THIRTY-SIX
Luca
The sun was high, the sky a perfect shade of blue that stretched endlessly above the sprawling beach. The air smelled of saltwater and the sweet tang of tropical fruit from a vendor nearby. The golden sand was warm beneath our feet as we walked toward our spot by the water. Waves crashed gently, their rhythmic sound mixing with the faint music drifting from a nearby beach bar. It’s a picture-perfect day, the kind that made you want to forget the world and stay right here, forever.
Lena and Alessandro were already ahead, laughing as they found the perfect spot near the edge of the shoreline, their towels spread out like a patch of color against the soft, sun-bleached sand. I’m not sure what they’re talking about, but it’s clear they’re lost in their own little bubble. They’ve been friends for years, so I didn’t mind. It made it easy for me to steal moments with Charlie without a watchful eye—I hoped. They’re good for each other, I could see that, and today, it was about relaxing, having fun, and letting the world fade away.
Charlie and I lagged behind, moving at a slower pace, our feet sunk into the sand with each step. The playful banter between us flowed easily, just like it always does. I teased her about her sunscreen routine, and she fired back with a sarcastic comment about my inability to sit still for more than five minutes. I laughed, watching her smile, the sun highlighting her golden skin, her hair caught the light like a halo.
“I swear, every time I turn around, you’re pulling some new ridiculous stunt,”
she said, nudging me with her shoulder.
I chuckled, my gaze drifted over her as she pulled her sunglasses down, eyeing me with that look of playful defiance I’ve come to love. She’s wore a black barely-there bikini that left little to the imagination, and I couldn’t help but admire how confident she looked, how comfortable in her own skin. She laughed again, a full, rich sound, and I was struck by how easy it is to be with her like this—no pressure, just two people enjoying the day.
Lena stretched out on her beach towel, the sunlight catching the gold flecks in her sunglasses as she casually sipped from her drink. Alessandro was beside her, half-asleep with a book resting on his chest. Charlie and I were a few feet away, seated on the edge of the shoreline, the waves lapping at our toes. It was one of those rare, perfect moments where everything felt easy—until Lena decided to stir the pot.
“So,”
she began, her tone teasing and laced with mischief. “Luca, mark your calendar. August 15th. You’re coming to my art show in New York. Non-negotiable.” She sat up, her hair falling over her shoulder as she pointed her glass in my direction. “And no excuses about being busy. You’re Italian. You live for art and romance, don’t you?”
I raised an eyebrow, smirking at her dramatic flair. “Is that how you’re selling it? Art and romance? You sure know how to make a guy feel cornered, Lena.”
“Call it what you want,”
she said with a shrug, “but I expect you there. And don’t even think about skipping out, Alessandro. You’ll both be my muses for the night.”
“Oh, you both definitely qualify,”
Lena shot back, her grin widening. She shifted, leaning her elbows on her knees, and fixed both of us with a pointed look. “And speaking of the two of you…”
I felt the shift immediately, the playful tone giving way to something sharper. Charlie stiffened slightly beside me, her hand brushing sand off her knee. I didn’t say anything, waiting for Lena to drop whatever bombshell she had planned.
“I see what’s going on,”
she said, her voice light but her gaze piercing. She gestured between us with her drink, the ice clinking softly. “You two. You’re not as subtle as you think.”
Charlie opened her mouth to protest, but Lena cut her off with a wave of her hand. “Oh, please, don’t even try to deny it. The stolen glances, the way you’re always finding reasons to be near each other. And Luca…”
She turned to me, her grin practically wicked. “The way you look at her? Like you’d burn the world down if anyone got too close. It’s cute. Intense, but cute.”
I felt a flicker of heat rise to my face, though I masked it with a smirk. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t,”
Lena said, rolling her eyes. “But let me just say this—whatever this is between you two, don’t screw it up. Life’s too short, and moments like this?” She gestured around at the beach, the sun dipping lower in the sky, casting everything in a warm glow. “They don’t come around often. So, enjoy it. Don’t overthink it.”
Charlie looked down at the sand, a small smile playing on her lips, while I glanced over at her, my chest tightening in a way I wasn’t expecting. Lena wasn’t wrong. Not about the moments or about us.
“Noted,”
I finally said, my voice low.
“Good.”
Lena settled back onto her towel, satisfied, and raised her glass. “To art, romance, and not screwing up the good stuff.”
Charlie laughed softly, and I couldn’t help but smile. Leave it to Lena to say the thing no one else would but everyone was thinking.
On that note, we stood up and walked along the water’s edge, I felt the heat of the sun on my back and the coolness of the ocean on my ankles, a balance that feels perfect. We walked a little farther from the others, talking in that easy way that only happens when you’re completely at ease with someone. I’m started to forget about everything else, about work and the tension that’s simmered underneath the surface between us. It’s just the two of us, and for now, that’s enough.
Walking back towards the towels, Charlie looked out into the sea lost in some distant thought. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Lena pointing something out to Alessandro. She leaned into him with a serious face, and they both looked back towards us.
“Everything okay?”
I asked, the moment turning serious. Her eyes shifted away from me briefly, and then she tilted her head toward the far end of the beach.
“That’s… that’s Michael,”
Lena said, her voice lowering with a hint of discomfort. “And Kenna. Down there. He’s watching Charlie—so fucking weird.”
I followed the line of her gaze, my attention immediately snapping to the couple in the distance. I didn’t noticed them before, but now that she’d pointed them out, I couldn’t help but see them. Michael and Kenna were sitting on a blanket, and Michael’s head was turned directly towards Charlie. I didn’t know what it was, but there’s something off about the way he was looking at her. It wasn’t the casual glance of someone enjoying the day. No, this was different—intense, cold, and unsettling.
His eyes were locked on Charlie as she walked by the water, her body outlined by the sun. The look on his face made my blood run a little colder. It’s not admiration—it’s something darker. A kind of possessiveness that didn’t sit well with me. His stare was so heavy it felt like it could cut through the air.
I felt my chest tighten, a low growl rumbled deep in my throat before I could stop it. Charlie didn’t notice anything, too caught up in the moment. But I saw him. I saw what he was doing.
Lena noticed the tension in the air and glanced at me, her lips pressing together in a thin line. She didn’t say anything, but the look on her face said it all.
Alessandro sensed the shift in the air because he finally looked again to follow my gaze.
“Should we go say hi?”
I asked, my tone flat, masking the tension brewing beneath. My words were casual, but inside, I was fighting the urge to walk straight over there and handle this. To confront Michael about the way he’s looking at Charlie, the way he’s acting like she’s his to watch.
But I couldn’t do that—it wasn’t my place. Instead, I turned back to Charlie, making sure my expression is neutral, though the storm inside me was far from calm. She’s completely unaware of the effect Michael’s gaze was having on me, and I wanted to keep it that way. I would just send him a message—one he would understand.
I strode toward her, the sand firm beneath my feet, water lapping at my calves. She didn’t hear me coming until I was right behind her. In one swift motion, I lifted her into my arms, her startled laugh rung out before she could protest.
“Hey! What—?”
Her legs wrapped around my waist instinctively, locking tight, and the thrill of it shot straight through me. She tensed for half a second, but it wasn’t resistance—it’s anticipation. Her hands skimmed down my chest, light but deliberate, and even that brief contact left a charge in its wake.
“Relax,”
I said, my voice low, edged with a grin. “I’ve got you.” Her legs tightened just a bit more, and I knew it’s not the fear of falling that’s got her tense. It’s whatever’s sparking between us, whatever’s pulling us closer.
The water rose higher as I waded in, cool waves licking at my skin, but all I could focus on was her. The curve of her smile, the way her eyes narrowed at me—playful, hesitant, like she’s trying to decide whether to fight this or give in. Her arms tightened around my neck, and I knew her decision.
I stopped walking and held her there, suspended between the water and the sky, before tilting my head to kiss her. It wasn’t soft this time. I didn’t want it to be. The urgency between us was impossible to ignore now. My lips found hers, and she melted into me, her hands tangling in my hair. The warmth of her mouth against mine, the way her body pressed closer—it’s like nothing else existed.
Her lips parted, and I took it as an invitation, deepening the kiss. A wild rush of triumph and need surged through me. She felt it too—I could tell by the way her fingers tighten in my hair, by the way she leaned into me like she doesn’t care if the whole world was watching.
The waves rocked us gently, but I was steady, holding her as if letting go wasn’t even an option. When I finally pulled back, just enough to look at her, her eyes met mine, wide and full of something that felt like surrender. A grin tugged at my mouth just as the first raindrops fell.
It started slow—a light drizzle that kissed her skin—but within seconds, the sky opened up. Rain poured down in heavy sheets, soaking us both, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. I laughed, the sound vibrating between us, and lifted her higher in my arms.
“We should get inside,”
I said, though I made no move to leave. Her breathless laugh answered me, the sound sweeter than anything else in this moment.
Lena and Alessandro were somewhere on the shore, blurry figures through the curtain of rain. I could feel their eyes on us, but I didn’t care. Not about them, not about anything but her. I adjusted my hold, her weight easy in my arms, and met her gaze again.
“We should catch up with them, don’t you think?”
I teased, the challenge clear in my tone. She shook her head, her hair slicked to her face, water dripped from her lashes, and I swore I’ve never seen anyone look more alive.
As we headed toward the shore, the rain pelting down in torrents, I couldn’t help but glance over at the two of them under the protection of the beach bar canopy—Lena with that gleam of mischievous amusement in her eyes, Alessandro’s easy smile barely visible through the curtain of rain.
When we finally stopped, she looked at me, and I saw it—the same wild energy I felt humming through my veins.