Chapter 32 #2
“Better grab your swimming trunks,” she instructed. “We’re going to the beach,” she announced as she packed a bag.
“I, uh, didn’t bring any,” I admitted.
“Seriously?” she asked, planting her hands on her hips sassily. “We’re at the beach,” she added incredulously.
I shrugged. “I didn’t think about it.”
“Well, you’re in luck because there are shops on every corner that sell swimwear,” she said, eyeing me up and down.
“Do you at least have a pair of shorts you can put on?” I nodded.
My work required me to practically live in jeans, but I did own a few pairs of gym shorts.
“Go change into them and meet me in the truck,” she instructed, grabbing a cooler from the cabinet.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied with a crooked smile and all the Southern charm I could muster. Her eyes flared with heat, and she chewed on her lower lip like she was contemplating skipping the beach all together. Shaking herself, her expression turned serious.
“Make it quick. We only have so much daylight left,” she said before breezing past me. I rushed to get changed and slipped on a pair of sneakers. My cowboy boots weren’t exactly a practical choice for the beach nor would they look right with mesh shorts.
Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to the public parking area and hopped out of the truck.
We quickly ducked into the closest shop, and I found a pair of trunks and flip flops while Jasmine picked out a beach umbrella.
After changing in their bathroom, I tossed my clothes into the truck.
Jasmine grabbed the small cooler and beach tote from the back seat.
“Let me,” I said, taking them both from her.
Surprisingly, she didn't put up a fight. Umbrella in hand, she led me down the beach and picked a spot to lay out our towels. Together, we secured the umbrella, angling it to provide maximum shade. It was already midafternoon, but the sun was still high in the sky, so we coated ourselves in sunscreen, spraying each other’s back to get the spots we couldn’t reach.
I was thankful it wasn’t the lotion kind.
Getting a boner in public from having my hands on her wasn’t my idea of a good time.
Wading into the clear blue water, I snuck a glance at Jasmine. Her face tilted toward the sun, her eyes closed in reverence and her face more serene than I’d ever seen it before. I let my gaze drift down her body, enjoying the unobstructed view of her curves. It stopped on her insulin pump.
“Is it okay to get that wet?” I asked, and she cracked one eye open. Noticing where my eyes were focused, she released a heavy sigh.
“No, I can only go in up to my thighs,” she replied sadly. “I would have to disconnect it to go in deeper, but I forgot to bring the supplies I’d need to do that.”
“What do you need?” I asked.
“A Tegaderm to cover the site and a Ziploc bag to put the pump in so it can go in the cooler.” She dipped her hands in the water and scooped some up to splash over her arms. I deliberated for only a moment before turning to head back to our spot in the sand.
“I’m going to grab a drink,” I announced before slipping away.
Sinking onto the towel, I pulled open the cooler Jasmine had packed for us and grabbed a bottle of water.
I took a long gulp of it before retrieving my phone from our bag.
A quick search yielded the results I was looking for and one overpriced purchase later, my plan was set in motion.
I returned to the water where Jasmine had ventured out further. It was nearly up to her hips now.
“I love the beach,” she said contentedly.
“This is the only time of year I get to come since the ranch is so busy during the summer. It’s almost impossible to get away.
” Several minutes passed before she spoke again to inform me she was going to check her sugar and grab a snack.
I waded out further, dipping down enough to wet my hair.
I needed to check my phone, so I returned to our spot once again.
Jasmine’s gaze lifted as I approached and she did a double take, her mouth falling open.
My step faltered at the unbridled lust in her eyes.
I took my spot on the towel next to hers, and she cleared her throat.
“Damn, Gabe, warn a girl before you walk up on her with water dripping down your body and your hair all slicked back like that.” I barked out a laugh at her unfiltered statement. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath as she shifted in her seat, subtly rubbing her thighs together.
My phone dinged, and I picked it up to find a notification alerting me my driver was five minutes away.
“How’s your sugar?” I asked, buying time until I needed to step away to meet the delivery driver.
“Perfect,” she replied, popping an almond in her mouth and crunching on it.
“Good,” I said, climbing to my feet. “I’ll be right back.” She didn’t question me, most likely assuming I was going to the restroom. I stepped onto the parking lot seconds before the driver pulled up. I waved at her.
“Are you Gabriel?” she asked. I confirmed, and she handed me the bag.
“Thank you,” I said before trudging back down the beach to Jasmine. She stood and was preparing to head back to the water when she spotted me. She eyed the plastic bag in my hand curiously.
“What’s that?”
Instead of answering, I reached inside and pulled out both boxes. I handed them over to her, and she gasped.
“Gabe,” she said, her voice cracking as she lifted her stunned gaze to mine.
“Now you can go in the water as deep as you want,” I supplied. The pure joy that lit up her face was more than worth the fifty bucks it cost to have twenty dollars’ worth of supplies delivered in thirty minutes or less.
“Thank you,” she said, already disconnecting her pump.
Sealing it in a bag, she placed it in the cooler before spreading a Tegaderm over the insertion site on her abdomen.
As soon as it was covered, she took off toward the water, running and splashing into the shallows before diving beneath the surface.
A joyous rumble of laughter left my lips when she popped up several feet away and threw her hands in the air, twirling and jumping excitedly.
I loved seeing her so carefree, enjoying the simple pleasures of swimming in the ocean.
And I relished the fact I got to be the one to give that to her.