Have a Little Faith

Levi's POV

Levi's POV

Dakota and I slipped into a comfortable rhythm after our night session in the pool. She had continued to watch my session with the volunteers and remembered them with a surprising accuracy, later on trying them in the pool.

We'd been at it for almost two and half weeks now, always meeting up in the evening and continuing our session from the night before. She had gotten stronger and stronger, picking up the skills quickly. It was safe to say that she would have no problem joining an actual course now.

I looked down at the small envelope containing the course information that I had arranged for her as a surprise. I was at the beach after my shift and waited for her to come down to meet me.

Excitement coursed through my veins as I double checked the shells I had carefully arranged in the sand, making sure they spelt out the words correctly. I let out a breath and rubbed my eyes. Despite my obvious feeling towards her and the numerous kisses we had shared I wasn't sure how she'd cope with my question.

I stared out at the ocean and smiled at the beautiful sight. Even though the sun had set, the clouds were dipped in hues of orange pink and purple, a slight breeze carrying the sounds of the soaring seagulls.

I got a familiar tickling sensation in the back of my neck as if someone was watching me and turned around to see Dakota come towards me. She was wearing washed out jean shorts and a light blue sweater pushed up at her arms. I almost groaned at how beautiful she looked. She had lost the glasses for contact lenses and tied her hair into a bun, held back with a bandana. When she saw me watching her she smiled and waved in my direction.

I jumped down from my highchair and landed in the still warm sand with a quiet thud. I walked towards her and pulled her into my arms when she was close enough, capturing her lips. It was a short sweet kiss, yet the familiarity of it made my heart swell.

"It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?" she said when she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me, resting her chin on my shoulder.

"Yeah it is."

Suddenly the words that I had prepared to tell her the whole day dissolved on my tongue and I couldn't muster the courage to ask her.


"What's wrong?" she asked worried, stepping back slightly to peer at me. I averted my gaze, trying to find the right words again.

"Levi?" she prompted softly, grasping my chin gently and turning my head to face her.

"I, uh, have something to ask you" I managed to finally mutter. I could have kicked myself at how moronic I sounded. The worried flicker in her eyes grew stronger as her eyebrows creased.

"Did something happen?" she asked, her fingers flexing on my shoulders.

Something did happen. You stole my heart, I wanted to say but instead I shook my head.

"Can you, uh, just come with me" I said, my heart beating frantically in my chest. If anyone would have told me a year ago that I'd be standing on this beach, ready to ask a girl who I had undoubtedly started to fall for if she would be my girlfriend, I would have probably laughed and walked away. Yet here I was standing, feeling the uncomfortable knot of excitement in my stomach, similar to the one you got as a child when you stood in front of your parents as they read your report card.