“Uh, I don’t know,” I hedged.
“It’s going to be a warm, beautiful day out,” he encouraged. “I can pack us a little picnic lunch.”
I smiled at the idea of spending a day on the beach with my best friend and Luke. He wasn’t my best friend like Mel was, but he was a different kind of best friend. “I guess we could go for a while.”
“Did you have other plans?” he asked.
I smirked. “Yes. My very busy day of sitting in my room or sitting by the pool.”
“Great. I brought along my stuff for the beach. She said she was going to drag you out there if you didn’t agree to it.”
I laughed. “That sounds like her.”
“Do you need help picking out a bikini?” he asked.
His tone contained that familiar husky sound. I couldn’t see his expression, but I could hear the tone in his voice. That was how I judged his moods. He was thinking about sex. “My dad is out of town for a few days,” I told him.
I heard his sharp intake of breath. “Bree, we can’t. Besides, Mel is going to be here any minute. I don’t want to risk her walking in on anything.”
I grinned. “Chicken.”
“I am,” he said with a laugh before busting out in what was supposed to be the sound of a chicken clucking.
I ate my toast and some sliced melon before heading for my bedroom to find a bikini to wear. I put it on before choosing a black coverup that I was hoping to keep on to hide the bruises I was sure I had. I could feel one on my arm and on my hip. I prayed they weren’t as ugly as they felt.
“Good morning,” I heard Mel’s voice call out.
I walked out of my room, waiting for her to see me and give me a general direction of where she was. “Good morning,” I said.
“Are you ready to be wowed?” she said excitedly.
“How do you plan on wowing me?”
“I plan on showing you the best time you’ve had in a long time. We’re going to sunbathe and play in the water and be total beach bums.”
I didn’t tell her Luke had taken me to the beach plenty of times. “I am very ready. Wow me, woman.”
“That could be taken in so many different ways,” Luke’s voice came from my right.
Mel and I both burst into laughter. “You’re such a man,” Mel teased.
“Yes, he is,” I answered with plenty of innuendo.
“You just made him turn red,” Mel said with a laugh.
I moved in his general direction until he had his arm around my shoulders. “Not that red,” he said. “Let’s get out of here. I already put the cooler in the car.”
Suddenly, I was suddenly looking forward to the beach. I had been hesitant, worried I would feel left out or like a third wheel with two seeing friends. But I knew they were going to take care of me. It was going to be fun as long as I let it be.
At the beach, Luke spread out the blanket and helped me get situated. Mel was on my left with Luke on my right. I was completely safe and at ease.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take off that coverup?” Mel asked.
“I’m good. I don’t want to burn too bad.”
We settled in, each of us enjoying the peaceful sounds of nature. I let myself drift away on the sounds of the ocean. I listened to the seagulls flying overhead, praying they didn’t decide to take a shit on me. Before, when I had come to the beach, I never really noticed the seagulls. They were more of a white noise. Now, I heard everything. I swore I could even hear their wings cutting through the air.
I could hear the sound of Luke breathing next to me. It was a slow, steady rhythm that told me he was utterly relaxed as well. I inhaled deeply, letting the sea air fill my lungs. The faint scent of fish and brine made me feel right at home. It reminded me of mornings when I would wake up early and go for a walk on the beach.