Dare to Fall

Chapter XXXI

After swimming at the beach for nearly three hours, I stepped out of the water and glanced down at my fingers, which had wrinkled up like prunes. It was an odd reminder of time passing, yet the sun above me felt warm and inviting. I dried myself off, and soon enough, Amelia and Ethan followed suit, with the rest of the group not far behind.

As I glanced at my watch, I realized it was already noon. The guys were buzzing about heading to the amusement park, and I felt a pang of hesitation. Amusement parks had never really been my scene. Sure, the thought of the roller coasters and Ferris wheel was tempting—who wouldn't want to feel like a kid again, screaming with joy and terror at the top of their lungs? The idea of seeing the world from that high up and taking in the landscape was thrilling, but at the same time, a part of me wanted to retreat into the comfort of the beach house and binge-watch Netflix.

Amelia was right: we should spend Spring Break together instead of hiding away. Yet, the thought of being around a bunch of people and loud rides was overwhelming. I was starting to feel selfish for even contemplating staying behind.

Before heading into the beach house to wash up, I gathered my things. Amelia lounged on a chair, her sunglasses pulled down slightly, likely enjoying the sun in hopes of getting a tan. When she caught me staring, she lifted her shades, giving me a curious look.

"Are you going to wash up already?" she asked.

I nodded, and just as I was about to head inside, Cayden chimed in, "Are you going back to the beach house?"

I blinked a few times, surprised he was paying attention, but eventually nodded again. He stepped forward, grabbing my belongings without waiting for a response.

"I'll carry these for you," he said, a grin playing on his lips.

Amelia smirked at the sight, clearly entertained by whatever was unfolding. I raised an eyebrow, a mix of confusion and curiosity bubbling up inside me.

"I can carry those. I'm not that lazy," I protested, trying to reclaim my stuff, but he just shook his head.

"I'd rather not."

I almost launched into a playful argument, but instead, he turned and walked away with my things, leaving me bewildered. I shot Amelia a glance, and she just shrugged.

"Go chase after him," she said, her voice light with amusement.

I rolled my eyes, but the urge to follow Cayden was stronger than my annoyance. I dashed after him, catching up easily, and we fell into a comfortable silence as we headed back into the beach house. No small talk, just the sound of the ocean and the gentle rustle of the wind outside.

As I walked, my mind drifted back to last night at the beach, replaying fragments of the evening and the movie we had started. I couldn't remember much—just that I hadn't finished it and had likely fallen asleep beside Cayden. It made me smile, but then I quickly dismissed the thought, pushing it aside.

"Uh, are you just going to stand there?" Cayden's voice broke through my thoughts, and I blinked, realizing we had stopped in the hallway.

I shook my head, regaining my focus, and led the way into the beach house. The interior felt cool compared to the warmth outside, and I made my way toward Amelia and my bedroom, Cayden trailing behind me.

Once inside, I dropped my stuff on the bed and turned to Cayden, who stood awkwardly just inside the door. "Um, you can leave now," I said, holding the door open for him.

He blinked at me, seemingly lost in thought. "What?" I asked, meeting his gaze.

"If you don't want to leave, it's fine. But I'm going to wash up now," I added, closing the door behind me. I quickly grabbed some fresh clothes and a towel, then stepped into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.