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Chapter 5
I woke up the next morning with sun streaming through a crack in the curtains.
“Beach day it is,” I said to myself before getting out of bed. Natalie was already at work, so I had the kitchen to myself as I made poached eggs to set on top of some avocado toast, along with coffee.
I sat on the couch and caught up on an episode of my favorite reality show before slipping into my favorite swimsuit—that was covered in pictures of donuts, of course. It also had these little ruffles on the sides and on the top. I always felt cute as hell in it. I slathered my pasty skin in sunscreen, found my sunglasses between the cushions of the couch, and stole one of Natalie’s sun hats. I really did need to get my own.
All I needed in my bag was a water, a few paperbacks (I wouldn’t know what reading mood I’d be in when I got there), and a towel.
I took a cute selfie and sent it to Linley, who was probably still sleeping.
I didn’t mind going places alone. When I’d moved to Boston for college, I’d gone all over the city alone, and even after I made friends, I’d always gone out to eat or shopping by myself on a regular basis.
Besides, the chances that I’d run into someone I knew at the beach were high.
* * *
The beach was much less crowded than I expected, which was nice. The summer wasn’t in full swing yet, but it would be soon, and then you’d be lucky to get a little patch of sand to stretch out on.
I said hello to the people at the ticket booth and dragged myself across the sand, looking for a spot that called to me.
I avoided the couple that was having a fight and the family with a bunch of unruly kids who were currently chasing a seagull while their parents slept in their beach chairs.
The right spot found, I flattened the sand out before draping my towel. It was a special one that wouldn’t get covered in sand.
“Perfect,” I said, looking out at the water. It was windy today, with little white caps frothing at the top of the waves.
I only saw two brave souls swimming. Later on, I’d probably dip my feet in, but swimming wasn’t in the cards until the water warmed up a few degrees.
I sent a few pictures to my friends in the group chat and they all told me to have a good time and also that they were jealous of my day off.
Esme said she would have joined me since she didn’t have to go into the bar until later, but she had a vet appointment with Stormy, so she couldn’t.
I settled into the sand, using my bag as a pillow before selecting my beach book, a lesbian historical romance.
I let the undulating sounds of the waves wash over me as I read, completely relaxing for the first time in several days.
“What are you reading?” a voice asked, and I jumped as I looked up into a familiar face.
Alivia.
“What?” I said, like a complete doorknob.
“What are you reading?” she asked, her eyes shaded under a Honeysuckle Inn baseball cap. She really did go all in on wearing their merch.
“Oh,” I said, holding up the book so she could read the title.
“Is it sexy?” she asked.
“Uh, yes?” I said. “I haven’t gotten to the really sexy parts. They just locked eyes from across the ballroom.”
“That sounds sexy,” Alivia said.
It was hurting my neck to keep looking up at her.
“I should probably let you get back to it,” she said.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. She wasn’t dressed in beach clothes. She had those black leggings on again, as well as another white sports bra, and sneakers.
