107
Lucy
After David left, Duke and I settled at the table to eat. My face was still heated, and my stomach was all in knots from the way David spoke to me. There had been something in his eyes that made me nervous.
“Hey.” I looked up at David, who smiled. “David’s a good guy. He’s not going to ask for anything more than what you want to give.”
I sputtered. I didn’t know what to say, but Duke just kept eating as if he’d said nothing wrong. Sarah and Amy came downstairs.
“Where’s the birthday boy?” Sarah asked looking around.
“He just left,” Duke said. “He’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Great! That means we can get him a present.”
Then, she turned to look at me with a wide grin and my stomach knotted up.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’ll see.”
Amy shook her head. “Don’t let her do anything you’re not comfortable with. You know she doesn’t know how to stop herself.”
Sarah bounced back to the table with a plate of food and hurried us through eating. Soon, Uma was meeting us at the front door with a kind smile and keys in hand.
“David has asked me to take you into town,” she said. “He insists that whatever you buy will be paid for.”
Sarah gasped. “He can’t be serious.”
She chuckled. “I assure you. He’s very serious.”
“Then we definitely have to get him a proper gift!”
Within the hour, Uma had driven us into the little beach town nearby. We got out and she trailed along behind us as Sarah and Amy looked around excitedly. The sea wind was cool as it washed through the little town. Everyone seemed so happy, walking in the sunlight.
“We’re going to need a lot of sunscreen,” Sarah said. “Ooh, and cover-ups! There!”
She grabbed my arm and rushed across the street. To a small shop with mannequins dressed in swimsuits in the window.
Duke drifted in behind us as Sarah started shuffling through the racks of swimsuits.
“What about this one?” She asked, holding out something that looked more like a collection of strings than an actual swimsuit.
“I don’t think that’s for me.”
“Knock it off,” Duke said, nudging Sarah. “Just because you have no shame doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t… Some people are classy.”
She gasped. “Are you saying I’m not classy?”
“You wouldn’t know classy if it hit you in the head,” Amy said, looking through the one-pieces nearby.
“We’re young, hot, and going to be on a private beach!” Sarah cried. “There is no way I, in good conscience, could let you go frolicking around with a hot, older, wealthy man in a boring old one-piece!”
Amy huffed. “One pieces are classy, and David is barely a year older than us.”
“One pieces are boring, and he’s still older.”
I edged away as they started to bicker.
“I envy them sometimes,” Duke said. “Always having someone to bicker with.”
I nodded and looked up at him. “We could bicker.”
Duke snorted. “You don’t know how to bicker.”
I pouted, but he pulled me close and rested his head on top of mine.
“Though, I can totally see myself being an outrageously embarrassing older brother figure,” he said. “Red or hot pink?”
I eyed him. “For what?”
He nodded towards the collection strings in red and hot pink hanging from the rack with what looked like bras on top.
“I think David would like the pink one.”
I scowled at him. “Stop it.”
“Lucy!” Sarah called rushing towards me. Her eyes bright as she held up a vibrant red bikini with intricate pink flowers on it. “This one! We’ll start with this one.”
My face felt like it was one fire. "Are you sure? It looks a bit... revealing."
Sarah grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Come on, Lucy! It's time to embrace your inner beach goddess."
“Yeah, who knows what David’s going to do to you if you’re not following orders?” Duke wiggled his eyebrows.
“You wouldn’t want to be naughty on his birthday, would you?” Sarah asked. “Though… are you trying to give him a different sort of present…”
Duke snickered. “I’m sure he’d like that too.”
I didn’t know what they were talking about exactly, but I was still embarrassed. I took the bikini out of her hands and scurried into the fitting room.
As I slipped into it, I glanced at my reflection. The color was nice and vibrant on my skin, but I couldn’t help but shy away from my appearance. I couldn’t believe she expected me to walk around in just this.
“Well?” Sarah asked. “Do you have it on yet?”
“Well, I don’t know, Sarah. It’s a bit mush.”
“I’ll be the judge of that! Come out here, missy, or I’m coming in there to get you.”
I poked my head out, clinging to the curtain. “I really don’t think it’s for me.”
She tapped her foot. “Come out here!”
I winced and edged my way out from behind the curtain. Duke let out a low whistle as Sarah started to fan herself.
“Smoking hot, Lucy! You can’t not get it.”
Amy nodded. “I usually don’t agree with Sarah, but it looks great on you.”
I shuffled my feet. “Are you sure? I’ve never worn anything like this."
“It’s perfect,” Sarah said and threw a gauzy white shirt at me. “Here’s a cover-up. I’m going to find some more in your size. Ooh, maybe a nice blue!”
She hurried off, seeming more excited about shopping than anything. Still, I put the shirt on, grateful for the coverage, and went to get my clothes. Sarah had found a bikini in bright yellow. Amy found an orange two-piece, and Duke chose a pair of trunks with palm trees on them.
I don’t know what else Sarah and the others had picked out, but I was glad to be leaving the little store without having to try anything else on. Uma’s eyes twinkled with mischief as Duke offered me a pair of sunglasses.
“You’ll need them,” he said and put a wide-brimmed hat on my head.
“Thanks.”
“You’re already red as a tomato, and you’ve barely been in the sun.”
I nudged him, and he laughed as we left. We put the bags in the trunk of the car before walking down the main road towards a restaurant on the beach. I could see down the shore towards where David’s house was.
The waiter got us a table outside and brought us cool drinks. I looked out across the ocean as the wind started to roll in. People played in the water. I saw a pair of kids trying to build something in the sand. They squealed every time the waves caught them by surprise. I couldn't help but smile as I watched people frolicking in the water.
“Oh, Amy, remember when we used to build sandcastles in the sandbox?” Sarah asked as she watched the kids. “I bet we’d have more luck since there’s water around.”
I turned to Sarah. "Sandcastles? What do you mean?"
Amy chimed in, her eyes shining with anticipation. "You’ve never built a sandcastle? Then, we have to do it now. Ooh, with a moat and everything!”
“Do we have proper sandcastle-building equipment?” Sarah asked.
“I’m sure we can stop by a store on the way out,” Amy said, bouncing in her seat. “It’s going to be so much fun!”
“We’re going to need decorations,” Sarah said. “You’re terrible at building, Amy, so you can be in charge of seashell finds.”
She squealed. “I’m the best at it. Remember when I found that beautiful spiraled shell? Or that coral one?”
“I’ve never gone looking for seashells,” I said.
“We’re going to start you a proper collection,” Amy said. “You think David will let us come with him out here often?”
“I’m sure if Lucy asks, we’ll be here every weekend,” Duke said.
I pulled my drink towards me and nudged him. “That’s not funny.”
“He’s not laughing,” Sarah said grinning. “I don’t know what it is, but he’s right. David would give you just about anything you wanted if you asked.”
I looked down. “He’s… always looked after me. It’s just part of who he is.”
Duke hummed. “Yeah… it’s also part of how he feels about you.”
Amy sighed dreamily. “He really does care about you a lot.”
“David…” I hesitated. “He knows what’s happened to me. He just wants to help me.”
“And who says it can’t be more than that?” Sarah asked, meeting my gaze. “He can be a good person and still have romantic feelings for you. You don’t think he’d treat someone he didn’t’ have feelings for kindly?”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all.” I looked down. “I just… don’t think he sees me that way.”
Amy hummed. “Is that all or are you unsure if you see him that way?”
Before I could think of an answer, the music inside the restaurant stopped and someone came on the speaker.
“Happy Birthday to you…”
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