Chapter 50: Honeymoon

A cooling, tropical breeze blew the leaves of the palm trees overhead, and Silvana stuck her toes in the warm sand as the sun beat down on her. Waves slapped the shoreline several feet ahead of her, and she reclined into her comfy beach chair.

“I can’t tell you all how happy I am,” she said, “to be away from the snow and the cold.”

She sipped from a giant margarita that had been put inside a hollowed-out coconut with a large pink straw.

“I’ll stick to the shade,” the pale Angus said, hiding underneath the large, canopy-style leaves from the trees. He was working shirtless at a grill, spreading out lemon slices on top of freshly caught fish.

“Oh my god,” Amelia said, a cocktail shaker in her hands. “Can you imagine my big Angus with a tan?”

Angus peppered some potato salad, laughed, and said, “You all enjoy the sun. I’m hot enough as is at the grill.

Amelia pulled down her oversized purple sunglasses, observed Angus’s tight rows of abs and murmured, “Hot is right.”

She gave the shaker a quick jiggle, then lifted up the cap and poured another margarita into Silvana’s coconut.

“Here’s a little freshen up, Sylvie.”

Silvana smiled and shook her head. “Jeez, Amelia, I’ve got to slow down or you’ll be carrying me back to the hotel room.”

“Then I’ll carry you, girly! Now is your time to have fun and enjoy yourself.”

Amelia, bikini-clad, bent down by Silvana’s ear.

Silvana observed her friend displaying her rear in a tiny purple bikini, then asked, “Are you trying to get his attention? Because he looks very focused on that grill.”

Angus was incredibly focused, and when he went to squeeze another lemon onto a fish, he saw Amelia bent over, then dropped the lemon into the grill and fires leapt out at him, making him chuckle and pull his hand away from the flames.

The two women laughed and Amelia whispered, her tanned skin smelling of sunscreen, “If there’s anybody we need to get drunk, it’s our chef over there, because I think he’s ready to pop the question soon.”
“Shut up,” Silvana said, her jaw open in amazement.

Amelia sipped from her own margarita and nodded, “No, really. I think he’s been looking for rings.”

Silvana held up her tanned hand. The many diamonds on her wedding ring glittered in the sunlight. “Well, he’s got great taste, Amelia. He helped Bruce find this one.”

Amelia sighed and gazed out at Angus. “He’s just amazing, isn’t he?”

Silvana rolled her eyes. “My god, is this what I looked like the whole time I was trying to get with Bruce?”

“Not quite, dearest. You were even sappier.”

Silvana moaned and craned her neck, watching the waves crash on the beach and debating taking a small swim to cool down.

“Where is Brucie, anyway?” Amelia asked.

“Oh you know him,” Silvana said. “He’s down the shore and off for a little walk.”

“Hopefully not brooding? I mean, I’m over Kurt. Is he?”

Silvana grinned. “Oh yeah, he’s not brooding, he’s just hungry. He can’t be this close to cooking food without starting to pick, and if he starts to pick before everything is cooked, there won’t be anything left for the rest of us.”

“Hey Amelia,” Angus called over. “Care to give me a hand getting these on the plates?”

Amelia kissed the side of Silvana’s head. “Duty calls, deary. I love you.”

“I love you too, Amelia. Thank you for being here.”

Amelia strutted towards Angus and took a sip from her margarita.

“Who else would help you pick your summer attire?” she winked at Silvana over her shoulder.

“You’re drop-dead in that swimsuit, Sylvie. The way those pink bottoms hug your hip. Mhmm. Why don’t you go show your hungry man?”

Amelia stood beside Angus and the two kissed on the lips before working together side by side at the grill.

Silvana stood, a little woozy from her margaritas, but mostly from the toll all the spellcasting and spirit fighting had taken over the months. She was still a bit achey, and having sat for so long made it all the more difficult to get up.

But she wanted to see Bruce, and she walked along the coastline until she reached him.

“Food’s almost done, hon,” she said.

“I can smell that it’s almost ready,” Bruce said flatly, his toned and muscular body shiny from his sweat and sunscreen. He was wearing blue and white floral swim trunks that fell right above his knees.

“Baby,” Silvana said, putting a hand on Bruce’s back. “What’s going on?”

Bruce stared out at the coast. The water was so clear he could see the barnacle reefs and fish swimming ahead of him.

“I know I shouldn’t be thinking like this,” he said, shaking his head and wrapping an arm around Silvana’s shoulder. “But I can’t help but shake the thought that, we’re over here, so far away from the city. What if we’re needed?”

Silvana traced a finger down his burly chest. “My father is there, and so is Duponte. They can take care of anything until we’re back. But right now is our time.”

“Hmm,” Bruce grunted, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“Hey, look at me,” Silvana said with a palm on his chin. “This is what you need.”

She shoved the margarita into his hand, then grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him. Just when he went to pull away, she pulled him back towards her and kissed him again and again.

Silvana licked her lips, took a deep, relaxing breath, and said, “Okay, good. Now sip.”

With a soft smile, Bruce sniffed the coconut. “What is this? It smells fruity, and sugary. I like when Angus brings out the whiskey bottle.”

Silvana crossed her arms. “Bruce, sip.”

Bruce took a short drag from the straw and swished the drink around his mouth.

“It’s not bad,” Bruce said. He took another sip. “I still prefer whiskey.”

“Just keep sipping,” Silvana giggled, dragging Bruce by the hand and leading him back towards the trees and grill.

“I think Angus might ask Amelia to marry him soon,” Silvana said.

Bruce chuckled and responded, “Yeah, well, bust out the whiskey and I think we can have that done by sunset.”

“Hey,” he added. “Hold this drink for a second.”

He handed the margarita to Silvana, and then Bruce swept her off her feet and carried her in his arms.

“You’re breathtaking in that swimsuit,” Bruce commented, kissing the side of her neck.

“I know you love me in pink,” she winked. “Let’s get back to our friends. Looks like lunch is ready.”

“I love you with all my heart,” Bruce said, walking towards Angus and Amelia. “This is just our start.”

Silvana got butterflies, even after all this time. Behind them, the sun’s rays reflected off the clear water, and the empty beach was quiet and peaceful.

“Lunch is being served,” Angus said, Amelia right beside him, the happiest Silvana had ever seen her.

Silvana put both her arms around Bruce’s neck, took a large sip from the margarita’s straw, and smirking from pure bliss told him, “I love you so much, Bruce. I know that this is only the start to many more adventures together.”