The beach shimmered under the late morning sun. Seagulls wheeled overhead, their cries blending with the hum of laughter, music, and the crash of surf.
Amy stepped onto the warm sand, the sea breeze caught her hair and tossed it around her shoulders.
"Remind me again," Sophie said beside her, adjusting her sunglasses, "why we don't live here permanently? Because this is clearly where we belong."
Amy laughed, slipping her tote off her shoulder. "Because you'd spend your entire paycheck on coconut drinks and floaties shaped like flamingos."
Sophie gasped in mock offense. "Excuse you! I'd at least pick the swan floatie. I have taste."
Amy laughs nudging her slightly.Jace and Darren trailed a few feet behind them, carrying a folded blanket, a cooler, and Jace's camera bag. Jace's shirt was unbuttoned halfway, his camera already slung over his shoulder. He watched Amy as she tilted her head toward the ocean, the sunlight catching her profile. Without a word, he lifted the camera and clicked.
Amy turned at the sound, smiling. "You started already?"
He lowered the lens and smirked. "Couldn't resist. You're basically the reason this beach looks good right now."
"Smooth," Sophie muttered under her breath as she spread out the blanket. "Remind me to get a boyfriend who talks like that."
Darren set down the cooler with a soft thud and chuckled. "Pretty sure that's what you got, Soph."
"Oh yeah?" She gave him a mock glare. "Then you better start practicing."
Amy giggled as she knelt beside the blanket. "Don't provoke her, Darren. You'll lose."
"Always do," he said with a shrug. "But worth it."
They settled in easily spreading their blanket on the floor,sand between their toes, wind tousling their hair, laughter spilling out easily. Jace crouched near the blanket, adjusting his lens again, catching Sophie and Amy in candid bursts of laughter as they shared sunscreen and argued over whose hat was cuter.
When the sun climbed higher, Sophie tugged Amy's arm. "Come on, we're going in."
Amy hesitated, glancing back at Jace. "You're not coming?"
He lifted his camera slightly. "Later. I want to get some shots first."
Amy squinted playfully. "You and that camera. One day I'm going to hide it."
"You wouldn't dare," he said, smirking through the lens.
"Watch me," she teased, then ran into the waves with Sophie.
The water was cool and alive, curling around their ankles before rushing up to their knees. Sophie squealed as a wave splashed over her waist.
"God, that's freezing!"
Amy laughed, flicking water at her. "You said you wanted to live here!"
"I didn't say I wanted to live in Antarctica!,this is fucking cold" Sophie splashed her back, and soon they were both laughing so hard they could barely stand. Between giggles, Sophie caught her breath and said, "You know, I love seeing you like this."
Amy blinked. "Like what?"
"Happy. Not just smiling because you have to but because you're really happy.You've always looked better when you're all smiles."
Amy's chest softened. "I could say the same for you," she said quietly. "You and Darren… it suits you, Soph. I love seeing you love someone and be loved right back. You deserve it."
Sophie's expression melted, and she reached forward, hugging her tightly despite the waves. "Stop, you're gonna make me cry in saltwater."
"Then you'll be doing the water a favour," Amy teased, and Sophie responded by splashing her full in the face.
"Okay! That's it!" Amy shrieked, lunging forward and tackling her gently into the water as they both erupted in laughter again.
From the blanket, Jace lifted his camera and caught the moment,two women tangled in sunlight, their joy effortless and real.
He lowered the camera with a soft smile.
"You've got that 'I'm so satisfied with life' look again," Darren said, sipping from a can.
Jace chuckled. "Can you blame me? They make the whole beach look alive."
Darren leaned back on his elbows. "Man, you really love her, huh?"
Jace's smile turned thoughtful. "Yeah," he said simply. "She makes everything else fade out. Even the noise."
Darren nodded, silent for a moment before saying, "Thats nice,I should tell you, I'm heading back to Boston tomorrow."
Jace looked at him, surprised. "Already? That soon?"
"Yeah. Got some work stuff waiting and I've been away longer than planned." He smiled faintly. "But I'm glad I came.Seeing Sophie again, meeting you and Amy, spending time with you all… it was worth every second."
Jace reached out, clasping his shoulder. "Don't thank me, man. You made her smile again. I haven't seen her that light in a while."
Darren grinned. "Guess that makes us even, then."
Darren leaned back, propping himself up on one elbow. "You know," he said, glancing toward Sophie in the distance, "I should probably thank you again"
Jace raised an eyebrow. "For what? You're the one brave enough to get on a last-minute flight."
Darren chuckled. "Still, you didn't have to do that. Buying my ticket, reaching out, you didn't even know me."
Jace smiled faintly, eyes following Amy's laughter down the shore. "Sometimes people just need a little push. Sophie's one of those people who gives everything to everyone else. She deserves someone who sees her too."
Darren nodded, a quiet understanding passing between them "Suddenly,I'm wishing that I'm staying in Manhattan and that I'm a legit long term member of this friend group" Darren added as Jace chuckled.He picked up his drink and took a slow sip. "You're a good guy, Prescott. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Jace snorted softly. "Try telling Amy that when I forget to water her plants."
They clinked their cans together in a quiet toast laughing.
A moment later, Amy and Sophie came back up the beach, drenched and breathless, carrying shells in their hands and laughing about how Amy stepped on "something suspiciously crab-shaped."
Jace pointed his camera at them. "Don't move."
Amy groaned. "Jace....."
"Smile," he said, clicking as they struck ridiculous poses. "Perfect. Two absolute menaces."
Sophie flopped down on the blanket. "You're just jealous of our natural beauty."
"Natural chaos," Jace corrected.
Amy plopped beside him, water still dripping down her shoulders. "You love it."
"Maybe," he said, grinning.
"Did you two have fun trying to drown each other?" Darren teased.
"Very," Sophie said with mock pride, wringing out her hair. "Amy lost."
"I did not!" Amy exclaimed, laughing. "She cheated!"
Jace passed her a towel and a grin. "That sounds about right."
They all laughed, passing around fruit, cookies, and Darren's last pack of sour candies. As the day mellowed and the light grew golden, Jace stood, stretching.
"Alright. One more picture. Group shot."
"Oh, here we go," Sophie groaned dramatically, but she stood anyway, tugging Darren up. "Everyone act normal."
"I don't know what that means around you," Darren said, but joined them anyway.
Amy leaned into Jace as the timer clicked. They all laughed when Sophie blinked right as it went off.
"That's terrible!" she exclaimed, grabbing the camera.
"It's perfect," Jace said, grinning.
"Yeah," Darren added, smiling. "Perfect chaos." As everyone settled down, Jace lifted his bottle again. "Alright, one last toast before the day ends. To love, to friendship, and to weekends that make life a little brighter."
They all lifted their bottles and cans, the sound of the clink lost in the crash of waves but felt nonetheless.
"To love and friendship," Amy repeated softly, her gaze flicking to him.
Sophie leaned her head on Darren's shoulder with a content sigh. "And to someone very special who despite the fact I don't want him to leave has to go back tomorrow."
They all laughed.
When the laughter faded, Jace reached for Amy's hand. "Come with me," he said softly.
She followed him down to the water again. The waves lapped around their ankles, and he raised his camera one more time, the light now turning everything gold.
"Hold still," he murmured, focusing on her face.
"Are you ever not working?" she teased.
He smiled faintly. "This isn't work."
She tilted her head, curious. "Then what is it?"
"Proof," he said quietly, lowering the camera back on the beach sand. "That happiness exists."
Something flickered in her eyes,something deep and tenderband before either of them could speak, she splashed him.
"Oh, you did not just....." Jace lunged, laughing, chasing her into the waves as Sophie and Darren watched from the blanket, amused.
"Five bucks says she wins," Sophie said.
"No way," Darren replied, chuckling. "He's got longer legs."
Amy squealed as Jace caught up and wrapped an arm around her waist. She turned in his hold, water dripping down both of them, laughter still bubbling between breaths.
"Caught you," he whispered.
"Maybe I let you," she said, smiling up at him.
And then, under the soft roar of the sea and the golden wash of the sunset, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was slow, sun-warmed, unhurried like the ocean itself was rooting and patiently waiting for them.
Behind them, Darren picked up Jace's camera.
"Hey," he said, lifting it. "Smile, lovebirds."
Sophie grinned. "Or don't. That's fine too."
The shutter clicked just as Amy and Jace's forehead touched framing them both in a beautiful bliss.
When they walked back toward the blanket, Amy's cheeks glowed, her hair wind-tangled, her laughter soft. Sophie handed her a towel.
"You two are so cute," Sophie said, smiling warmly.
Amy sat down beside Jace, their shoulders brushing. "Maybe," she said, glancing at him.
Jace leaned close, his voice low as he whispered. "I love you" and Amy smiles back at him.
And as the sun dipped below the edge of the ocean, the four of them sat together,warm, messy, content. For a moment, the world felt small enough to hold in their hands.