S A R A

Ch 62

62

1 month later

We were on a plane.

On his plane. Jet. His fingers intertwining mine.

The past month has been heaven. The best worst of my life, probably.

He got out of the hospital and my heart go out of jail.

Of course, there was a typical media frenzy, some curbside stops in trying to find different programs and support and the right doctor.

But I moved into his rented-out Airbnb penthouse apartment. He was only supposed to stay there those two weeks, but extended it to a month, and I moved out of my tiny studio.

Now we were moving again, back to California. Where it all started.

I was excited to go home, this time. Really, home.

My parents wanted to meet us when we were going to land, but I had a hard time explaining that private jets land in separate tarmacs because otherwise it would be the paparazzi greeting us, and anyway, it was going to be fine.

So, when we did finally land and get into his car, Haden squeezed my hand.

"You ready?" He asked me, looking into my eyes.

I simply nodded, happily.

We were going to drive to his house, the one in the Hills. The one where I showed up unannounced after a night out a few lifetimes ago.

"Wait," I put my hand back on his on the steering wheel. "Can we go to Malibu, instead?"

"The winery?" he asked me.

I nodded again, "I have something to tell you, and I want it to be there."

He just grinned at me, and put the key into the ignition, "as you wish, ma'am."

We rode in silence now, only making comments about the directions or the weather every once in a while.

We passed through Laguna Beach on our way, and we went to the drive through to get some coffees.

As we went through the pick-up window, I was shocked to see Dixie working.

Her eyes widened when she saw Haden pull up, and it took her a moment to see me behind his shoulder.

"Holy shit," her mouth opened into an 'oh' position and she almost dropped our drinks, "shit, sorry."

I just laughed, happy to see her after all this time.

"Its good to see you," I smiled at her, waving as we were pulling out.

"You too..." she put a hand up to wave, but it seemed like she forgot to do so, halfway through the action.

"You know her?" Haden asked in the car as we continued to push on.

"A long time ago," I thought to myself how she was there in the very beginning, when we were younger, and I only met Haden.

"Wait," Haden eyes lit up with recognition. "Wasn't she the one at Tara's? The first day we met."

I nodded.

As I took a sip of my chai latte, I thought to myself where we were now. How close I could have been to living her life, serving somebody else coffee if I hadn't met Haden and he hadn't created a cascade of emotions and events in my life that led me ... here.

We sped through the California air, sprinkled with ocean haze. Oh, how I missed this. The sunshine, the perfect weather, and the valleys filled to the brim with dirty secrets and beautiful people.

"Hey, can we stop somewhere here?" Haden said, checking his blind spots and making a U-turn to make a stop along the beach.

"I was thinking the same thing," I said. We were on the PCH, and I wanted us to get out for a bit. I wanted us to find refuge in the sea. Malibu felt perfect.

We got out of the car and the first thing I felt was a breeze.

Sound. The ocean.

"Come on, I actually wanna show you something." Haden said, taking my hand and leading me down to the water.

"Just a few more steps," he said as he walked in front of me, prompting me to take his hand.

A school of dolphins were swimming together, back and forth, not too far from the ocean.

I laugh "They're perfect! How did you know they were here?"

"I saw them while we were in the car. Though, I wouldn't mind looking at you over the dolphins any day.," Haden turned his gaze towards me, and I felt myself blush a little.

"I have an idea" I start taking of my jacket.

"What are you doing?" He looked at me an unsure but not dejecting.

"I'm going in."

"Where? The water? No, you're crazy its actually kinda cold"

"Oh, please don't be such a pussy." I take off my socks and my sweater until I'm left in jeans and a tank, already getting goose bumps but determined.

"But you don't have a swim-" I interrupt him with an action rather by stripping from my jeans.

"Relax, I used to do this all the time. Now are you going in with me or not?" I had a strange sense of Déjà vu, just then.

"Oh! Well, yes. Not like much of a choice now is there." He chuckles, and I watch him take off his clothes until he's left in his boxers. Damn.

"Ok." I take off my tank until I'm left in my underwear. "One last thing, we're not going to chicken out. I either go full on or nothing at all.

I looked around the beach and luckily, we were on a really random stretch of the beach and there was no one on either side.

I turn away from Haden and as I walk towards the ocean, I take off my bra and panties. I turn my head back to look at him and he just stares in awe.

"Come on now, you wouldn't want to be known as the boy who was too shy to get in the water, now would you." I make a squeal and bravely run into the water, just to hear Haden run in behind me a moment later.