Page 31 of Since the Day We Wished

Luke looked at her, his brows knit together in confusion. “What?”

“That’s what.” Emma raised her arm, pointing ahead.

Luke’s eyes widened as he turned back to the vendor. He had accidentally ordered the jumbo size, which was enormous—roughly equivalent to a quart of fries doused in vinegar and salt.

“Well, I hope you’re really hungry,” Luke joked.

Emma smiled as she pulled out a piping hot fry and took a bite. “I actually am. I skipped breakfast this morning, so this will do nicely.”

As they stepped onto the sandy shore, Emma took the lead, moving in the opposite direction of the beachgoers who were frolicking in the water and lounging under the sun.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Luke glanced at Emma, puzzled.“Where are we going?”

Emma flashed a mischievous grin. “Just keep following me. I promise, it’ll be worth your while,” she said, excitement lacing her words.

She led him to a stone wall and slipped behind one of the larger rocks. Curious, Luke trailed her, peering over her shoulder.

His eyes widened in amazement when he saw there was an entire path hidden behind the wall. “Wow! This is incredible.”

“Wait until you see where it leads,” Emma teased with a smile.

As they walked along the hidden path, Luke looked up and saw a towering lighthouse in the distance.

Emma’s eyes scanned the surroundings until she spotted a picnic table nestled at the base of the lighthouse. “Let’s sit there and finish the fries,” she said, nodding in its direction. As they strolled toward it, the ocean came into view, stretching out as far as Emma could see. A small sloop bobbed on the gray-green waves, leaving a trail of white foam in its wake. The palm trees lining the beach rustled and swayed with the gentle ocean breeze.

They sat down and talked about their lives, hopes, and dreams. Before they knew it, the jumbo bucket of fries was all gone, and they had been sitting there for two hours.

Emma’s eyes darted down to her watch, and her jaw dropped. “Is that really the time?”

Luke chuckled. “I guess it is. We should probably head back now, don’t you think?”

Emma nodded, and as she rose from the bench, she stumbled, her foot catching on a large rock. Luke reacted instinctively and grabbed her in one swift movement, his arms wrapping around her waist to steady her.

“Th-thank you,” Emma stammered, her heart racing as she gazed into his eyes. “For catching me.”

Luke smiled. “Anytime.”

Emma turned away from him as her cheeks blossomed with crimson and the butterflies danced in her stomach. She hadn’t anticipated such a visceral reaction to being close to Luke. Her mind raced with thoughts, trying to rationalize her attraction to him. She couldn’t deny that she felt safe in his embrace, that something about his presence awakened the very core of her being.

As they walked back, Emma replayed the moment in her head, reliving the sensation of being held in his strong arms. A symphony of emotions, alluring yet terrifying, stirred within her, as she reconciled the magnetic pull Luke had on her with her fear of getting hurt again. Emma struggled to diminish the significance of her emotions, attempting to convince herself that it was only a fleeting moment of attraction. Still, she was compelled to acknowledge the gentle whisper in the back of her mind. It was a truth she wasn’t prepared to confront just yet; the possibility that their friendship held more beneath the surface, a fact that lingered in the silent spaces between each heartbeat.

When they arrived back at the rescue parking lot, Emma turned and faced Luke. “Thanks for the walk. And the fries. And also, for making sure I didn’t face plant,” she said with a smile.

“Well, I wasn’t going to just watch you fall.” Luke laughed. “Next time, I’ll think twice about ordering the jumbo size. I probably won’t have to eat lunch now. We should do it again sometime.”

Emma’s heart fluttered at the thought of spending more time with him, but she tried to play it cool. “Yeah, that would be fun.”

Arriving back at the rescue, Emma and Luke fell into an awkward silence, unsure of what to say to each other. Finally, Emma turned to Luke and spoke up.

“Well, I’d better find Grandpa before he ends up staying for an extra shift. He’s been known to do that,” Emma said with a tinge of disappointment in her voice, not wanting their afternoon together to end.

“I’ll leave you to it then. Bye Emma.”

“See ya later, Luke.”

As they said their goodbyes, Emma walked toward the rescue building, replaying the day’s events. Lost in her thoughts, she was caught off guard as the rescue doors flew open and Charlotte stormed out.

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