Don't Forget Me

24

We stayed up the rest of the night and around four, we packed up our small number items and put them into our car. We checked out of the hotel early that morning and we left. I didn't ask Steve where we were going, and he didn't tell me. He drove East. We were silent for the longest time, counting our losses. What was there to say?

"Where are we going?" I finally asked Steve rolling down the window. I let the summer breeze hit us and faintly smiled. We were something of free. The sun was starting to rise.

"I thought we'd have a beach day." He answered giving me a half smile.

"I thought we were going home."

"I figured we might as well get something nice out of this useless trip. We should enjoy something about it."

"I enjoyed every moment." I told him placing my hand on his. "And it wasn't useless. We finished our mission. We found him, we maybe didn't bring him home, but we know he's safe-ish."

"Yeah," Steve reluctantly agreed. He was still bitter over it.

"So where exactly are we heading to?"

"Oh yeah, Constanta." We were staying in Romania.

"Hm, I don't have a bathing suit."

"Neither do I. But I'm willing to bet we can find some there." The drive was pretty short compared to our previous travels. Steve got out of the car and stretched his legs and arms. I walked over to his side of the car. We were parked at Constanta Beach.

"Thank you," I said leaning up a bit to kiss him.

"Well I know how much you love the beach." That I did. I loved the sun and the sand. "Plus we never got to take that tropical vacation."

"Let's go find some bathing suits." I told Steve patting his side. We stopped in some cheap beach shop. They were selling cheaply made beach items for an overpriced value. Steve grabbed some blue swim trunks and some towels. I stood there staring at the women's bathing suits. I could go with a blue one piece that would tie around my neck and was complete conservative. I'd be comfortable in it. Or I could go with a black bikini and feel naked. Honestly I'd be self conscious in both of them. I hadn't gone to a beach in years. I hadn't bought a bathing suit since maybe the 90s.

"Are you ready?" Steve asked interrupting my thoughts. He looked down at my empty hands and then looked at my two choices.

"No, I can't decide." I told him and he looked at me as if I was ridiculous. He glanced back at the two choices and picked up the bikini. He walked towards the cash register and paid.

We stopped in the store bathroom after paying for bathing suits and towels to change. I came out of the bathroom and saw Steve waiting for me. He was wearing his t-shirt with his dark blue swim trunks.

"I feel naked." I told him walking out of the bathroom. I felt self conscious of my body that everyone could see. I didn't like that sensation. I don't like feeling exposed.

"Well you practically are." Steve noted taking my hand. "My Ma would probably roll over dead if she saw me walking around with a girl wearing what you're wearing."

"Hey! Your Mother would have loved me." I defended myself. I slipped my shirt in over my bikini.

"Yeah she would have." He remarked reminiscing. I never got to meet Steve's mother, I met him just before she died.