Our Forced Love

𝓝𝓲𝓷𝓮

Aurora

We arrived at the venue in less than 30 minutes. It was outside near a beach that was closed off. It looked so beautiful. Besides the sounds of the ocean, you could also hear the call of seagulls and the wind blowing the sand and trees. I can't believe I'm getting married at the beach. I may not like Mrs. Maricceli, but she sure knows how to pick a wedding venue.

"It's so beautiful." I admired. There wasn't many chairs, so I assume not so many people will be coming. I look back at Antonio, who was on his phone. "Don't you think?" I asked. I wanted to spend this moment with him, especially because of what happened between Guido and I before we left. I just hope he didn't see since him and Guido are good friends, I don't want him getting the wrong idea.

He smiled. "It is beautiful." He replied. He seemed awkwardly quiet, like he didn't know how to be in this moment. This makes me wonder if Antonio has ever really had any fun in the past few years. He seems so serious all of the time and he's always scolding someone whether it's his brother or someone he's on the phone with. He kind of needs to let loose a little.

I bent down in the sand, tracing my name in cursive in the sand. While doing so, I see a small creature with an orange shell emerge as I was getting to the last letter. I gasped in awe. A baby crab. I picked it up gently and held it gently in my hands and walked to Antonio.

"I found a baby crab." I told him, not being able to hide my awe. "It's so cute."

Antonio chuckled. "Yeah, it's pretty cute, huh?" He said while looking at it. I gestured the crab to him, wanting him to take it and he holds his hands out and shakes his head. "I don't do animals, little one."

A thought popped up. I set the crab down and shook the sand from my hands. "You don't have any fun, do you?" I asked him.

He chuckles and looked away from me. "I have fun sometimes." He replied. He has that look in his eyes. That look of awkwardness again. I want to get him out of his turtle shell and open himself up to me. I'm about to be his wife, he should want to have fun around me.

"Yeah, how?" I asked, not believing a word he's saying right now. I look back towards the water and to him with a devious smirk on my face. "Take your shoes off and roll up your pants." I demanded.

"Aurora, I don't_"

"Mr. Maricceli." I interrupted. "Your wife said take your shoes off and roll up your pants." I repeated. Nothing he says can make me change my mind in this moment.

He chuckled. "Yes, ma'am." He did as I said and took off his shoes while I took off mine. He bent down and rolled up his pants as far up as they could go. "Now what?" He asked.

"You and I take advantage of being at this beach by ourselves and have fun." I replied, grabbing his hand. Giggles make their way out of my mouth as I ran towards the water with his hand in mine. I don't stop running until the water was almost up to my knees. "Oh my gosh, it's cold."

"Yes, it is." Antonio said. He just stood there, not doing anything. Standing still like a robot. Hmm. I kicked my foot, kicking water on him. The look on his face was enough to make me giggle loudly. "Oh, so that's what you want to do? Okay."

He retaliated by kicking water back on me. I raised my foot up like how a soccer player would and kicked hard, splashing him all over. He shakes his head and starts to charge at me. I scream and giggle as he chases me all around.

In this moment, I'm not thinking about anything and anybody else but him and I. We ran around, laughing and squealing. This is what I wanted today. To have fun with Antonio, to show him that life doesn't have to be serious all of the time. Sometimes, you just have to have fun, whether that's playing board games or splashing water on the beach.