One for the Ages // Book One

Chapter 5

I was just finishing pulling my shoes on when I heard the knock at my door. I tried to ignore the fact that my heart did flip flops. It was far too early for this kind of feeling. I pulled the door open and smiled when he popped his head in the crack,

"You ready for a day at the beach? Because I am so ready for a day at the beach."

I nodded, pulling the door the rest of the way open,

"Do I need to bring anything? I have a towel and sunscreen."

He shook his head,

"Sounds like that's everything." I grabbed my stuff and turned to take his outstretched hand. He waited until I closed my door and then led me back to the Jeep parked out front. Once I was safely inside he hopped into the driver's side, "This drive is much shorter. Maybe 20 minutes. Buckle up."

It was nice being with him. He was adventurous and fun and he didn't judge me. I always felt so judged by everyone else in my life.

He pulled off the main road to a narrow dirt road covered by the trees. I hadn't even seen it so I had no idea how he had. He must have known it was there. A few miles in he pulled into a clearing and killed the engine. He looked over at me and quirked his brows as he unlatched his seat belt,

"Betcha didn't even know this was here did ya?" He said excitedly as he hopped out of the Jeep. I glanced around, at least there was no steep hiking trails. I unlatched my seat belt, feeling his hands circle my waist as he pulled me up out of the seat and set me on the ground while I stared around,

"This is a beach?"

He pulled a bag out of the backseat and nodded, gesturing to a trail between all the shrubbery,

"Down there a bit. It's really private. No one around for miles."

"How did you know about it?" I asked as he slid his hand into mine, leading me towards the trail.

"Friend of mine found it. I'm not sure how. When he heard I was coming here he told me to check it out."

I stopped,

"So you knew you were gonna bring me here?"

He shook his head,

"No." He turned towards me, not just glancing over his shoulder, "I knew I was gonna come and I thought you would enjoy it too. This wasn't a setup, Elizabeth."

I looked at him cautiously, nodding after a moment. I guess it was a little far fetched to think he'd planned this whole thing. He went back to leading me down the path. Once we made it out of the trees, I could see what his friend meant.

It was almost as beautiful as the waterfall yesterday. The water was so blue it looked like it had been painted. The beach was white sand. When I slipped my flip flops off and buried my toes in it, I groaned. It felt like a warm sock around my feet.

Harry smiled,

"See? I told ya."

He gestured to a small cove that had been formed. A huge rock wall surrounding all but one side,

"That looks good. C'mon."

I followed him there, helping him to set out our towels. I pulled my cover up off and threw it down near my bag, stopping for a moment. I realized then that I hadn't even thought about it. I wasn't nervous in the slightest for what might happen when he saw me without it on. I guess it didn't matter much, considering he'd seen me all day yesterday in my bikini without a cover up on. Still, it was a tiny triumphant step forward.