16. Elliot #2
Next, Elliot drove them to the beach. Lucy was still in a sundress, so she waded straight into the ocean up to her knees, her skirt gathered in the palms of her hands as the salt water washed over her legs.
Elliot was in slacks, but he quickly rolled up the hems and followed her in.
The sun shone off the backs of the bright waves, reflecting the bright blue sky, and the water was cool and refreshing beneath Elliot’s feet.
He put his arm around Lucy, and they stood together, staring at the line in the far distance where the sky met the waves.
“This isn’t anything like our last beach trip together,” Lucy said. “Do you remember?”
“Of course I do,” Elliot replied. “It was so cold that we wore sweaters and winter coats.”
“The ocean soaked our boots when we tried to walk on the beach together,” Lucy remembered. “And you put them on the radiator for me. I thought that was so sweet.”
“Yet you didn’t learn because you tried to swim the next day.”
“That’s true! I put my feet in the water on the first day, but it was so cold I jumped right back out.” Lucy giggled.
“I felt so bad for you. I wanted to scoop you up and carry you home,” Elliot added. “But we were with Dominic and our other friends, so I couldn’t.”
“It was hard keeping things a secret.” Lucy smiled, a little sad. “I wish we’d done things differently.”
“We were just kids.” Elliot hugged her shoulders. “And things seem to have worked out now.”
“I’m glad.” Lucy smiled up at him, and Elliot remembered a thousand times she’d smiled like that before. “Should we try to build a sandcastle?”
“We might get a bit sandy.”
“Lame.” Lucy grinned at him, though Elliot had a point. She wasn’t very excited about being covered in sand on the flight, either. “How about we play that game from college? The numbers game?”
“Sure.” Elliot considered. “How would you rate this beach?”
“Nine,” Lucy answered. Elliot shot her a look, so she elaborated. “It would be a ten if we were in beach clothes instead of regular ones so we could build a proper sandcastle.”
“Okay, I’ll agree with that. Nine out of ten. Although being here with you makes it feel pretty perfect.”
Lucy blushed and looked out over the water. “How about the vineyard?”
“Eleven,” Elliot answered with a wink. “Especially last night.”
Lucy blushed, her stomach warming. “I agree with that. A solid eleven. Maybe even a twelve.”
“Now that’s cheating. Twelve isn’t between one and ten.”
“And eleven is?” Lucy raised her eyebrows at him.
“That was cheating, too, but you didn’t say anything, so I didn’t want to call myself out.”
“Some things never change.” Lucy smiled. Playing this game felt just like old times, and she loved it. “How about doing taxes?”
Elliot laughed. “Does anyone rate taxes higher than a one?”
“Probably not, but I wanted to make sure you hadn’t turned out to be a psychopath now that you’re an adult.”
“Then I should ask you how you feel about Mondays.”
“Uh-oh.” Lucy’s grin widened. “I may be a psychopath because I actually like Mondays. I like my job so much that it’s mostly fun to go to work. Although it was less fun when we were fighting all the time. Anyway, overall, I’d rate Mondays at a solid seven.”
“Actually, I probably would, too. Although the number might go up now that you won’t be pushing desks into my office and calling me entitled anymore.”
Lucy winced. “I did do that, didn’t I? But you were just as rude to me.”
“I was.” Elliot gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Sorry.”
“Me, too. Now, let’s continue with the game.”
“All right. How about… eels?”
“Oh, two. They’re the snakes of the sea. No, thank you.” Lucy gave a dramatic shiver.
Elliot chuckled. “Fair enough. I’d say they’re a seven, though, because they’re actually quite interesting. Some of them have an amazing sense of navigation. How about actual snakes?”
“One.” Lucy shuddered visibly. “They’re worse than doing taxes.”
“I see your feelings on slithering things haven’t changed.”
“Nope. Have yours?”
“No. I’d still rate snakes at a solid three out of ten. No changes there.”
“How about your thoughts on animated movies?” Lucy asked.
“Still two out of ten. Although I did make up my mind to watch your favorite animated movie in college, and I haven’t gotten the chance yet.”
“Maybe we can watch it on the flight!” Lucy suggested excitedly. She gave a little jump of excitement, sending seawater splashing up their legs.
“This look on your face?” Elliot said. “Ten out of ten. It’s definitely worth seeing an animated movie if you look that happy about it.” And he leaned forward and gave her a kiss, one arm around her waist, as the waves swished around their ankles.
They spent another half an hour at the beach, watching the waves and burying their feet in the sand, before heading to the airport.
On the flight back, they managed to switch Lucy’s seat at the counter so they could sit next to each other, and Lucy played Big Hero 6 on the seatback screen.
Elliot, laughing at himself and her, watched along with her, finally breaking his two-decade embargo on animated movies.
It was almost unbelievable, Elliot thought, how easily they’d slipped back into their old rhythms. Despite the ten years they’d spent apart, it was as though they hadn’t missed a step.
A small part of Elliot worried that the other shoe was about to drop.
After all, they couldn’t so easily erase ten years of distance and misunderstandings with a kiss and one magical night together, could they?
Yet Elliot tried to quiet that voice. He just wanted to enjoy his time with Lucy, whatever came next.