Ainsley threw back her head and laughed, and he had to make himself watch the road instead of her. He treasured the sound of it; he was going to play it over and over tonight in his mind. It was very good at collecting facts and memories regarding her, and this one was definitely getting saved.
As they started cresting the coastal range, the beach looked like it was completely fogged in.
“No problem,” Ainsley declared. “We could hit the aquarium. Or just find a bakery and gorge ourselves on treats. Or . . .”
Kyle put a hand on her leg. “Or we could see what it looks like when we get there. They came to see the ocean, Ains.”
“Yes. You’re right,” she said, but she’d gone sort of quiet. Was she that disappointed? Had he said the wrong thing? He glanced at her, and she was staring at his hand. Oh, right. He’d just wanted her attention; it wasn’t easy to get when she was all bubbly and excited like this. Kyle quickly pulled back and put both hands on the wheel.
When they arrived at the parking area, there were few other cars, but amazingly, there was some blue sky. He even needed his sunglasses; darn. He’d hoped it would stay overcast, as he hadn’t had time to get the umbrella from his mom. Sand was terrible as it was, but now the sun would be glinting off the waves and beating down on his head. At least it wasn’t hot. By the time he got down to the sand, Ainsley had set up her tent.
“Ta-da!” she exclaimed. “I brought this for you. My mom keeps it for Travis’s kids to nap in. It’ll give you a place out of the wind and the sun.”
He peered inside; it was large enough that he could sit up inside it, but the door was wide enough that he could see what was happening outside. It was kind of . . . perfect.
“I can see that you’re speechless with gratitude. I’m gonna go fly this kite with Fawzia. I’ll be back.”
He opened his mouth to thank her, but she was already gone, barefoot with her blonde hair whipping behind her like the wind wanted to fly her, too. Kyle retreated to his tent, spreading a towel so he wouldn’t have to sit on the cold sand itself. Bilqiis was right behind him.
“Your ocean is very cold. Beautiful, but very cold.”
“That’s true.”
They sat in silence, just watching the waves roll in and out, the occasional brave walker go by. After half an hour, Ainsley came back, her chest heaving.
“Your turn, Bilqiis,” she gasped out. “She’s . . . I . . .”
“She exhausted you?” Bilqiis chuckled.
“Yes!”
Bilqiis smiled as she exited the shelter. “I will take my turn, then, but I will not run races.”
“You’re smarter than me,” Ainsley said, collapsing onto her vacated towel, rolling onto her back, but she was still smiling. He hadn’t seen her smile this much in a while.
“You’re having fun.”
“Yes. Are you?”
He shrugged. “I’m enjoying watching you have fun.”
“You’re too nice,” she said, propping herself up on her elbows. She was winded, tousled, still talking a mile a minute . . . the thought had barely crystalized before it was out of his mouth.
“This is how I remember you,” Kyle said.
Ainsley ran a hand through her long hair. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged again, trying to figure out how to express what he wanted to say. “Lately, you’re so stressed and responsible and in charge. But not today. Today, you’re free.”
She looked out at the water. “Everyone’s different on vacation.”
“Just haven’t seen you this happy for a while.”
“I haven’t been.”
“Why?” What are you trying to prove? Why do you pile on responsibility like that?
“I don’t know,” she mumbled, still watching the waves.
“Well, I hope it lasts. For your sake.”
She looked at him then, and the emotions in her eyes were as choppy as the sea. Ainsley cleared her throat, then suddenly changed the subject.
“Okay, so ice cream is out, I think, because we’re all going to be frozen. And pepperoni pizza, because, you know, pork. But I’m sure we can find something . . . Ooh, sushi! Kyle, do you like sushi?”
“You want to feed them uncooked fish, then put them in a car for two hours? I don’t think so.”
“Spoilsport.”
“You gonna clean out my car if someone throws up? Or worse?”
She grinned, lying back down. “Nope.”
“Then that’s settled. No sushi. What’d you bring for lunch?”
“Tuna sandwiches.” When he wrinkled his nose, she laughed. “I had to, Durand! It’s the beach, seafood is a requirement!”
Kyle rolled his eyes, then got to his feet, brushing off his hands and clothes. “Ugh. Sand.”
“Why’d you come with us?” That breakwater look in her eyes was back, and now he was the one groping for answers.
“Sounded like fun.”
“No, it didn’t. You hate the beach.”
“I don’t hate the . . .” She lifted an eyebrow at his skeptically, and he paused. “Yes, I hate the beach. But you asked me to come.” Ainsley was staring at him, and he didn’t know what she was thinking, but based on the softness of her face, it was complimentary. He reached out to help her up, and she took his hand.
“Bilqiis! Fawzia!” she called. “Let’s eat!”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A WEEK LATER, KYLE had pink fluff in his hair. He’d been up in the attic all afternoon, installing insulation with Abshir, and it seemed like they’d had a pretty good time based on the way they were shaking hands. He went to brush off his clothes, but Ainsley stopped him.
“Let’s go outside to do that, eh?” She led him into the backyard. This was the first day he’d worked apart from her, and she’d had to tell herself not to feel sad about it. It was good for him to branch out, learn more skills. But he’d been quiet when he’d picked her up this morning, and she didn’t know how to interpret that. “Did you have fun working with Abshir?”
He nodded. “Yes, but I turned on my phone’s flashlight to help us see better, and now it won’t go off. But I like Abshir; he’s led a fascinating life. They seem like a nice family.”
“Yeah, they are.” She pulled her heavy gloves from her tool belt and put them on. “You have to be careful with insulation; it’ll sting like crazy if it gets on your skin.” She started brushing off his chest, his arms, his neck, his hair. Kyle just stood still, watching her with an unreadable expression. “Didn’t you wear gloves?”
He lifted his hands, which were already red, and inspected them. “No, I didn’t know.”
“Go wash them off and I’ll give you some lotion from my purse.”
“I don’t do lotion.”
“You do today,” she said, pushing him back toward the house and into the bathroom. “Don’t fuss at me. You’ll need those hands later today. Can’t hold an Xbox controller with your teeth. And take off your clothes and shake them out in the shower.”
“Take off my . . .” Kyle looked pale, like he might pass out, and Ainsley laughed.