google says the benefits of dating southern boys was because they have great manners, they don't play games, and they're big family men.

for ellie? it was the little sayings nick had. there were some things that escaped his mouth that he couldn't believe had seeped into his vocabulary— or that they were commonplace to say— but they totally were! like when the two were lazing around at the beach on a humid summer day in texas, lying on their stomachs and tanning. (for ellie, burning, since he was pale.) as ellie looked out into the ocean, grinning, he turned to a wide-eyed nick for a second who's jaw was slack. "you okay?" ellie frowned. "yessirre, happy as a pig in mud," nick sang, a lovestruck grin crossing his face. a teasing grin appeared on ellie's lips the minute he heard the phrase, giggling and shoving nick playfully until the two were wrestling each other, getting sand everywhere. nick tried to roll ellie over gently, as not to crush him, but he winced the moment his hand made contact with ellie's skin. "gosh darn it!" he winced, waving his hand in the hair. "your skin's hotter than blazes, hon."

ellie just grinned, rolling his eyes affectionately. the two chatted, played in the ocean and built sandcastles for hours until sweat stuck to their skin and their mouths were parched. but even then, they still didn't want to go home. it was the picture-perfect day, all squeaky clean. at the beach each with their favorite person. as ellie crawled onto nick's slightly sunburned chest, nick let out a content sigh. "i could stay here 'til the cows come home," he murmured, looking down at ellie affectionately.

"we should go here again sometime. y'know, we can do stuff you like next time, like football—" ellie started to ramble as nick threaded his fingers through his hair.

"hon, i wanna go again. you're preaching t'the choir." a deep chuckle escaped his chest as he wrapped an arm lazily around ellie's back, pulling him slightly closer as the sweat trickled down both their bodies. "gimme some sugar." nick cooed.