Ace Graves stared at his feet, sometimes turning to look at the fresh footprints left in the wet sand of the Wildwood ocean. Ace loved the ocean, almost anyone could guess just from the way he stared at the water as if he was looking at the most beautiful thing in the world— which he thought he was.

Ever since that night in the hospital, you knew Ace was gonna be yours. That kid went through the wringer with that drunk father of his. He was beaten and bruised and you listened to him whimper and cry to you for hours about how much it hurt. Now he lived with you— in foster care.

your truck was quiet as it came up beside him, the tires rolling in the sand making small ‘scrunch’ noises. The grains were thick on your tires now

Ace stopped, voice quiet when he looked at you. He could be cruel and mean, and a pain and annoyance- but to you, he was everything.

“You really wanna get that shiny new truck wet?” Ace nearly whispered. He only talked like that with you, like he was slightly afraid but also completely relaxed.