Page 52 of F*ck You

18

Lee

Darkness was all I could see when I opened my eyes the next morning. The guys were snoring soundly, having refused to leave me alone the night before. Although I had to admit to myself, I did enjoy it when they stayed over.

I looked over Chase’s sleeping form at the little clock on the nightstand which read four AM. I’d barely slept, and I knew my body had no intention of falling back to sleep. My skin vibrated with energy I needed to get out. My mind would go insane and spiral if I stayed here until they woke up.

With energy brimming in my veins, I crawled away from the sleeping men and tiptoed around the room. I put on shorts and a sports bra, grabbed my new phone and a water bottle, and stepped into the cool night air.

Waves crashed against the nearby shore, and I breathed in the familiar salty air. With a determined smile on my face, I took off down the beach. I pounded the sand with my bare feet, feeling it cushion and grate against my toes.

Unlike the first time I tried, I felt like I could go for miles. Driven by the high of life and the safety of being cared for, I pumped my legs faster, flying across the sand.

I ran as hard and as fast as I could. Running was something I used to do years ago but fell out of, and now, with the ocean at my side and the sand beneath my feet, I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be.

This journey was about finding myself again, and that was exactly what I intended to do.

Sand crabs and seagulls scattered as I ran by, and I paid no attention to the occasional sharp shell under my feet since I didn’t feel any break the skin. I crossed over washed up seaweed and sand dollars, jumped over the sticks and random debris in my path, and smiled at other early morning beach runners I passed going the other direction.

The morning was more alive than I’d imagined. The day didn’t start when Chase and I brought surfboards out, it started well before then. There was a whole peaceful world taking over the beach while most others were sleeping, and for a moment I felt connected to it all.

I reached the pier at the edge of the line of condos where a new town and highway began. Hopping up, I climbed up to the pier from the side and walked down. There were stands for food and games, most likely packed with people during the day, but right now it was deserted, and I took the time to admire it all.

At the end of the pier, I sat down and let my legs hang over the edge while I looked out at the ocean in awe. It was massive, with so much adventure and new worlds beyond the horizon. I was mesmerized.

My phone vibrated in my hand and, fighting the instinctual urge to chuck it into the water, I looked at the screen and answered when I saw it was Larsen.

“Hey, are you alright? I woke up and you were gone.” His voice was laced with concern, and I bit my lip as I fought back the guilt from worrying them.

“Yeah, I’m good. I went for a run and now I’m sitting at the edge of this pier.”

“The pier, huh? It’s a great spot to get a good view of the sunrise.” He sounded distracted, like he was trying to multitask while holding a conversation with me.

“Yeah, I think I’ll stay here and watch it.”

“Sounds good. Be safe.”

“Always.” I hung up the phone and slipped it back into my sports bra, looking out over the water. The waves swelled and receded off in the distance, and the darkness and mystery of it was so alluring.

I knew what existed below the surface, and I yearned to see it again. I’d have to ask Larsen to take me snorkeling soon. I wasn’t done discovering all the magic this place held, and I was realizing it was endless.

Staring out into the vast depths of the world for as far as I could see, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Sunlight colored the sky in pretty shades of oranges, reds, and purples when I heard the soft pitter-patter of footsteps on the wooden planks behind me. Turning around, I was met with the ocean blue eyes of Chase and the deep brown of Larsen’s. They walked over and sat on either side of me, leaning back to rest their hands behind them and hanging their legs off the edge of the pier.

“Found you,” Larsen exclaimed. They both had beads of sweat dripping from their hair.

“Did you run all the way here?” I inquired.

Chase nodded and pressed his lips to mine in a long, searing kiss before pulling away. “Didn’t want to miss watching the sunrise with you.”

We sat on the edge of the pier, tangled in each other’s arms, our jokes and laughter washing away my worries along with the receding tide.

When the sun rose, the pale light warmed my skin and I felt like a new person. Shit was hard, but I was strong enough to handle it.

Larsen’s phone buzzed, and he frowned when he checked it, read the text, and then put it away. “Do you want to go to a boat party tomorrow night?” he asked me. “Giana invited us, and it looks like she’s invited a few others.”

I took a breath, forcing my claws to recede when I heard him mention her name, then smiled up at him. “Yeah, I’ll go, let’s do it. This could be fun.”

“Who else is going to be there?” Chase questioned.

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