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Beckham nodded and smiled. “She’s really great. Oh, Pink, too, how could I forget,” Beckham said. “She was another of my favorites. I had all of her albums.”
“Oh-my-lanta, yessss! I love Pink. And she was really leading the pack back then, too.” I shook my head. “Jesus, I can’t believe I just said ‘back then’ for something like fourteen years ago.”
“That is ‘back then.’” Beckham laughed, his green eyes holding my full attention. “Time doesn’t stop for anyone.”
I glanced at my watch. “Holy shit, it definitely doesn’t. How is it ten thirty already?” The minutes had flown by, and I had been none the wiser.
“Past your bedtime?” Beckham teased.
“Yus. I’m going to need to be tucked in very soon.”
With more laughter, we grabbed our stuff and made our way through the restaurant, which seemed to have somehow gotten even busier since we arrived.
We walked through the ornate white double doors and were greeted by a blast of warm beach air. It was a nice night out, without a cloud in the sky to stop the full moon from shining down on the partying city. The restaurant was only a few streets away from the beach while a gay club thumped with music down the block. Judging by the gaggle of gays wearing Madonna- and Lady Gaga-inspired outfits and T-shirts, I figured it was a battle of the pop queens night. I considered asking Beckham if he wanted to jump in line, but at the same time… I was kinda tired. We’d had a day. And the thought of loud music mixed with an insane number of sweaty, drunken bodies all crammed under one roof literally made me want to cry.
I didn’t want to go home, though, that was for sure, so when Beckham suggested to take a walk by the beach, I didn’t even think.
“Let’s do it.”
We walked down the street, alcohol still making the world a little brighter for me and my worries a little dimmer, our clothes still crusty from the paint, but I didn’t care one bit. We were laughing and having one of the best dates I’d ever been on. At some point, don’t remember exactly when, I reached for Beckham’s hand and found it, locking our fingers together.
“Wow,” Beckham said as we reached the sand. Palm trees stretched high above us, gently swaying in the dark.
“Beautiful, huh?” Straight ahead of us was the ocean, empty of people and full of magic.
“It is, it is.” Beckham’s hand left mine, only to land on my lower back. I felt shivers course through me. “I actually celebrated my thirtieth birthday right over there, by that rainbow lifeguard tower.”
“No way, really?”
“Yup, I remember that tower. And that’s the Sunset Hotel right over there, where I stayed for the night. Damn, ten years ago now.”
“Time really does go by in a blink, huh?”
Beckham pulled me in a little closer. There was a towel hut, closed for the night, directly behind us, giving us a little bit more privacy from the street. We had walked a good bit down Ocean Drive, away from the heavier crowds, so it pretty much felt like we had this entire beach to ourselves. No one else as far as the eye could see.
“I’m twenty-four, in case you’re wondering.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Mhmm.” I nudged him with an elbow and rested my head on his shoulder. “Does that bother you?”
I had to ask it. The words had formed on the tip of my tongue and fell out before I could even think twice.
“No, no it doesn’t.” The break of waves filled the air.
“Good,” I said, confident. “Me either.”
“You sure about that one?”
I had to look up at Beckham, only to make sure he wasn’t joking. “Yes, of course I’m sure. I mean, your salt-and-pepper look doesn’t exactly scream ‘I’m in my early twenties.’ I figured you were older than I was the second I laid eyes on you. Which also happened to be when I realized how badly I wanted you.” I leaned up and kissed him. He tasted as sweet and sensual as I remembered. “Coincidence? I think not.”
Beckham was smiling. I could see it under the moonlight. “I don’t think so, either. And side note: I’ve had this hair color since I was in my teens. I started getting silver strands really early.”
“Well, I love it.” I couldn’t help but put a hand in his hair and feel it, feel the thick strands. We kissed, my lips taking his for a moment.
“Come on,” I said, pushing off him. A flame of adventure lit up inside me. I hadn’t felt this alive in a very, very long time. “Let’s go in.” I grabbed Beckham’s hand and started walking toward where the ocean lapped at the sand. Beckham was protesting, but I wasn’t having any of it. I stopped inches away from where the sand was dark and smooth. Holding myself with one hand on Beckham, I started taking off my shoes.
