110
Lucy
The setting sun cast a warm, golden glow over the beach as the party started to shift.
“I’m stuffed,” Sarah said.
“Not too stuffed, I hope,” Julian said tossing a ball up and down. ‘How about a game of volleyball?”
“What do the winner’s get?” Sarah asked slyly.
Julian flushed at the way she looked at him. Henry leaned in with a grin and a low tone.
“Whatever you want.”
“You’re on.”
I looked at David as he shook his head. “The rest of us will probably just enjoy the game?”
Julian nodded sharply as Duke got up. “I’m game. Lucy?”
I worried my lip. “I don’t… know how to play.”
David smiled and stood offering me his hands. “Then, it’s the perfect time to learn, isn’t it?”
I smile up at him and took his hands, letting him pull me to my feet. We followed Henry and Julian down to the beach where was net was set up. I was on David’s team with Amy and Henry. Sarah, Duke, and Julian were on the other side.
“Hey!” One of the young women from the party said coming down the stairs. “Mind if we join?”
Sarah scowled at the two, but David grinned. “More the merrier. You two can’t be on the same team though.”
He leaned over and whispered to me. “They play volleyball for their colleges.”
The brunette strolled over to our side and looked up at David. “I volunteer to be on your team.”
“Great,” he said. “Let’s get started.”
She glanced at me then to Sarah before taking a spot on our side.
Duke smirked from the other side as Henry tossed the ball up.
“The goal is to keep the ball from hitting the ground,” David said. “Watch out for a spike.”
I nodded, trying to pick up on how to play as the game started. Henry sent the ball flying over the top of the net. Sarah sent it back. The new girl leaped up and slammed it down, but David dove forward and sent it drifting back over the net at the last minute.
Duke grinned, sending the ball back over the net towards me. I bit my lip and tried to send it back over, but it went straight up in the air. The girl on our side, nudged me aside as it came back down and sent it over the top of the net with a hard strike.
“Got it!” The other girl said, running forward and slamming it back over the net.
Sarah dove for it, but she wasn’t fast enough and tumbled to the ground. She grumbled and got the ball.
“Whoo!” Henry cried, throwing his hands up. “First point.”
“Don’t get comfortable,” Sarah said, tossing the ball into the air.
The next time Duke sent the ball towards me, I managed to get it over the net, but Henry jumped up and slammed it back over. David sent it back and for a while they were going back and forth. Then, Henry hit it at an angle that sent it heading towards the new girl on our team.
“Shit!”
She leaped and slammed it into the sand on the other side as her friend barely missed getting it.
The game went on for a long time until we were in the lead. Ginny came down the steps.
“Mom says it’s time to go home,” she said, eating a popsicle.
Henry grunted, trying to get the next goal. We were tied at this point. David sent it back over the net. Duke sent it back towards me. The girl on our team rushed towards me, but I sent it back over the net before she slammed into me. I fell to the ground just as the ball hit the ground on the other side.
Sarah yelled. “Go, Lucy!”
David crouched beside me. “You might be a natural.”
I grinned at him. “You think so?”
He offered his hand. “A little training, and you’re go far.”
He helped me up and I stumbled into him. The heat of his body seemed to soak into my skin. My whole body felt hot everywhere we touched. I couldn’t help it. He smiled at me, and while my stomach tremble with anxiety, it didn’t last long as he steadied me and looked up at the darkening sky.
“it’s going to get cold soon. We should start heading back.”
I nodded as a breeze blew by. I shivered a bit. Henry grabbed the ball as we walked back toward the deck. David swung Ginny up into his arms. She giggled.
“Did you have a good birthday, David?”
“The best,” he said, poking her nose. “I don’t think I could have ever wished for a better day.”
“Well, I hope you’re not too tired out,” the older man who had given the speech said. “The mayor is hosting the town’s annual establishment party. You’ll come, won’t you?”
David’s lips twitched. His eyes lit up but he hesitated and looked back. “What do you all think? I could have Uma take you back.”
“Are you kidding?” Sarah asked. “I have to collect my prize. And why would I cut a weekend on the beach short?”
Amy agreed as did Luke.
He laughed and looked at me. “What about you, Lucy? Not too tired?”
I shook my head. “It sounds like fun.”
“Guess we’ll be here then,” David said grinning. “Tell your wife not to pull anything funny.”
His eyes twinkled. “She couldn’t make it today, so I can’t make any promises.”
He clapped David on the shoulder, and David gave Ginny to her father as she started to doze off.
“See you tomorrow.”
He turned back to us. “You guys can head back with Uma if you’d like. I’m going to help shut down.”
“Don’t even think about it!” An older woman said. She swatted his shoulder. “It’s your birthday. What you’re going to do is take the rest of this cake, these leftovers, and scurry your ass to your private beach. You’ve got this lovely young lady here with you, and you’re going to wash dishes? Have we taught you nothing?”
David turned red, glancing at me. “We’re not like that.”
“Then get to work,” she turned and smiled at me. “You’ve got a great catch, I’m sure you know. Don’t be afraid to tell him you’re interested—”
“Tammy—”
“He’s a sweet soul, but I know there’s a hell of a man underneath all that goodness.” She pinched his cheek as a man, her husband I guessed, came over with two large bags.
He winked at me. “We’ll look forward to seeing you around more.”
My face heated as David groaned. He took the bags, hugged them both, then ushered me out through the restaurant. Duke cackled behind us. Sarah and Amy came just after us.
“David,” the girl who was on our team called out. “You’ll be at the party tomorrow, won’t you?”
“Yeah, we’ll be there,” David said, opening the door and offering me his hand. “Did you need help with something?”
I took his hand and he helped me into the car. As I looked back, I saw her expression change to something surprised before she smiled.
“Well, I was just hoping we’d get to spend more time together. It’s… been a long time since you’ve been around.”
David chuckled. “It has been. Let’s catch up tomorrow. For now, I’ve got to get them back. They’re probably about ready to pass out. Later!”
David climbed into the passenger seat. The girl looked through the window at me, narrowing her eyes before she turned away and walked off. Sarah hummed.
“I’ll keep an eye on her and her friend,” Sarah said.
“What do you mean?”
She smiled and pinched my cheek. “You’re so precious and innocent. Don’t worry about it.”
Duke hummed, relaxing into his seat as Uma cranked up the car and pulled onto the road that led back to David’s house.
When we arrived, Sarah headed off with all the purchases. She was saying something about finding something appropriate to wear to the event.
“Don’t try too hard,” David called up to her. “It’ll be on the pier!”
“Even better! Lucy, I’m picking your swim suit!”
Duke grinned. “I’m going to get some rest. You two don’t stay up all night, hm?”
Amy followed him with a yawn, but I wasn’t tired. Uma disappeared, so it was just me and David. I followed him into the kitchen. I helped him put everything away though he offered me a fork as he opened the contained with the cake in it.
“Care to help a birthday boy eat some cake?”
I scowled at him. “Are you teasing me?”
“Not at all, Lucy,” he said. “I noticed you hadn’t gotten a slice, though.”
I smiled and took the fork. “Sounds great.”
The cake was delicious. Not as great as Black Magic, but it was something pretty close to it.
“It’s Sea Salt Toffee,” David said, finishing a bite. “You like it?”
I nodded as I ate the last bite and he held out his hand. “How about a walk?”
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