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She found herself questioning her own judgment, wondering if she was making the same mistake again, persuading herself that Luke was different when in reality, she was simply afraid of being alone. So, Emma took the easy way out, and convinced herself that being friends with Luke was the safer option. He was a widower, and she was a divorcee, and it made sense to keep their relationship platonic. But deep down, she knew she was running from her fears, pushing them aside instead of confronting them. She couldn’t deny the growing connection she felt with Luke, but she was scared of what it might mean, scared of the potential for heartbreak.
As they approached the entrance to the beach, the smell of fried food wafted towards them from a nearby food truck.
“Is there anything here for you?” Luke asked, his eyes scanning the menu.
Emma smiled, touched by his consideration. “I usually go for the boardwalk fries. I haven’t had them in almost a year.”
Luke turned to the cashier. “Can we get your largest size of boardwalk fries?”
“Coming right up!” The man behind the window smiled as he took Luke’s payment.
Emma let out a soft, amused chuckle that hung in the air. It was the sound of someone who had been through this before and knew what to expect.
Luke looked at her, his brows knit together in confusion. “What?”
“That’s what,” Emma raised her arm, pointing ahead.
Luke’s eyes widened as he turned back to the vendor. He had accidentally ordered the jumbo size, which was enormous— roughly equivalent to a quart of fries doused in vinegar and salt. “Well, I hope you’re really hungry,” Luke joked.
Emma smiled as she pulled out a piping hot fry and took a bite. “I actually am. I skipped breakfast this morning, so this will do nicely.”
As they stepped onto the sandy shore, Emma took the lead, moving in the opposite direction of the beachgoers who were frolicking in the water and lounging under the sun.
Luke glanced at Emma, puzzled. “Where are we going?”
Emma flashed a mischievous grin. “Just keep following me. I promise, it’ll be worth your while,” she said, excitement lacing her words.
She led him to a stone wall and slipped behind one of the larger rocks. Curious, Luke trailed her, peering over her shoulder.
His eyes widened in amazement when he saw there was an entire path hidden behind the wall. “Wow! This is incredible.”
“Just wait until you see where it leads,” Emma teased with a smile.
As they walked along the hidden path, Luke looked up and saw a towering lighthouse in the distance.
Emma’s eyes scanned the surroundings until she spotted a picnic table nestled at the base of the lighthouse. “Let’s sit there and finish the fries,” she said, nodding in its direction. As they strolled toward it, the ocean came into view, stretching out as far as Emma could see. A small sloop bobbed on the gray-green waves, leaving a trail of white foam in its wake. The palm trees lining the beach rustled and swayed with the gentle ocean breeze.
They sat down and talked about their lives, hopes, and dreams. Before they knew it, the jumbo bucket of fries was all gone, and they had been sitting there for two hours.
Emma’s eyes darted down to her watch, and her jaw dropped. “Is that really the time?”
Luke chuckled. “I guess it is. We should probably head back now, don’t you think?”
Emma nodded, and as she rose from the bench, she stumbled, her foot catching on a large rock. Luke reacted instinctively and grabbed her in one swift movement, his strong arms wrapping around her waist to steady her.
“Th-thank you,” Emma stammered, her heart racing as she gazed into his eyes. “For catching me.”
Luke smiled. “Anytime.”
Emma turned away from him as her cheeks blossomed with crimson and the butterflies danced in her stomach. She hadn’t anticipated such a visceral reaction to being close to Luke. Her mind raced with thoughts, trying to rationalize her attraction to him. She couldn’t deny that she felt safe in his embrace, that his presence stirred something deep within her.
As they walked, Emma couldn’t help but replay the moment in her head, reliving the sensation of being held in Luke’s strong arms. She tried to diminish the significance of her emotions, convincing herself that it was just a fleeting moment of attraction, nothing more. It was a confusing and tumultuous internal battle, as she tried to reconcile her desire for love and companionship with her fear of getting hurt again. Emma was torn, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, unsure of what the future held.
When they arrived back at the rescue parking lot, Emma turned and faced Luke. “Thank you for the walk. And the fries. And also for making sure I didn’t face plant,” she said with a smile.
“Well, I wasn’t going to just watch you fall,” Luke laughed. “Next time, I’ll think twice about ordering the jumbo size. I probably won’t have to eat lunch now. We should do it again sometime.”
Emma’s heart fluttered at the thought of spending more time with him, but she tried to play it cool. “Yeah, that would be fun.”
