Page 72 of Fried Cal

I belong to the latter so when the next big wave crashes, I dive in. The frigid water takes my breath away.

Chuckling as I come up for air, I hold back a scream, and I lie. “Come on in. It’s really warm.”

He’s only wet up to his thighs but like a wet dog, I hop into his arms.

“Fuck” He drops me but I splash him until he’s soaked.

Laughing, he tickles me, and pulls me out over my head while I kick and scream.

“Watch out.” I duck as water comes crashing down, then kiss his salty lips with my legs wrapped around his waist.

His eyes meet mine and my heart overflows. Our love is greater than the ocean, longer than the sandy shore, and higher than the blue sky overhead.

His eyes crease on the sides. “Take a deep breath.”

I barely have time before he dunks us. In retribution, I dive under, drop his drawers, and kiss him where it counts. Before we end up naked on a public beach, I rush back to the shore with him at my heels.

We dash up the path through the dunes and don’t stop until we get to our cottage.

“Babe, do you suppose we’ll ever get tired of making love?” After he follows me in, I shut the outside shower door and lose my bathing suit.

“No, why?” He steps out of his swim trunks and chuckles when my eyes go wide.

“Nothing. Just wondering.”

We use up all the hot water, dry ourselves off, then sit on the deck drinking beer until the big red sun sinks below the horizon.

Later, as I spoon into his warm body on the cool sheets, I tuck my chin so as to kiss his hand. “’Night tough guy. I love you.”

“Love you, too, sugar. Sweet dreams.”

And they are, right up until the time an unknown number pings my phone in the middle of the night…

THE END… FOR NOW