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We get into Nova’s car, and then we’re driving to the beach On the way there, we listen to s, which doesn’t see I’ve always desired I spent so , life that if feels nice to talk about easy stuff Orto Tristan is easy
Deep down, I know there’s so he wants to talk to ood either I don’t bring it up, though, wanting just one more second, minute, hour, day, month, year, decade, lifeti in too deep I’ve already plummeted to the bottom and crashed into the unknown
God, please don’t let ood
By the tirey and dusted with the kisses of thousands of glowing stars The ocean is lulling toward the sand, and in the athered around it, drinking from plastic cups
"Are you sure you’re up for this?" I ask as Tristan parks the Nova beside Charissa’s sleek black Mercedes that I have no clue how she affords "I know being at parties can be hard when you’re a newbie to sobriety"
"I’hts and the engine off
I unfasten my seatbelt "We could always skip it," I add
He slides the keys fronition "But it’s your birthday party"
"Yeah, but it’s only been a , or since you took your last drink anyway Oh, which reminds me…" I retrieve the quarter from the pocket of my shorts "This is for you" I stick my hand out with the quarter in my palm
"Um, thanks?" He picks the coin up and flips it over with perplexity written on his face
"It’s toover the console closer to hi deal, e story behind it"
His fingers fold around the coin and he turns his head towardto ask this when I gave it to him, so I came prepared… I think "I can tell you part of it, but only if you promise not to ask for too many details or look at h the soft streah the windshield, I can see he’s being genuine "I pro up to rest my chin on my knee "So I’ot divorced, right?" He warily nods "Well, the day I decided it was ti" I reach over and tap his hand holding the coin "And that’s the quarter that helped me make the call, the one that put an end to all the bad shit in ive hih I’
Falling
But it’s not a painful fall
It’s almost…
Effortless
"There was a fire, and we didn’t have enough money to afford cell phones, so I had to run to a payphone out in front of our trailer park I honestly didn’t think the payphone would work, but it did, and I was able to call the police and the fire departradual inhale and let the breath ease froave me my quarter back after I made the call"
"It sounds like a lucky quarter, then"
"Oh, yeah, very, very lucky"
Silence stretches between us as he studies me then the quarter in his hand "Thank you, Avery Not just for the quarter, but for re it was my month marker" He puts the coin into his pocket then s in his eyes that makes my heart miss a beat
"You’re welcome," I say in a shaky voice "It’s an iivessoon, so that could potentially wreck ers throughto take off our sandals e reach the briet to takefor the collar of his shirt and lifting it over his head
I suck my bottoht of his leanhis side
"Your niles are perky," I say, reaching out and pinching one
"What the hell?" He laughs as he juh too "Sorry, I couldn’t resist"
"Well, it’s only fair that I get to pinch yours now" He stalks toward er
"Oh, no you don’t" I cross my arms over my chest as I back away I have a strapless black shirt on paired with red shorts Beneathanyone The only reason I’ it is because I don’t own another swimsuit
"Hey, that’s not fair" He chases afterwhen you decided to fondle me, so I couldn’t run"
"That’s your own dahter bursts from my lips as I sprint down the shoreline away from the fire and near where the waves embrace the sand
I don’taround me, and he spins me around to face him
"Don’t pretend like you don’t wanta path to my stomach My muscles constrict as he slides his palainst my flesh as his hand rest just below the bottoo any farther, probably because I’ve panicked before when his hands wander upabout it aloud, but I know he briefly felt the scars and has to wonder where they came from
"You’re so beautiful," he whispers, almost as if his words confound hi serious" Puzzlement sketches deep into his face "You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever touched… wanted to touch"