[COMPLETE]
When Hanna Haddad embarks on what's supposed to be another uneventful summer as a lifeguard on Cape Cod, a trip to the past comes as an unnerving surprise. The discovery of her estranged mother's journal opens up the world of tragedy and...
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"Doesn't this kind of feel like you're cheating on your own workplace?"
The thick of summer was upon us, and Jesse and I had realized we finally needed to experience the beach like the people we watched everyday did. So, we kept driving south to Rhode Island, until we found a location that was quiet and secluded enough, devoid of the blows of whistles and the screams of gleeful children—anything that made it feel like we were working.
"I never thought of it that way." Jesse laughed to himself, turning on his side and propping his chin up on his fist. I could admire his abs perfectly from my angle, lying on my stomach with my cheek on my forearms. "But, in that case, I don't mind being a cheater."
"God, I'm definitely quitting next year," I mumbled, a sigh of bliss escaping my lips as the sun beat down my back.
"Why?" he asked. "Is the job that bad?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "No, I just need an internship next summer. Kind of the only way I can get a real job." When he nodded softly, I realized that last sentence hadn't come out exactly the way I'd wanted it to. I'd forgotten he'd already had a job lined up for him since birth.
He changed the topic, glancing between the water and my peaceful face. "Do you wanna go for a swim now?"
I rolled onto my back and pulled my knees up, stifling a soft groan. "Five more minutes?" I shaded my face from the blinding unfiltered sunlight as I turned to Jesse. "Actually, you know what, let's go."
"See, that's what I wanted to hear."
He stood up and held his hand out for me, and I shyly took it. We didn't let go as we headed down the sand towards the shore, swinging our arms along the way. I wondered if anyone watching us thought we were dating.
I wondered what it would feel like to date him.
"Damn, that feels good." Jesse was already waist deep into the ocean, facing me. He spread his arms out and allowed the waves to slowly pull him backwards, while I stood ashore, staring at my chilled feet. "You coming in already?"
I knew the moment I went any farther, I could say goodbye to the warmth on the rest of my skin. I decided to bite the bullet and bolted ahead, fighting the force of the water with ease. I sunk down until my body was submerged up to my chin, cradling my front through jerky shivers.
We didn't say much as we swam, perhaps enjoying the feeling of being in the ocean without any responsibility for the first time in a while. I half scared him to death after I disappeared underwater for over a minute and popped up in front of his face like a phantom of the sea.
"Oh my god, your face, I can't." I held onto my stomach as I cracked up, unable to contain myself. "I wish you could've seen it, it was iconic." I continued to laugh and snort, finding the situation far more humorous than it actually was.
