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She laughs. "True."
"The beach or the mountains?"
"Both."
"I have just the ticket."
I'm not at all surprised that Bella has workout clothes in her bag.
Or that she insists on sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
Or that she's still wearing that please fuck me look in her eyes.
I'm a little surprised by her requesting a hat, but only because my Giants cap looks out of place on her head.
After we change, fill water bottles, and check sunscreen twice, we get in my car and we head towards Malibu. The road is clear. That's one perk of the holidays. Nobody at work means nobody heading home.
We zip up Pacific Coast Highway, the ocean on our left, the mountains on our right, the sun shining high above us.
It's a beautiful, blue day, the kind of day I usually take for granted. But with the way Bella is looking at the sun with a smile, I'm acutely aware of how lucky I am to live in paradise.
She motions to the stereo. "You mind?"
I shake my head. "You can hook up your phone if you want to play something."
"Even if I play Lady Gaga?"
"As long as you're okay with me singing along to Poker Face."
She laughs. "You're taunting me."
"Me, taunting? Never."
Her laugh is louder this time. It fills the entire car. "You're a tease." Her voice is needy in that I'm trying not to think about sex way. "I should pick something." She attaches the aux cable to her cell's headphone jack and she taps the screen a few times. "There."
Music fills the car. It's not Lady Gaga. It's the Beach Boys.
I shoot her a really look. "Am I a California stereotype?"
"You're tan. You're blond. You're famous. You surf. You look great in sunglasses. Start calling people dude and you're there."
"Dude, that's not cool."
"If you don't like the music, I'll change it."
"Do you like it?"
She looks me in the eyes. Her voice is confident, assertive. "Yes, I do. It makes me feel like I'm on vacation."
I'll take it.
Bella's eyes go wide as she steps out of the car and takes in the view.
I take her hand and lead her to the start of the hiking trail. She presses her palm into mine, sticking close, breathing deep, taking in every sight and sound.
I'm used to the Malibu Canyon mountains. I'm used to the grey-brown patches of dirt, the mix of green and amber grass, the scraggly trees that cast shade.
I'm even used to seeing the ocean whenever I feel like it.
