Page 94 of Magic or Madness

“What’s up, Oliver?” Ozzy asks, taking a seat on the blanket beside him.

I zone out of their conversation, turning my attention back to the ocean, watching the waves as the low tide begins to roll in. Each time that the water rolls out, seashells are scattered across the sand, and I can’t resist the urge to take some home.

“I’m going to gather seashells!” I call out, flicking my hair over my shoulder and darting through the sand, down to the shore.

I look down at the sand, watching as my footprints make indents, and right in front of me is the most beautiful shell. Ireach down to pick it up, marveling at the grayish color, turning it over to see how it shimmers in the light, and a small smile spreads across my face.

Just as I see a pink shell, the waves crash down, taking it back out to sea, but leaving new ones in its wake.

“Find anything good?”

I nearly jump out of my skin, turning around to see Cami striding toward me, her tanned skin glowing with the sun shining above her head.

“Just one so far.” I hold my hand open for her to see, watching as she picks up a shell and passes it to me.

“This one is perfect. A little broken around the edges, but still just as pretty as the rest.”

“I love it. Thank you, Cami,” I say, walking along the shore, and keeping my gaze down at the new shells that have washed up at my feet.

“I’m sorry about this morning, Fal. I crossed a line,” she starts, walking beside me, matching my slow pace.

“It’s fine, Cami. You didn't cross any lines,” I assure her, the heat flooding my body just as it did this morning.

This is the first time we’ve been alone since the bathroom incident, and I can’t believe the butterflies I feel when she looks at me, and how my hands tremble as she speaks.

“Have you ever been with a girl?” She asks bluntly, stopping us both in our tracks.

My heart speeds up, and my mind turns to mush as I try to find the words to reply without feeling embarrassed, or like a little kid.

It’s a simple answer, but to a loaded question, and I can’t stop myself from stuttering over the syllable, making me feel like a complete idiot.

“No. I, uh, no. I haven’t.”

I pride myself on being confident, knowing that I’m comfortable in my own skin, but ever since I met Cami, that confidence has been thrown out the window, and insecurities have plagued me.

“I didn’t think so. I’m sorry, again, I was going off what I thought I felt between us, rather than using logic,” she says, taking my hand and lightly rubbing it with her thumb.

A simple gesture has my heart thudding against my chest, my world completely flipped on its axis yet again, as I realize that this morning in the bathroom wasn’t a one-off feeling. Something about Cami has me scrambling and desperate for more.

If by admitting that I’ve never been with a girl is why this – whateverthisis – ends, I think I’d be robbing myself of something that I might really want to happen.

“I feel it between us, too,” I whisper, and her eyes meet mine as she perches the sunglasses on top of her head.

I’m taking the biggest of chances, but Ozzy said I should explore, and the idea of stopping whatever this is between Cami and I was only present for a split second, but I couldn’t bear the thought, or stop the words from escaping my lips.

She smiles, a warm look in her eyes that sends shots of electricity through my body.

“I was right, that bikini is perfect on you,” she says, her gaze drifting lower as she speaks.

Her hand is still on mine, locked in an innocent, yet telling embrace, and my head feels like it’s spinning.

“Cami –” I start, but she cuts me off, holding up her manicured hand to interrupt.

“It’s okay, Fallon. We don’t have to say anything, this is enough for me.” She drops my hand, resuming our walk without another word, and I’m okay with it, too.

The tension between us is thick, but after one short conversation, I feel better knowing where we stand. We know there’s something here, but I think this place we’re in is right for us, at least for now.

I’m in no rush to explore, as Ozzy put it, but I am desperate to get back to him. This is our date after all, and he’s made this day one I could never forget.

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