Page 61 of Beyond the Fame

“I forgot to bring a condom.”

“I don’t care. I’m on birth control, and I’m clean. I get tested twice a year, and I haven’t slept with anyone in over a year.”

“A year?”

“Hey, no judging. How long has it been for you?”

I bite my lip, and she swipes her thumb over it, pulling it from my teeth. “I’m clean and... it’s also been over a year.”

“Why that long?”

Because I was waiting for you. “Why a year for you?”

“I’m asking the questions here, buddy.”

I chuckle and nuzzle her neck. She slaps at me before I can leave another hickey.

“Hey!” a man’s voice interrupts. “Get out of the water. It’s not safe at night.”

Rebecca immediately hops off me and frantically starts digging into the bag. She shoves my swim trunks and tank at my chest, then puts on the one piece she wore out here.

“Sorry, sir. We’re coming out now!”

She giggles and holds my hand as we wade back to the shore. We collapse onto the sand and let the waves wash over our legs. The man who was yelling at us walks over.

“The jellyfish get pretty bad this time of year, especially at night. I'm surprised you didn’t get stung.”

“Sorry, we didn’t know.”

He shakes his head at us, amused, and saunters off, picking up trash along the beach. There's not much, so I know this man does his job well. The beach is always spotless.

“Look!” Rebecca sits up and points at the horizon. “I think I see a peek of the sun. It must be close to sunrise.”

She leans over me and grabs a handful of sand, letting it cascade over my chest. I squirm a bit because it tickles.

“Let me bury you in the sand,” she says.

“Hell no. I don’t want to be digging sand out of my ass crack for the next week.”

She tosses her head back and laughs. “Fine. Then build a sandcastle with me.”

This woman who I've only known to be reserved, who never seems to relax and let loose, has transformed into someone I don’t recognize. I’ve seen her laugh and smile, but neither ever seemed genuine. Tonight, she’s a breath of fresh air. As if the weight of the world has melted off her shoulders and replaced with an electrified energy that makes her feel alive.

“Now that I can do. I’ll make the biggest and best castle for my Amidala.”

She gives me a quick peck on the lips before sitting up. We crawl away from the water to a dry spot on the beach to get to work.

We’re silent for the first few minutes as Rebecca concentrates on building the first tower. We need tools. I search the beach, squinting to see through the dark. The flicker of light from nearby tiki torches helps enough that I spot something blue.

“Aha!” I stand and walk over to the closest lounge chair. “Some kid must have left this bucket.”

“Perfect,” Rebecca grins and takes it from me to start filling it up.

We're almost done when the sun finally starts rising. We make our final touches to the palace just in time to relax and watch the show mother nature is putting on.

The moment we collapse onto the two lounge chairs next to our small five-towered castle, we both let out a breath, then a laugh in unison.

“Do you still hate me?” Rebecca asks when silence falls between us.

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