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There was something about the way she was sitting on the sand, looking out at the water with her hair blowing in the light breeze. The sight of her literally took my breath away. That had never happened before, me taking an interest in another human outside of my family and friends, especially some chick I had just met. I’d only had two conversations with this girl, and yet I found myself completely mesmerized by the vision that sat in front of me. As if she appeared out of nowhere.
So consuming.
So blinding.
So real.
She was like a mythical creature that was luring me toward my destruction. In that moment, in that second, there wasn’t even a choice to be made. For the first time in my short life I wanted to blow off the opportunity to get my dick wet in favor of just a conversation, and it didn’t faze me in the slightest. I found myself gravitating toward her. Before I even registered what was happening, I pulled my arm away from the blonde girl who was ready to spread her legs open for me like so many had before her.
I glanced at her. “Run along, sweetheart.”
She jerked her head back, looking in the direction of my stare, realization quickly claiming her face. “You ass—”
“I do believe you were warned, darlin’,” I simply stated while walking away from her and towards Aubrey. All the snide comments coming from behind me were trivial.
Wasn’t the first time and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last.
As I got closer I realized she was crying. A sense of curiosity piqued my interest, but it wasn’t only that. An unfamiliar emotion of wanting to know her reasons and caring to make it better came over me. My feet shuffling in the sand broke her trancelike state, she immediately peered up and over at me, wiping her eyes, camouflaging her distress before recognition settled in.
She scoffed and stood to leave as I gripped her wrist, stopping her, and for some unknown reason, she let me.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned, sincerity laced in my tone, surprising us both.
“None of your business, McGraw.” Her face frowned. “I saw you come out here with one of your hussies. You should probably head back to seal the deal. I’d hate to be the reason your dick doesn’t get wet tonight.” Her voice was laced with an equal mixture of anger and sadness.
Was she jealous?
Her response stung a bit, but didn’t shock me in the least. We were strangers, she barely knew me. She had only heard awful things about me. I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to open up. If anything, I was happy that her first instinct was to protect herself from assholes like me. At that moment, all I craved was to break through her icy demeanor and bring down a piece of her wall.
Most of all, I wanted to see her smile.
I wanted her to let me in.
“If you wanted to hang out with me, all you had to do was ask, maybe even throw in a please for good manners, though I am enjoying your stalker tendencies.”
She smirked.
“I’ll settle for that smile.” I paid her no mind and sat in the same spot she just stood from. “You know, I was born and raised in this town. Actually born at Dosher Memorial Hospital in South Port,” I disclosed, catching myself off guard. I never opened up to anyone. “This beach holds a lot of fond memories for me. I rode my first wave—” I nodded toward it, “— at that peak point past the breaks when I was six. I got tossed off my board for the first time when I was eight at that same exact spot. I had it coming to me ‘cause I was a cocky little shit and had to show off to my boys. Getting caught inside the wash of the wave is like unexpectedly being thrown into a washing machine, not knowing when the cycle would end and let you go. I was scared shitless. I didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. I thought I was going to drown. Damn,” I chuckled, shaking my head. I never admitted that to anyone.
“The boys were terrified for me, it was written clear across their faces. I still remember opening my eyes and seeing Half-Pint crying for the first time, when the white-wash dragged me back onto the shore.”
“Half-Pint?” she asked, finally taking a seat beside me.
“No, suga’.” I turned to look at her. “Your turn.”
AUBREY
I walked down the beach to be alone.
Finding a spot on some rocks nearby, I sat watching the sunset over the horizon. The sky always made a scenic panoramic view over the water. All the beautiful colors blended together preparing to shift into night. Mother Nature’s private work of art. Sitting there listening to the soft lull of the waves dragged me into its calming rhythm, bringing a sense of peace over me.
The ocean was my happy place.
It was one of the things I missed most about being back home. We lived within walking distance from the beach, but here in Oak Island it was a car ride away. It was another reason I couldn’t wait to get my license. Watching the waves reminded me of my dad, he was a surfer. That was how my mom met him actually. She used to tell me the best stories of how he tried to impress her and ended up eating shit. Nevertheless, she loved his efforts.
Being lonely was the hardest pill to swallow. I missed California. I missed the house I grew up in and the friends I’d known since childhood. I missed every sight, smell, and sound. I had lived there my entire life.
Home.
