Page 79 of Nuts

We walked hand-in-hand along the beach. The impressions we left in the sand were washed away mere moments after we were gone, but the memories of our evening together were sure to last a lifetime.

“I want you to know a few things about me,” I said.

“Okay.”

“I’ve always got good intentions, but I don’t always do good things.”

She paused. Caught off guard, I took another step. As our hands separated, I turned around.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

I thought for a moment, and then responded. “Sometimes I do bad things in hope that the end result is an improvement on my life or the lives of others.”

She drew a design in the sand with her toe, and then looked up. “Like dropping a bomb on the home of a terrorist? I know you don’t do that, but you mean the same thing, right? Like beating up Josh?”

“Pretty much.”

“That’s okay. I trust you’ll always do what you believe is right.”

I took her hand in mine, and we continued walking along the beach.

“I’ve lived a fairly promiscuous life,” I said.

“Are you planning on continuing?”

“No, I am not.”

“I guess you could just look at it as experience then, huh?”

“I suppose so.”

“Anything else?” she asked.

I squeezed her hand. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“Do what?”

“Be with someone.”

Trailing behind me slightly, she tugged on my hand. I paused and turned to face her. She reached for my free hand, and then looked me in the eyes.

“All you have to do to be with me, is exist,” she said. “It’s that simple.”

It sounded easy enough. “I think I can do that.”

“Be with me, then.”

“I’m afraid I already am.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Joey

Shirtless, he stood in front of me. The chiseled structure of his perfectly sculpted body would have commanded anyone’s attention, but my focus was on his eyes. The green specks around the iris gave perfect contrast to the golden-brown centers. Peering into them provided me a keen sense of comfort, and at that moment, I needed it.

He lifted my shirt over my head. My heart thrashed in response. As the garment fell at my feet, my breathing all but stopped.

He reached around me and unclasped my bra. The tips of his fingers gently traced the outline of my shoulders as he brushed the straps over my arms. My eyes fell closed momentarily. I heard myself inhale a quivering breath.