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“I don’t want to go in.”
“Is the bruising going to your head?” he asked, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s very possible,” she said. “But it’s been so long since I’ve taken a vacation, and if I walk through those doors, I’m going to go into boss mode, and I’m kind of enjoying the time away. The building is still standing, customers are going in and out. I trust that everything is under control.”
“I’m proud of you,” Enzo said.
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I’m proud of me, too.”
“So if we’re not going to inspect your shop, what do you want to do?”
Cami inhaled the sea salt air and sighed. “I would love to go walk on the beach, but.” She glanced at her ankle. “That would probably be a terrible idea.”
“Give me your crutches.” Enzo held his hand out.
“Why?”
“Just trust me.”
She thought about it for a second then handed him the crutches. He walked in front of her and bent down. “Get on.”
She admired his back muscles straining against his shirt for a moment before hopping on. Enzo stood with little effort, and his hands tucked under her thighs. He carried her down the boardwalk, and she clung to him.
They passed by Vinny’s Lobster Shack. All the tables were filled with people, and Mr. Moretti was chatting with the customers. He glanced up, spotting them and shock warped into excited approval. He nodded at them, and Cami felt like she’d just given a blessing.
Enzo looked over his shoulder at her. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag.”
“I never knew the cat was in the bag,” she said.
“Then I think we need to make it official.”
“And how do you plan on us doing that?”
His hands slid to her waist, and he shifted her until she was eye to eye with him, legs still wrapped around his midsection. “Like this,” he said and captured her lips. A few teenagers let out a whistle while an older couple grumbled about society going to hell in a handbasket which caused both of them to laugh.
“I think that about did it,” she said.
“Want to get on my back again?”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “No, I like it here just fine.”
Enzo helped her onto the beach that was mostly empty by now. Seagulls flew overhead, looking for food left behind, and Cami nuzzled into Enzo’s warmth as a cool ocean breeze blew by.
He walked a far distance from the stairs, and Cami should have told him to stop five minutes ago, but she wanted to be with him alone which was ridiculous, since all she cared about earlier was getting out of isolation.
The sun was sinking farther into the horizon, oranges and pinks streaking the blue sky. Enzo came to a stop and sat down on the sand, cradling Cami in his arms.
“Getting tired?” she asked.
“Not at all, but I didn’t want to miss the sunset.”
“I can’t even tell you the last time I watched the sunset.”
“Why not? You close down early enough to catch it.”
“I always have something planned after work, and I never take the time to appreciate the sky.”
“Today’s a good time to start.”
