Page 880 of Not Over You

“Nah, I just know what I want, but fuck it, I’m 23, and there are plenty of fish in the sea.” As he says this, he gestures his arms wide at the ocean. “I really feel bad for Stephanie, because Kyle is gonna need to get pegged and I’m not sure she’d go for that.”

“I bet you’d be surprised. People tend to be freakier than you think,” Owen says winking at me.

“All right, you two, keep it in your pants,” Tom says, waving us off. “I’ll be back if there’s any change.”

“When do I get to see you again?” Owen asks after Tom leaves and I give him a confused look. “After the summer, I want to make solid plans you can’t get out of.”

I laugh. “Okay, how about Oct-”

“Let me stop you right there. Your answer is September something or I’m going to cry,” he says sticking his lip out in a pout.

I giggle and pat his head. “Okay, my impatient man, how about the third weekend of September? That will give us enough time to settle in and you won’t miss me too much.”

“Lies, I already miss you,” he says and I can’t resist kissing him, even though we really make an effort not to while at work. There’s no one here thought, so I grab him by the neck and pull him to me for a kiss. He gives me a look of pretend horror and ducks so I miss his mouth and end up kissing his hair. “No, you temptress! How dare you try to besmirch my honor here on the beach?”

I push his shoulder and dive to tickle under his knee. “You’re so getting besmirched later,” I say and he starts a high-pitched holler that sounds like a chicken.

“No, you tortuous harpy, cease your tickling at once!” he shouts at me and rolls off of the chair into the sand below. I’m holding my side because I have a cramp from laughing so hard. He’s just so ridiculous.

When I peer over the side, he has crawled to the back where our chalk board is. He dramatically wipes the tides and temps for the day and starts writing something new.

“What are you doing, Owen?” I ask, my chest still heaving from trying to catch my breath.

“Professing my ardor for the world to see, dearest wench.” He is shouting but there’s no one to hear except me.

“You’re such a wonderful weirdo,” I say as I jump down to see what he’s written.

Mollificent Hatchet James hence forth holds my beating heart in her hands. My love for her spans oceans, time, and space. I do decree that she is bound to me forever more and will visit me at my scholastic institution in two fortnights. Then we shall alternate visits forthwith each fortnight.

“Aww, I love you too, you whacko.” I pet his head as he is still kneeling next to me.

He grabs my hand and pulls me to the ground, tackling me so I’m pinned under him.

“Why do I have to come to your scholastic institution first?” I ask.

Smiling at me, he dips his head to my earlobe and whispers to me. “It’s because I doubt the fortitude of my carriage. I have but a mere four horses while you have six.”

I nod because I am the one with the better car. “Fair enough, I shall not tarry.”

“You are fair my lady, and I’d wait many fortnights just to see your beautiful face.”

“Do you actually know how long a fortnight is?” I ask, placing my hand on his cheek.

“I think it’s two weeks but I’m not completely confident in that. You’re the one who reads all the regency romance.” I slide my hand to his neck and tickle him there and he rolls off of me.

“You wicked woman,” he exclaims as he holds his throat.

I roll my eyes and sit up, dusting off of my hands and legs. “You’re so dramatic, what ever shall I do with you?”

He pops up and offers me a hand. “First we must endure the slow passage of time for the next two hours and then I have many ideas.”

“You are a rake and a scoundrel!” I call out.

We perch back up on our lifeguard stand and continue to ask silly and serious ‘what if’ questions and the time goes by quickly and there’s nothing to endure except how much it’s going to hurt to have to leave him in a week.

CHAPTER 23

MOVING FORWARD

---