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Rose
Ipeeked through the window and saw James running his fingers through his hair. He looked like a mad scientist, hair stuck up in a wild frenzy. Or maybe more like well-fucked James, as I remembered grasping those strands last night while he lapped between my legs before spinning me around and taking me from behind. I’d definitely miss the sex, but there was so much more of the man himself that was going to make it hard for me to leave.
The days were slipping away much faster than I realized. I hadn’t heard from Alexander yet, but I knew the time was coming. Every morning, I woke up and wondered if today was the day my world fell apart. I felt no remorse for the relationship I had with James. I knew Alexander wasn’t a saint, and never would be.
Ever since I overheard that heated phone call James was on, things had shifted between us. He was still the same man I first met, but something changed in him, like he was preparing to leave me. I couldn’t deny it hurt to think of him pulling away, but logically, I knew this would happen.
After lunch, James returned to work and I sat on the porch alone once again, trying to keep my thoughts from traveling down paths better left untaken. More and more, James worked at his computer. I never asked him what he was doing or tried to look. Knowing anything about his business would only tempt me to look for him after our summer romance was over. And I knew our deadline was quickly approaching. The beach romances I’d always loved couldn’t even distract me from counting down the days until I had to go.
The sun began to set, bathing the sky in a golden hue. The wisps of thin, white clouds caught the rays and reflected the changes from yellow to orange. The waves weren’t as close to the house as they were just a few hours ago. The tide was on its way out—the perfect metaphor for what’s happening with James and me. We were so close to having something special, and like the tide, what comes in, must eventually go out again.
Lifting my dress up, I waded into the water, trying to see what the flock of birds were dive bombing. I assumed they were looking for food, but it was impossible to see from where I was standing. I walked further in, my dress now up around my waist as the water crashed into my chest. With just a few more steps, I finally saw a small herd of seals fighting the birds for their dinner. Their loud barking made me laugh as I watched them battle. For just a few moments, all thoughts of leaving were forgotten. Nothing remained but the peace of this moment.
“What are you laughing at?”
I jumped when a strong arm wrapped around my waist. Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled at James and relaxed into his body. Together, we drifted in the waves. He placed his chin on my shoulder and held me close, my back to his chest.
“Can you see the fur seals?”
“Yeah, I saw them last night too.” He kissed my cheek and skillfully lifted me up, carrying me to the shore as if I weighed nothing. As he set me down, I dropped the hem of my dress and wrung it out. Then, linking his hand into the crook of his arm, he granted me a panty-melting smile. “Should we go for a walk along the shore?”
It took everything in me not to laugh at him when he was being so sincere. “Um…”
“What?” he asked, laughter in his voice.
“Nothing. It’s just…you’re acting weird.”
“Why? Because I want to walk on the beach, holding your hand at sunset?”
“You’re joking, right?” I pleaded. This was so unlike us. Sure, we walked along the shore together, but he was acting like we were in one of my beach romances. “We’re more down and dirty than sweet and romantic.”
“I do love getting dirty with you, but humor me.”
Rolling my eyes at his playful smile, I took his outstretched hand. I walked along the shore with him, feeling like a fraud. And the whole time, he had a smile on his face, like he was doing this to torture me.
“Why are you really doing this?”
“Because I can,” he laughed. “It makes you uncomfortable.”
We were just about to pass another couple on the beach when he suddenly turned to me and pulled me into his arms, dipping me back slightly. “My darling, the sunset pales in comparison to your beauty. I shall never find another love as pure and radiant as you.”
I wanted to bury my face in the sand and hide, especially when the woman passing shot us that lovesick look. The man rolled his eyes and grumbled about James being a showoff.
When he finally lifted me back up, I slapped him on the arm for being such an ass.
“What?” he laughed.
“You’re embarrassing me.”
“It’s all in good fun. Besides, what does it matter what other people think?”
“It doesn’t, until someone gets a camera and takes mortifying pictures of me being dipped in the sunset.”
“Stop worrying about it. Come on,” he said, tugging on my hand.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I want to show you something.”
