♥︎ATHALIA♥︎
Saturday couldn't come fast enough. When Brandon pulls up to my house in the morning, I'm already waiting by the door, eager to head out.
He steps out of the car, looking casual yet effortlessly handsome in his navy swim trunks and a light grey t-shirt, his hair slightly tousled in that perfect way.
He smiles when he sees me, his eyes lighting up.
"You ready for this?" he asks, grinning as he opens the door for me.
I nod, adjusting the straps of my red bikini under my loose, white beach cover-up. "More than ready."
The drive to the beach is filled with easy conversation, a playlist of both our favourite songs playing in the background.
Every now and then, his hand drifts over to my thigh, and my heart does a little flip each time, a reminder of how much closer we've gotten.
When we finally pull up to the beach, the salty scent of the ocean fills the air, and I'm buzzing with excitement.
The golden sand stretches out before us, dotted with colourful umbrellas and towels. The water shimmers under the sun, waves crashing in rhythmic harmony.
We find a perfect spot near the shoreline, far enough from the crowds for some privacy but close enough to hear the laughter and buzz around us.
Brandon spreads out the large beach blanket, and I help unload the small cooler we packed with sandwiches, chips, and fruit.
"You brought your camera, didn't you?" he asks with a knowing smirk as I pull it out of my bag.
I nod, adjusting the lens. "Of course I did. I need to capture this day, especially how cute you look in those swim trunks. And you were right. I can see the results of you working out." I take a picture of his abs.
He laughs, shaking his head, but I catch a hint of a blush. As I fiddle with the camera, I snap a few candid shots of him standing by the water, looking out at the horizon.
His dark hair catches the light just right, and I can't help but admire how, at ease, he looks.
After setting everything up, we head straight for the water. The cool ocean waves are refreshing against the heat, and it doesn't take long before we're splashing around, laughing and chasing each other through the surf.
Brandon tries to dunk me under the water, but I'm quicker, dodging his grip and sending a wave of water his way. His smile is wide and carefree, and for a moment, I wish I could bottle this feeling-this lightness we share.
Eventually, we tire out and head back to the blanket, flopping down side by side under the warmth of the sun. I peel off my cover-up, letting the rays hit my skin, and Brandon stretches out next to me, his arm casually draped over my waist. I rest my head on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
"Days like this..." he murmurs, his voice soft. "They make everything seem easier, you know?"
I look up at him, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, they do."
As the sun begins to sink lower in the sky, casting a warm glow across the beach, we sit by the edge of the water, letting the gentle waves lap at our feet.
The sky turns a brilliant mix of pink, orange, and lavender, the perfect backdrop for the peace we've found together.
Brandon pulls me closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulder, and I nestle against him. "I love you," he whispers, his voice barely above the sound of the waves.
I smile, my heart swelling at how natural those words sound now. "I love you too."
As we sit by the edge of the water, letting the cool waves wash over our feet, a comfortable silence settles between us.
I rest my head on Brandon's shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body and the peaceful rhythm of the ocean.
It's moments like these where everything feels perfect, but I can't help the thought that nags at the back of my mind.
I glance up at him, watching how his eyes focus on the horizon, his expression calm but distant. I hesitate for a moment, then ask softly, "Do you think... you'll ever get closure from your dad?"
Brandon tenses slightly, his gaze still fixed on the ocean. I feel the shift in his mood immediately, the air around us thickening with the weight of the question. He takes a deep breath, his fingers tightening around mine.
"I don't know," he finally says, his voice low. "I used to think it would get better, that maybe one day he'd stop blaming me... or that I could let it go. But now? It just feels like... it's too far gone."
I sit up a little, turning to face him. "But it doesn't have to be. I mean, I know it's complicated, but maybe if you talked to him... if he could see how much it's hurting you, things might change."
Brandon shakes his head slowly, a bitter smile playing at his lips. "He's not going to see that. Not with the way things are."
"He's so angry–still–about everything. It's like... he's stuck in that moment, the accident, and no matter what I do, I'll always be the reason she's gone in his eyes."
My heart aches, hearing him say that. I wish there was something I could do, something more to take away that pain.
I reach for his hand, intertwining our fingers, hoping to offer even the smallest bit of comfort. "It's not your fault, Brandon."
"I know," he whispers, though the doubt lingers in his eyes. He turns to look at me, his gaze softer now. "But hearing you say it... it helps."
I lean into him, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "I'll keep saying it as many times as you need to hear it."
For a moment, we just sit there, the waves crashing softly at our feet, the sky painted in shades of pink and orange. Then, Brandon sighs, looking down at our joined hands.
"Maybe one day," he murmurs. "Maybe one day I'll be able to talk to him without all the anger and hurt getting in the way. But for now... I don't know."
I nod, understanding that this wasn't something that could be fixed easily.
"Whenever you're ready, I'll be there with you. You won't have to face it alone."
He gives a gentle squeeze, and silence follows.
"I'm gonna marry you one day." he says out of the blue.
"Yeah?" My heart warms up.
"Yeah."
As we watched the water and how the waves crashed each other, I knew that was a promise.
A promise that will be hard to keep because we don't know what the future holds, and we'll face many challenges.
At 18 and 17, our lives hadn't even begun yet. But I honestly couldn't see my future without him in the picture.
♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
YOU ARE READING
Cold Water
Romance[BWWM] I was only twelve years old when the world turned cold. The day my mom died in that car accident, I felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my heart. My dad, who had always been my hero, suddenly became a stranger, filled...
