Page 21 of The Rhythm of their Souls

After we finish eating and chatting with the boys for a bit, Danielle and I head upstairs to get our bathing suits on. The boys asked if we wanted to head out to the beach. I may or may not have yelled yes out of sheer excitement. I am eager to get my feet in the sand. I haven’t been here since the fall of last year with Nora.

This is my first official beach trip of the year. Never would I have thought I’d be here with a man I hardly know. This is so unlike me. I just hope I haven’t made a mistake coming here.

I ended up picking my new cheetah print two-piece; it was on sale during the fall months. I’ve only gotten to wear it once. It’s a little revealing, but not too extreme. Danielle is wearing a hot pink one-piece that shows her every curve. It compliments her body type very well. I’ve never been able to wear them because of my long torso. My ass either eats the back end, or it aggressively rides up my lady parts.

It took me a long time to appreciate my body, and the curves finally given to me. I think with being a female we’re hard on ourselves in different areas. Social media constantly reminds us we have imperfections and will never be happy with our natural bodies. It’s a sick generation we’ve grown up in. Females compete with their image, instead of lifting each other up.

I’ve gotten a lot better at loving myself in certain ways. It took many years to get past the bullying and body shaming. Broken things can’t be repaired in a day. And truthfully, I don’t think they can ever be fully whole again.

Coming down the stairs, we catch the boys waiting on the living room couch. Sitting in the kitchen area is an oversized cooler for the beach I’m assuming. Probably packed with beer and snacks. We brought two cases of White Claws, but they insisted we save them. Since we’re guests, they’re supposed to host for us.

Before reaching the last stair, I catch Theo scanning me from head to toe. I keep my eyes on the floor and try not to hold eye contact for too long. This man can take one look at me and my body temperature immediately skyrockets. This can’t be normal. Noah never made me feel this way.

Chase lets a drawn-out whistle leave his mouth. “Damn, I think hot pink is my new favorite color.” Danielle and I look at each other, and I give her a dramatic wink.

She’s going to eat the fuck out of his compliments all weekend. She tells him thank you and gives him a small playful curtsy. These two are going to be trouble, I can already sense it. Theo heavily shakes his head at Chase’s attempt to flirt with Danielle.

I can’t help but let out a small giggle at his reaction. So far, I feel pretty damn comfortable with the four of us spending time together.

I give Lottie and Leo generous amounts of head rubs and kisses before we walk out the door. “You’d assume they’ve known each other for years.” It gives me another reason to continue down the road of exploring Theo. Maybe now I’m fishing for any reason to be around him more. I can’t help that I’m drawn to him, and I refuse to back away without knowing what this is between us.

I did not realize we were that close to the ocean. Chase says we’re only two streets back. We could have walked and made it there within ten to fifteen minutes. But with the huge cooler, and Danielle’s human-sized beach bag, the boys decided we should take his grandparents’ golf cart.

Danielle and I hop on the back together. I feel like a kid right now, excited to get on the beach to build sandcastles and run after seagulls. As broken on the inside as I am, being here gives me a sense of peace.

Riding along the streets, I gape at all the colorful beach houses. The streets are adorned with vibrant shades of blue, pink, and green. People here really take care of their properties. I love how every yard has its own unique characteristics. But each represents the qualities of this place. The gentle breeze tousles my loose ponytail, lightly whipping small strands around my face. Passing cars with their windows down, fill the air with upbeat music.

In this moment, happiness courses through me, but in the back of my mind, I know these feelings will be overshadowed once this temporary paradise ends.

We arrive at the beach in minutes. Chase parks in public access where other golf carts and cars line up. I can already hear the waves crashing; it sends a thrill deep inside my bones. After gathering our items, we walk along the pier; seagulls fly ahead in sync. It’s such a beautiful day, and there is hardly anyone out here, which is nice.

It takes no time to find a spot for us to set up. I brought my favorite beach blanket, which is big enough for at least six people to sit on. I like to keep it in the trunk of my car just in case I want to run away to the beach.

I dig my toes into the wet, cool sand, tiny broken seashells gently poking at my heels. The ocean is looking noticeably blue today; giant waves continuously dance along the shoreline. I watch Chase and Danielle walk side by side looking for shells. They seem to hit it off so far, and I couldn’t be any happier for her. Even if this is nothing more than a brief affair, I believe they complement each other well.

I watch Theo as he walks back from testing the ocean’s temperature. Even this man’s walk is gorgeous. What the fuck is wrong with me? I try not to peer at him for too long. I can’t have him thinking I’m some desperate, broken girl needing attention from someone I barely know. As I turn to look away, he removes his shirt while approaching me.

I watch as his impressive muscles flex with every slick movement. His upper body is just as I pictured it in my dream. This man was molded close to perfection. Even though he’s wearing sunglasses, I know he is watching me stalk him. I see a smirk form on his charming mouth. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and he’s enjoying every second.

He sits down right beside me, his broad shoulder grazing my arm. A tingle runs straight through me, similar to what I felt after my explicit dream. Why does he make me feel nervous but calm and comfortable all at the same time? I can sense him looking at me from my peripheral.

“What are you thinking about, beautiful?” he asks with ease. I can’t help but look over at him and take in the stunning scenery of Theo Rivers.

Seeing him here at my favorite place, looking like a whole damn snack. I put my arm down between us, close enough to where our arms are brushing against one another. Somehow, my body lets me know in this moment that I need his touch. The hairs on my arm instantly rise with every brush of our skin.

Theo takes his sunglasses off and holds my stare. I let out a slow breath before responding, “Nothing much.”

He squints at me like he’s trying to figure me out on a deeper level. “That’s all you’ve got? I can tell that you’re in your head, so it’s hard for me to believe that. I want more.” He gives me a light arm bump, which gets me a little off balance.

I give a dramatic sigh. “Okay, Theo, I want to know who you are. I hardly know you, yet here I am sitting on the beach beside a stranger wondering what the fuck I’m doing here.”

“There’s my spicy Olive,” he lightly chuckles. “You are like an onion with endless layers, and I’m intent on peeling you until I reach the center.”

I make sure he sees me roll my eyes at his reply. “You’d tire of me before even starting,” I say in annoyance.

He gently grabs my chin and tilts my face in his direction. His ocean eyes instantly burn through me. “You may not have confidence in others, and I can’t change that. But when I say something, I fucking mean it.”

The air leaves my chest for a moment. This is one thing that sparks my curiosity about him. In the most peculiar way, I genuinely believe him and his words and I’m desperate to let him in.