the bar was loud and the air was thick with laughter and the smell of cheap tequila and sea breeze. neon lights were flickering like warning signs. neither of you belonged there. not like this and not together, especially not after everything

you hadnt seen renee in seven months. not really. a few awkward industry run ins but nothing like this. nothing like her leaning over a sticky beachside bar, dark eyes rimmed in old mascara, laughing too hard at something you said about the tacky surfboard decor. she looked different and the same. there was too much history to pretend otherwise. three years together that were messy and electric along with too many highs and a few final sharp lows

you were 27 now and she was 25. too old for games but too young to forget what it felt like to have her curled up in your arms at 2 am, whispering stupid shit about your future that never came

somehow shots turned into shared drinks and shared drinks turned into wandering out of the bar and down the short path that led to the sand. your shoes hung from your fingers and renees laugh followed behind you like it used to. like a ghost that still hadnt left your skin

the beach was empty since it was midnight or past it. you didnt care. you were drunk. so drunk. the kind of drunk that made your skin feel too warm and your inhibitions fall off like dead weight. you dropped your shirt first, laughing as it hit the sand. then your pants. you stood there in your black bra and boxers, tipsy on adrenaline and salt air, turning back to grin at her

“come in” you called, stumbling a little as the waves hit your toes

she blinked, her hair wild from the wind and arms crossed under her chest like she wasnt sure if she should run toward you or away “youre insane”

“probably but you already knew that"

she laughed and it sounded almost like the old her. like the renee who used to sneak kisses between studio sessions and whisper 'i hate how much i love you' when she was mad at you

"im serious” you said, sloshing into the shallow waves “it feels amazing”

you spun in the water with your arms wide and head tilted back to the sky like you were daring the moon to remember you. behind you the waves rolled gentle and rhythmic like a lullaby that had forgotten its words

when you looked back, renee was toeing off her boots. she pulled her shirt over her head in one clean motion then dropped her pants, standing there in a black bra and a red thong that made your heart hurt a little

she caught your stare but didnt say anything as she walked in. the water hit her hips and she shivered but kept going. you met her halfway, calf deep now in waves and regret. she didnt smile but she didnt look away either

“this is stupid” she said softly

“i know”

“im still mad at you”

“i know that too”

“but i still missed you” she said, quieter now, almost drowned out by the sea

you didnt answer. you just reached out and touched her wrist and she let you. neither of you said anything for a long moment. you just stood there in the water, buzzed beyond reason with your hearts unsteady

somewhere up on the beach, your vodka bottle glinted in the moonlight beside your tangled clothes. the night had no promises or apologies. just salt, skin, and all the ghosts you hadnt buried yet and for now that was enough