just to see her in this moment. My darling Darlia, so happy and free.
She deserves this.
And everything I have yet to show her.
Darlia wraps her legs around my waist, holding on to me as she catches her breath. I hold her close, not sure if she knows how to swim. I doubt that’s something The Academy teaches.
