Love In Destin ✔

31 - 4 ever 4 me

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━~

𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒂

~━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

I SUGGESTED THE beach last night when Rick asked me where we should go for our first date, and the beach is where we're headed. The minute school was over, he dropped me home so I could get changed. All the beans spilt out of me as I told Aunt Abby everything while packing strawberries and sandwiches for our picnic at the beach.

She was delirious at the fact that I had my first official boyfriend. I told her our relationship doesn't have a title yet, but she dismissed that point and called Rick my boyfriend regardless. I didn't spill the tidbit about how I had my first boyfriend in middle school. During our school fair one day, a boy named Jamal wrote me a love letter and bought me strawberry ice cream. My naive fourteen-year-old heart was elated, and I said yes the minute he asked me, but we lasted a week before another girl swept off his feet.

When Rick came back to pick me up, he brought me hydrangeas, which he said should stand as a stark reminder of our first date. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and trap him in a bear hug but decided against it, and he probably wants to take it slow. I'm trying to get used to the fact that now we can freely touch and feel each other. It's a strange realisation, and I'm sure it is for Rick, too, as he's had to hold himself back this entire time for my sake.

We're at a Starbucks now, with me ogling at a glass display of cookies and sandwiches while Rick gets our drinks. The sanctuary in Starbucks is relief from the blistering afternoon heat. I thought iced drinks would do the trick to keep us cool until the sun finally set, so Rick drove us here. The sound of the soft guitar music playing in the background contrasts the raucous conversations of the customers in line.

The cool AC air, which was at one point solace from the sun's heat, now sends goosebumps down my bare arms and legs. Before I know it, Rick pops up next to me, clad in black swim shorts and a linen white shirt with the top buttons undone, providing a first-class view of his well-defined chest. He hands me my Strawberry Frappuccino while droplets on the cup of his mango refresher drench his hand. We take a few sips, savoring the taste of our drinks, and then we're off to the beach.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

For our picnic, we find a spot under a set of trees. Rick helps me lay down the blanket and our food which consists of two subway sandwiches, strawberry soda and kombucha, heart-shaped cookies I baked the night before and strawberries!

Once everything is laid, we settle down and Rick plays rock music from his phone in a low volume. The minute the music starts playing, he scrunches up his nose before the expression disappears from his face almost instantly. His sunglasses reflect the rays of light from the sun, which has started to set far in the distance.

Music fills in the void of silence between us as we eat our food. Once I'm done with my sandwich, I wash it down with my strawberry soda when it comes to my attention that Rick is only halfway done with his. "You eat so slow it's disturbing,"

"I'm making a point of savoring every bite, not inhaling it as you do,"

I fold my shoulders and huff, "Also, you're being quiet. I thought you'd be swaying me with your cringey flirts and cheesy remarks?"

Rick chuckles, the sound warm and rich, "You think me flirting is cringe? Are you sure?" he pulls down his glasses and lifts a brow. With just a look from him, I come undone. "Anyway, I could say the same for you. You're usually a chatterbox,"

"It's just...this is our first official date, besides the fact that it's also my first real date and—"

"Wow, I can't believe I have the honours,"