The day has passed uneventfully and it's already six pm, but I just can't seem to stop thinking about that man on the beach. Bear is asleep on my bed and my father has been resting in his room for quite a long time now, so I get up and go check on him to distract myself.

He is reading a book and smiles as soon as he sees me. "Hey, baby girl."

"Do you need anything?" I ask, and he rolls his eyes, going back to his book.

"Okay, grumpy. I'm going for a walk on the beach for a little bit. I have my phone with me, just call if you need anything. I'm not going too far."

He looks at me and gives me a small smile. "Ok, mom."

"I'm just a phone call away." I roll my eyes, closing the door.

I walk along the shore for a while and then decide to sit on the sand for a bit. I love the beach as the sun is setting and the strong sound of the waves is one of the most soothing sounds in the world to me. But as I watch the infinity perfection in front of me, I start reflecting on my life, and how drastically everything changed, how lost I am now.

Closing my eyes, I silently start repeating my mantra, slowly trying to focus on the present and the possibilities I have. I guess I'm lost in my thoughts because it takes me some time to realize there's someone sitting by my side.

"Jesus Christ! You scared me!" I shout when I feel someone moving by my side.

"Sorry. I was walking by and saw you sitting here by yourself," Mr. Handsome explains, and I have to admit I'm surprised to see him again.

Happily surprised if I'm being totally honest.

"So, you decided to scare the hell out of me?" I joke.

"It does sound creepy when you put it that way." He gives me a shy smile. "I just wanted to say hi, but you were so concentrated I didn't want to interrupt. I was just leaving when you realized I was sitting here by your side."

"Oh, okay..." I say and chastize myself for my lack of vocabulary around this man.

I mean, I do have an English Major, for God's sake.

"No dog this time?" he asks.

"Nah, we are past his bedtime."

"Of course." He chuckles, and I love the sound of it.

"So, you can smile, even laugh. I guess my first impression of you was wrong, then," I say and... Am I crazy to flirt with a complete stranger? There is definitely something wrong with me today.

"Yeah? And what impression was that?" he asks, clearly amused.

"Well, I thought you were a stressed businessman, with two kids and a frigid wife. You were so mad she was asking for money to put some Botox on her already plasticized face that you had to get out for a while. So, you see, in my mind, you are the portrait of an unhappy husband who can't get his wife off, so she has to find happiness in plastic surgeries. I kind of pity you. I mean, you can't leave her because you can't just abandon your kids, you know? Anyway, here you are, walking on the beach and trying to relax a little when my dog runs all over you. That explained the intense eyes today," I finish with a straight face.

His mouth opens and closes, and he stares at me for a second before bursting out laughing. I can't contain myself anymore, so I start laughing too.

He is so handsome, probably in his late twenties, but when he laughs, he seems younger, carefree, and strangely it makes me happy to be the one to put that look on his face.

"God, I needed that!" He looks at me as if trying to figure out a puzzle.

"Glad I could help you." I can't stop the smile on my face.

"You're very creative, Olivia, but no frigid wife or kids. I was just going for a walk to clear my mind and was taken aback by your dog and, to confess, by you too," he says, looking deeply into my eyes.

"Oh." I feel my face getting hot and I avert my eyes from him.

"You are a very beautiful woman. I guess I was...mesmerized. I'm sorry if I was rude. It's been a rough day." I feel his eyes on me, and I will my heart to stop beating so fast.

How crazy would it be if I kissed this stranger right now?

He could be a murderer or have a girlfriend waiting for him at home... But, damn, he's sexy! I don't even know his name but the attraction I feel is so strong that it's hard to see reason. I've never felt this way before, so there might be a huge possibility I'm going crazy here.

"What's your name?" I blurt, trying to distract myself from my crazy thoughts.

"Logan." He smiles at my flushed face.

"Oh. Okay." I nod awkwardly, and after a second his phone goes off.

He looks at it then at me as if deciding if he is going to answer it or not and ends up silencing it. My brain is having a hard time functioning correctly around this man, so we just sit there in silence staring at the sea.

And I feel...fine, calm even. But it's been so long since I've felt this way that it takes me some time to recognize the feeling. I know it's weird because I've known him for two minutes, but I think that maybe he likes to be here by my side too.

"I've always loved the sea," he says, staring at the waves.

"Me too." I smile. "I've lived here my whole life with the sea as my backyard. When I went to college, I missed this place so much, it was like I was headed toward my dreams but a piece of me was here, you know?" I look at him and my heart stops for a second.

Damn, what is it with this man?

He is looking at me so intently, all I want to do is press my lips to his. My eyes drop to his mouth and I bite my lower lip, so I don't say anything stupid. He takes a deep long breath, and I wonder if he is thinking about kissing me too, but when I look at his eyes, I see a mixture of desire and something I can't quite put my finger on.

He turns his attention to the sea again and clears his throat. "I haven't been here in a long time, but now I wish I had come here more often." He smiles sadly.

"Where do you live?" I turn to the sea too, suddenly confused.

"Saint Clement."

"That's not so far, about three hours from here, right? How long has it been since you last came here?"

"A long time. But I used to come here when I was younger. I just haven't been here since...since then," he says, and I feel that's not what he meant to say but I don't pry.

"I see," I whisper, not containing the yawn that follows.

"I think I'm bothering you," he murmurs, and I love the humor in his voice.

"I'm just tired. But I'm so relaxed right now, I could sleep right here snuggled into the sand." I smile, and he arches his eyebrows, his eyes full of mischief.

My face heats up immediately when I realize he might think I'm implying I want to sleep with him. "Not that I'm inviting you to sleep with me," I try to explain but he just grins and shakes his head. "I don't even know you...I-"

"Would you like to?" he interrupts me.

"To what?"

"To know me better?" he asks, looking deeply into my eyes, and I can feel he is trying not to laugh.

"Uh..." If it was before, I would have loved to get to know him better, but I don't have time for that now, right? I have big problems to solve and I can't lose focus now.

When I don't answer, he looks down. "You are a very interesting woman. Can't we-"

"Be friends?" It's my turn to interrupt him, my heart and mind at war.

"Friends?" He frowns as if he had never heard the word before.

"Yeah! Friends!" I smile and offer my hand to shake the deal.

He looks at my hand, then at my face bemused. "Friends?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"I think I've never really had a female friend before." He laughs.

"Relax, I'm a good teacher." I wink at him as if I have any idea what I'm getting myself into.

_____

A/N: Thank you a lot for reading!!!! ❤️

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~ Celeste