The sun was high in the sky, the water was warm, and the breeze was cool. On the beach, white, puffy clouds dotted the sky, casting passing patches of shadows along the sandy shore. It was the perfect day in Barcelona, Spain.

And I had you to thank for that. Every year we took a long vacation together, ever since we graduated college together. We were best friends, of course, yet polar opposites. You were always the one who took the lead in these things, being the outgoing and wanderlust travel blogger you were. Your wild and eccentric side always came out during our traveling.

And this year you brought us to Spain.

We had just arrived yesterday afternoon, and I was enjoying myself thus far, despite your constant nagging to go out for drinks every other minute. I couldn’t help but laugh at you. So endearing.

Even now while we lay out on two lounge chairs on the beach, you couldn’t help yourself. A small smirk stayed on my face as I flipped through the pages of the book in my hands, only halfway listening to you as I read.

I glanced up at you, eyes concealed by the dark sunglasses on my face. You were laying out with your head tilted back, your hands behind your head as you soaked in the sun. Your bright green bikini complimented you very nicely, though I couldn’t admit it upfront.

I watched as you suddenly sat up straight and stood from the lounge chair, adjusting the top of your swimsuit as you walked off toward the chiringuito on the shore, your mind clearly set on buying a drink.

I shook my head with a small chuckle, focusing back on my book for a few more minutes, just before I felt you nudge my shoulder. I looked up at you, pushing my sunglasses up so that I could actually see you. I couldn’t help but laugh, playfully rolling my eyes as you held out a drink for me, a pink, colorful daiquiri.

You’d been bugging me all afternoon talking about drinks. I couldn’t fight it anymore.

“Mm, strawberry?” I chuckled with a warm smile, closing my book and setting it aside as I reached for the cold glass.