Let Me Burn (Angel Sands 1)

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??We’re here,” Nicholas called from across the beach, tugging at Brooke’s hand as they approached Ember’s group. “Is Lucas here yet?”

Ember smiled at his excited face. Lucas had completely won Nicholas over – and she was so happy he had. Whenever the two of them spent time together it made her heart melt in the best way possible. “Nope, not yet. I’m going to call him in a minute. As soon as everybody is here.”

“What if he decides to stay in bed?” Ally asked, her eyes sparkling. “Maybe he’s expecting to celebrate with only you.”

“If he doesn’t come, I’ll drag him over myself,” Ember said, looking around at all the food she and Ally had made. “And anyway, when has he ever turned down a trip to the beach?”

Over the next fifteen minutes, the guests flowed in, and Ember and her friends handed drinks out to them as they sat down on the chairs or the blankets that covered the golden sands, all of them saying what a beautiful evening she’d chosen to have the celebration on.

They were right, it really was beautiful. It was the last Saturday in September, and though summer was over, the warm temperatures remained. It was still balmy enough that nobody needed to wear a sweater or a jacket in spite of the light breeze coming in from the ocean. And though most of the tourists had left Angel Sands – heading home to school and jobs and everything else that paid the bills – the beach and boardwalk were still attracting the locals, who were making the most of this warm weekend.

“Hey, Ember.” Lucas’ friends Griff and Jackson came over to where Ember and her friends were standing. “Where’s the birthday boy?” They each leaned in to give her a hug, and she squeezed them right back. In the months since the Santa Maria Wildfire, since she and Lucas had become an item, she’d gotten to know his friends well. Griff always made her smile with his antics, and made Nicholas’ eyes bulge out with his descriptions of the whales he saw while out on the boat. Jackson, though quieter, was also funny as hell. He was also crazily attractive to other women, she’d noticed, as they all stared at him from across the beach.

“I’m calling him now,” she told them, grabbing her phone and dialing his number. She could see Lucas’ parents – Deenie and Wallace – walking over to where they were gathered. She waved at them then pointed at the phone, letting them know she was calling him. “I’m gonna duck around the back of the café so he can’t hear everybody talking, I don’t want him to suspect a thing.”

She’d only just made it when Lucas picked up the call. “Hey,” he said, his voice holding just a hint of sleep. “Where are you? I woke up and you were gone.”

“I came down to help Ally close up the café,” she told him, keeping her fingers crossed behind her back as if that would make up for her white lie. “It’s so lovely out tonight. I want to go and swim. Are you awake enough to meet me here?”

She wasn’t sure what she was going to do if he said no. But luckily, as she’d predicted, he never could miss an excuse to spend time at the beach.

“Sure. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll meet you there. You still at the café?”

“Yep, I’ll meet you on the beach.”

“And then we’ll come back home and really start the birthday celebrations,” he said, his voice lowering. “I plan on unwrapping you and kissing every single freckle on your body until you beg me not to stop.”

Her face warmed at the thought of it. She was almost regretting that she’d organized this party, but then she remembered why she had – that she’d wanted a party do-over. To make up for that terrible night at the Martin’s house, when she’d embarrassed the hell out of both of them.

“Sounds good,” she said softly. “But we may have to delay things a bit. Ally was talking about us all going out for dinner.”

“I can deal with that,” Lucas replied. “As long as I get to unwrap my gift before midnight.” He gave a little chuckle. “And by gift, I mean you, in case you didn’t realize.”

She loved how easy going he was – and marveled at how different he’d seemed that first time she’d met him. Life had loosened them both up in the best way, or maybe they’d loosened each other up. Either way, she loved the way they worked when they were together.

“It’s a deal,” she told him, before saying goodbye and ending the call.

Yes, she hoped he enjoyed his surprise party. But right now midnight couldn’t come soon enough.

* * *

It was busy at the beach considering it was past five and outside of tourist season. Luckily for Lucas – birthday luck, he called it – a family was leaving as he pulled in and he managed to take their parking spot in the lot behind the boardwalk.

He climbed out of his car and let the warm evening air surround him. He was wearing his board shorts and a t-shirt, carrying a towel to dry himself off with after their swim. It felt good to travel light – both physically and emotionally. He couldn’t help but think that Ember had a lot to do with his levity.

As he passed the closed up café, he could hear the sound of talking and shouting coming from the beach behind. Strange how many people had the same idea as Ember and were making the most of the weekend warmth. When they’d come swimming a few Saturdays ago it hadn’t been this busy.

He strode onto the sand, his eyes widening as he saw a huge bunch of people standing in front of him. It took him a moment to realize he recognized them all – his friends, his family, his workmates. Even some people from the Angel Day committee. What were they all doing here at the same time? It felt like too big of a coinciden—

“Surprise!” Everybody was shouting and looking at him. Then Ember walked forward, reaching out her arm and taking her hand in his. “Happy birthday, Lucas,” she said, her grin widening. “Oh, and um, I hope you like your party.”

“This is for me?” He blinked at her, still not quite understanding.

“Of course,” she said, laughing. “Happy birthday, darling.” She wrapped her arms around him, and he held her tight, trying to take everything in. Over her shoulder he could see his parents waving at him. Next to them Griff and Jackson were laughing at his confusion. Beyond them he could see Mitch Lakin and some others from the Angel Sands Fire Department, along with Chief Simons and his crew from White City.

Everybody was here for him, and it made his heart feel as full as his arms were with Ember. “I can’t believe it,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her hair. “I didn’t suspect a thing.”