Chapter 170

The woman smiled proudly. "Forty-three." She glanced at Emilia. "And don’t worry. I wasn’t always this wise."

Emilia smiled.

The woman looked at the phone in Emilia’s hand. "Are you taking pictures for your family?"

"For my mum and my best friend."

"Ah." The woman nodded. "Then you need one together." She said slowly.

Emilia glanced at Adrian.

He was already shaking his head slightly.

The woman extended her hand. "Give me the phone, please."

The older woman took the phone from Emilia and smiled.

"Now, you two. Stand together."

Emilia immediately moved closer to Adrian. His arm slipped naturally around her waist, drawing her against his side.

The older woman lifted the phone. "Good. Now turn toward each other."

Emilia turned.

Adrian did the same. He did it so freely for someone who hated pictures. For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

The noise of the beach seemed to soften around them.

Emilia smiled. Adrian’s mouth curved in response.

"Beautiful," the woman murmured.

She took the picture, then another.

Emilia turned fully toward Adrian. His hand remained comfortably around her waist. She looked up at him, and her smile softened.

Adrian looked down at her. The pictures were easier to take staring down at her.

There was no need to pose anymore.

The wind moved through Emilia’s hair, lifting several strands across her face. Adrian reached up and gently moved one away from her eyes.

Emilia smiled softly.

The older woman captured the moment.

Another gust of wind caught Emilia’s hair.

She laughed softly, trying to push it away.

Adrian smiled wider this time. His smile was real, warm, and open.

The older woman took another picture.

"Don’t move."

Neither of them did.

Emilia was still laughing when she looked up at Adrian.

She shook her head.

"What?"

"You look too good."

He raised an eyebrow. "I do?"

"Yes."

She glanced toward the older woman. "Look at him."

The woman laughed. "I have been."

Emilia turned back to Adrian. She shook her head tenderly. "Seriously. Look at you." She whispered.

Adrian’s smile deepened. "You like the pictures?"

"I love them." She looked at him proudly. "You’re very handsome."

"Thank you."

She turned toward the woman. "Take another one."

The woman smiled. "Of course, dear."

Adrian adjusted his arm around Emilia’s waist to the middle of her back. He rubbed her back gently.

Emilia slipped her palms around his shoulders. They turned slightly toward the ocean with just their heads.

The wind moved through her hair again.

This time, neither tried to fix it.

The older woman lifted the phone. "That’s it." She sounded happy. Really happy to be involved.

She lowered the phone. "Oh, that’s a beautiful one."

Emilia immediately stepped closer. "Can I see?"

The woman handed her the phone. "It’s yours, dear."

Emilia looked at the photograph.

Her smile slowly grew.

The older woman looked at the photograph and smiled. "Thank you for letting me borrow a little bit of your happiness."

Emilia wiped beneath one eye, still smiling. She didn’t realize when the tears spilled free.

Adrian leaned closer to see.

"To be young, healthy, and in love." The older woman smiled warmly. "You’re better when you’re simply looking at each other. He’s looking at you like you’re his whole morning."

Emilia’s smile faded into something softer.

Adrian went quiet.

The woman continued before either of them could respond. "Take care of each other."

Emilia nodded. "We will."

The woman smiled. She looked at Adrian.

"And you."

"Yes?"

"Don’t make her cry." She let out a deep exhale. "Even on the bad days."

Emilia’s eyes widened.

Adrian’s expression changed slightly. "I won’t." He promised.

The woman’s gaze stayed on him for another second. Then she smiled, and turned to leave.

Emilia watched her walk away.

After a few steps, the woman looked back. "And remember!"

Emilia smiled. "What?"

"Never waste a beautiful day arguing."

She laughed.

"We’ll try." Adrian answered this time.

The woman waved. Then continued down the promenade.

Emilia looked down at the phone.

The pictures were beautiful. It was really beautiful. She scrolled through them. Emilia stopped. She stared at a particular picture.

Adrian leaned slightly closer. "Is something wrong?"

She turned the screen toward him. "Look."

He did.

The older woman had caught them at the exact moment Emilia had looked up at him. Adrian was looking directly into her eyes.

And there was something unmistakably tender in his expression.

Emilia smiled. "You look so in love."

Adrian looked at the picture, then at her. "I am."

She looked down again. Her smile widened. "I’m sending this one to my Mum."

"All of them." Adrian suggested.

"Why?"

"So she knows you’re safe."

Emilia opened her messages. Before she could send anything, Adrian gently took the phone from her hand.

"What?"

"One more." He opened the camera. "Come here."

She stepped closer.

He lifted the phone. "This time, you take it." He handed it back to her.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I want one of you."

She smiled. "You already have hundreds."

"Not enough."

She rolled her eyes. "Stand there."

He obeyed, and Emilia lifted the phone.

Adrian stood against the bright morning sky. His sunglasses shaded his eyes, and the dark shirt moved slightly in the breeze.

His hands were relaxed at his sides.

Emilia stared at the screen, then lowered the phone.

"No." She refused. "You’re not smiling."

"I’m smiling."

"Adrian."

He looked at her.

She walked toward him. "Give me your face."

"My face?"

"Yes."

He raised an eyebrow.

She placed both hands lightly on his cheeks. "Smile."

"I’m smiling."

"You’re doing that little thing."

"What little thing?"

"The tiny almost-smile you do when you’re trying to make me think you’re smiling."

He stared at her.

She grinned, and he unconsciously smiled at her. She quickly took the picture.

"Did you just trick me?"

"Yes." She looked at the photograph, and immediately laughed. "Perfect."

"Let me see."

"No."

"Emilia."

"You look good."

"I always look good."

She gasped. "Listen to you."

Adrian wrapped his arms around her and spun her around.

Emilia laughed, gripping his shoulders. "Adrian!"

He set her down, but he didn’t let go of her hand.

"Let’s enjoy the water."

She looked toward the ocean.

There were people everywhere.

Families stood near the shoreline, children chased one another through the shallow waves, couples walked barefoot along the sand, and a group of teenagers were laughing loudly as they tried to outrun the water rushing toward them.

Emilia smiled. Then she looked back at Adrian. "Race you."

His eyebrow lifted. "Really?"

"Yes."

"You’re going to lose."

Her mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?"

His smile widened. "You heard me."

She narrowed her eyes. "I’m going to beat you." she said confidently.

"I’d like to see you try."

She squeezed his hand once. "Ready?"

Adrian glanced toward the water. "Ready."

"Three."

She took a small step forward.

"Two."

Adrian’s mouth curved.

Emilia ran.

"Emilia—"

She was already laughing.

Her sandals kicked up little clouds of sand as she hurried toward the shoreline, her yellow dress moving around her legs.

Adrian followed. Not because he needed to catch her, but because he wanted to.

"Hey!" Emilia called over her shoulder.

"You’re cheating!"

"I’m not cheating!"

"You started before one!"

"I did not!"

A little boy standing near the water turned toward them, laughing as Emilia rushed past.

"Run!" he shouted enthusiastically.

Emilia laughed harder. "See? Even he knows I’m winning!"

Adrian shook his head.

The boy’s mother laughed.

Adrian reached the shoreline just as a wave rolled in.

Emilia jumped over it.

He caught up a second later.

She turned around triumphantly. "I won."

"You started early."

"You’re just upset."

"I let you win."

"You did not."

Another wave rushed toward them. The water reached their ankles. Emilia looked down, then at Adrian.

She pulled his hand, and they walked farther into the water.

The cool Atlantic water curled around their legs, lifting the hem of Emilia’s yellow dress.

Adrian pulled her closer as another wave rushed around them. Emilia laughed, and he leaned down, catching her lips in a soft kiss.