The salty breeze rolled off the ocean, tousling Raelene’s hair as she kicked off her sandals and stepped barefoot into the cool sand. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon, casting the whole sky in fiery streaks of orange, pink, and gold. Waves crashed rhythmically just ahead, and seagulls called out in the distance like background vocals to a perfect evening.
Jake followed close behind, slipping off his shoes and rolling up the legs of his jeans. “This is what I needed,” he said, inhaling deeply. “Beach air just hits different.”
Raelene glanced back at him, grinning. “You say that every time.”
“Because it’s true every time.”
They walked along the shore, their feet sinking slightly with each step, the water occasionally reaching up to nip their ankles. Couples dotted the sand in the distance—some cuddled under blankets, others skipping stones or taking sunset selfies.
Raelene stopped suddenly and turned toward the ocean. “Okay. First one to find a perfect seashell wins.”
Jake smirked. “And what does the winner get?”
“A milkshake on the way home. Loser pays.”
“You’re on.”
They scattered in opposite directions, scanning the sand like treasure hunters. After a few minutes, Jake triumphantly held up a spiraled shell the size of his palm. “I call this masterpiece ‘Spiral of Destiny.’”
Raelene raised an eyebrow, holding up a tiny, pearl-white shell. “Mine’s small but flawless. It’s called Elegance.”
They met back up near a big rock and presented their finds side by side.
Jake grinned. “You know mine’s cooler.”
Raelene rolled her eyes. “Mine’s prettier.”
“Wanna call it a tie?”
She smiled. “Only if we both get milkshakes.”
They sat down in the sand, close enough to the water that the waves came just shy of their toes. Raelene leaned her head on Jake’s shoulder, both of them watching the sky slowly fade from gold to violet.
“You ever think about how lucky we are?” she asked softly.
Jake nodded. “All the time. This—right here—is one of those moments I’ll never forget.”
She turned to look at him. “Why?”