“How did you know I always wanted to come to the beach?”
Bella told me while she was grieving. She told me a lot about Darlia I’m not sure she ever wanted me to know, but I do anyway.
“Bella.”
“Of course she did.” Darlia rolls her eyes, trying to fight a smirk. I kiss the corner of her lips, right beside her dimple.
I spin her around again and her laughter fills the air. I could spend a lifetime being the cause of it, and never get tired.
Darlia
The water clings to my skin as I dive into the water, the salt stinging my eyes. I circle my arms, trying to keep myself afloat, realising I don’t know how to swim.
“Careful, darling.” Cayden wraps his arms around me, lifting me as my legs instinctively move around his waist again. “How are you doing? Really doing, no bullshit.”
I part my lips to respond, but stop myself and force myself to really think about how I answer. I’m tired, overwhelmed, but happy. I’m so happy.
“I’m okay.” I give him a smile so he believes me, and Cayden kisses my nose. “Good. Let’s get out of the water before we get sick.”
I don’t argue as Cayden walks us out of the water, walking over to the sand before putting me down.
“There’s a spare change of clothes for you in there, and a towel.”
“Thank you.” My heart stops as I realise he thought about me, but not himself. Cayden was busy trying to make this day perfect for me, he didn’t bring anything for himself to change into.
“I’ll be fine baby, just get yourself warm and dry for me okay?” I nod, unbuttoning the jeans and attempting to peel them from my body, but they hardly budge. How can this possibly be so hard? How could anyone wear this?
“May I?” Cayden chuckles, waiting for my nod before placing his hands on my waist. Unzipping the jeans, he gently pulls them from my body, the heavy, wet clothes falling to the sand as Cayden helps me step out of them.
“Arms up, baby.” His fingers graze both sides of my waist as he pulls the sweater over my head, leaving me standing in only my bra and underwear.
I feel so exposed. The cold air hits my wet skin and sends a shiver down my spine, yet somehow I don’t feel cold.
“So beautiful,” Cayden murmurs, his lips pressing to my forehead as his hands move back to my waist, holding me still.
We both stand there, unmoving in nothing but undergarments, before I start to tremble. Immediately, Cayden pulls away and wraps the towel around me.
“How are your stitches?”
“They sting, but they’re okay,” I say honestly. There’s no point lying to Cayden when I know he’ll just keep asking until I answer honestly.
“Let’s get you dressed and get home. We have a long few days ahead of us, and you’re going to need some rest.” I stare at him, confused.
“Long few days?”
“You’ll see, my love.”
The walk back to the car is mostly silent. Cayden carries me back, despite the coldness clinging to him as the water drips from his body.
He had placed his jeans back on, but left his shirt off, using it to wrap my hair back so that the water didn’t wet my clothes.
I’m pressed against his chest, and for the first time, I see how toned he is. Something I’ve never noticed before. The only other times Cayden has been shirtless around me is when he’s behind me in bed.
I always knew he was muscular, that much was obvious, but this is different. There are lines down his hard chest and stomach. Defined by muscles and what’s clearly been years of training.
“Like what you see?” Cayden’s lips curve into a smirk as he looks down at me, and instantly my cheeks flush pink.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, quickly looking away.
