Back to the Beach

8

The early morning sun is creeping through my window as I strain to awaken.  I try not to disturb the beautiful man who is sharing my bed.  I relish this quiet moment to study his face some more.  He looks like a younger version of himself in his repose.  The only masculine feature on his face right now is the scruff that has appeared this morning.  I itch to feel that scruff over my skin so I reach across ever so quietly to caress his cheek.  He stirs a little as he blinks back the sleep from his blue eyes, “Hmm, a lad could get used to this.” he croaks at me.  “Well lad, I could say the same or that you’d be well spoiled with this before long.”  He chuckles at my reply before he kisses me yet again.

As much as I would like nothing more than to stay wrapped up with Killian and laze the day away, I need to get moving.  I have to make my way home today – dinner with the family will not wait, especially on Easter Sunday.  I sigh deeply as I get out of bed and make my way to my tiny kitchen.  Killian already has the kettle on.  As he exits the bathroom, he places a sweet kiss on my nose.  I can hear him scrambling up the eggs as I begin to brush my teeth.  I am a lucky lass to have stumbled upon this amazing man.

Once again we enjoy our meal outside, lounging in the sun lazily as we eat.  The banter, as always, comes easy until Killian begins to broach more serious topics; namely my return to Rockaway and plans for the rest of the summer.  He doesn’t seem satisfied with my “let’s see” approach.  He knows that I am holding something back but I am not sure I am ready to explain just yet.  I attempt to pacify him with a kiss but he is not so easily deterred.  My oh my, he is one stubborn Irishman.  I can remember his Gran saying to mine that his very own Uncle was “thick as shite and twice as ugly.”  While Killian might be thick he is not ugly by any means.

He cajoles me just a little; “C’mon Bern, do you think we will end up as a summer fling or maybe (he puts his hand over his heart as if his is wounded) we can be more than that?”  I sigh again as I reply “Killian, there is nothing I’d like more than to spend all the seasons with you but to be honest I am hiding out down here.”  “Hiding out?  What exactly does that mean Bern?” he asks nervously.  I give him the condensed version as I explain that I am trying to put Zach behind me once and for all.  “The beach has always been my place of refuge and I was hoping to get him out of my system for good.”  Just as I finish that last sentence I feel uneasy.  I know this feeling – I can sense him before I see him. How is that possible?  Zach has just shown up.

When I finally see him the first thing that crosses my mind is “How dare you?!” but there is no time for that because he has already parked and is approaching the porch.  “Hey Bern, I know where you’re at – Surprised?” he shouts at me as he makes his way over.  Surprised doesn’t even begin to cover it.  Killian already realizes who this is and I can tell that he is less than happy right now.  I reach over for his hand and brush my fingers over his knuckles as I mouth the words “It’s OK, I’ve got this.” and he nods while squeezing my hand ever so slightly, but otherwise doesn’t move a muscle as he studies the pompous snake making his way into what was a lovely morning.  What could he possibly want? 

“Zach, what on -- how did you find me?” I bark at him as I move to keep him from coming onto the porch.  He is not fazed in the least by my tone.  “Well Bern, as it turns out, all of those times when YOU thought I wasn’t listening I actually was.”  I frown as he continues, “I put the puzzle pieces together, figured out where you were, knew you wouldn’t be able to ignore me in person, and here I am to bring you home for Easter Dinner with your family.” he chides, a wide smile across his face.  Boy, that’s a lot to digest, and for a second I feel my heart flutter but I ignore it. He does not get to do this. 

“Well, I won’t say that I am not grateful to have a ride home instead of making the trek on the subway.  Zach please meet Killian.”  I conveniently leave out a title before Killian’s name because I am not exactly sure what he is to me just yet.  We had been discussing that when Zach rudely interrupted.  He has an uncanny ability to turn up at the worst times.  Just then, I can see Zach notice my hand in Killian's and I can see it bothers him.  Good enough for ya!  As they shake hands, I pray quietly to myself that this doesn’t end up being a pissing contest.  As they exchange cool pleasantries Zach takes a seat and helps himself to some toast. The nerve!

“Bernadette, I love this place!” Zach exclaims “I hope you will show me some hospitality this summer.”  Not on your life Zach!  Killian bristles at his words and begins to clean up the breakfast dishes to distance himself.  Once he is out of earshot I grab Zach’s hand. “I don’t quite know what you are up to Zach, but I can tell you with great certainty that this is the first and last time you will see any sort of hospitality from me this summer!” I hiss at him.  “Well, we will just see about that Bernadette!” he says icily as he licks his lips.  UGH!  “Zach, you can wait here while I finish cleaning up and gather my things to take home – feel free to check out the beach as you probably won’t get another chance.” I say coldly as I make my way inside to Killian.

“Killian,  - I don’t, - I’m sorry” – He quickly silences me with a kiss. I wrap my hands around his neck and pull him close to me. Tears prick behind my eyes because the last thing I want is to hurt Killian in any way.  As my tears give way, he steps back.  “Hush now mo chroi, tis nothing worth your tears.” He wipes them away with his thumbs and kisses me softly. “It’s just a lift home Bern.” He assures me.  “You’ll be back for the weekend in a few days and we can finish our conversation then.” I have no words so I mewl. “OK, I’ll be back Friday.” “Of course you will- now go get your things – I’ll finish cleaning up and will lock up behind me.  The sooner you’re gone, the sooner you’ll be on your way back to me love.” His words cause me to melt into his arms on the spot and whisper “You’re too good to be true, Mr. McCrory.” He smiles at me and places a chaste kiss against my lips before pressing his lips against my forehead. 

When I finally pull myself from the embrace, I gather up my few laundry items to take home and shove them into my bag. I can hardly bear saying goodbye to Killian. I stall myself as I make my way to the kitchen, trying to convince myself that it’s just five days until we’re reunited once again.  As I reenter my tiny kitchen, Killian's eyes meet mine and I lose it.  “Killian, the past week has been, well amazing. I am at a loss for words at the moment so I’ll just say bye for now.” I ramble on before he pulls me into his arms and nuzzles my hair. “Tis only five days love, and then you’ll be in my arms again. Now go, I’ll finish up here.” He says softly, ending with a kiss against my hair.  I look up at him and he brings his lips down to mine, kissing me deeply.  As I tear myself away from him, I don’t know I’m going to get through the ride home, let alone the whole week.  Touching the ends of his fingertips, the door closes behind me. 

**** 

Zach's POV

I drove over the Crossbay Bridge, my GPS signaling that I’d reach the address Bern’s mother gave me in just five minutes. “Hey Siri, text Bernadette Gallagher.” “What would you like to say?” Hands-free communication is probably the best thing Apple ever did for their iPhones. I drive past an old building, broken glass in the windows, the brick discolored from years by the salty water of the channel.  “Since you won’t speak to me over the phone, I guess I’ll have to make you.” Siri repeats what I have said and asks if I’m ready to send. “Yes.” I reply just as I turn down Beach 90th Street. Why would she come here? This place is so run down.  In my five minutes of being in the Rockaways, I’ve passed by more bungalows with broken windows and doors off their hinges than I would in smalltown USA. My GPS beeps signaling that I have arrived.  I lower my head to peak out the window and that’s when I see her; my favorite long-legged, blue-eyed beauty.  How I longed to to feel her writhing under me. I feel a pang in my chest when I see she’s not alone. Who is this guy? Shoving my phone in my pocket, I get out of the brand new Jaguar. 

“Hey Bern, I know where you’re at - surprised?” I call out to her as I make my way to the tiny bungalow. If she was gonna ignore me, I’d have to make a play to sweeten her up. When we were in middle school, I had used the DirectConnect feature on my Nextel phone to call her before one of my hockey games, “Yo Bern, where you at?” I had said. She of course answered in a heart beat, she always did. Back then, she’d jump off a bridge if I had asked her too.  I watch her freeze and I feel some sense of accomplishment. I was going to have her and she’d melt like putty in my hands. The shlep sitting beside her doesn’t look to pleased to have been interrupted.   She mouths something at him and he doesn't really respond. I watch their exchange and it’s almost like they’ve known each other for a while. Impossible. I know all of Bern’s friends and he isn’t one of them. 

“Zach, what on -- how did you find me?” she snaps as she meets me at the front of the porch. Please, she puts on this front but we both know that in no time, she’ll melt into me like a snow cone in summer.   “Well Bern, as it turns out, all of those times when YOU thought I wasn’t listening I actually was.”  A frown comes across her face. I’ll make it go away in no time, “I put the puzzle pieces together, figured out where you were, knew you wouldn’t be able to ignore me in person, and here I am to bring you home for Easter Dinner with your family!” I add. She doesn’t have to know that I had begged her mother to divulge where she has been hiding. Shauna Gallagher always had a soft spot for me. I owe much of mine and Bernadette’s friendship to that woman, always championing me as perfect fit for her daughter.  I can see that my words have an effect on her, she’s quiet for just a second before she snaps out of it.

“Well, I won’t say that I am not grateful to have a ride home instead of making the trek on the subway." she says, and I can hear the distaste in her voice.  "Zach please meet Killian.” she adds. This Killian guy doesn't look too happy to have been interrupted. Oh well, too bad buddy. Bernadette's mine.  My eyes trail down as I'm sizing him up and that's when I notice their fingers are laced together. I feel anger boil in the pit of my stomach, but quickly recover to reach my hand out.  He meets my gesture with the hand that isn't holding Bern's. "Zach D'Miccio." I say. "Killian McCrory." he replies.I take glance at Bernadette and can se she was quite uncomfortable. Once Killian drops the handshake, I take a seat and grab a piece of toast from the tiny table on her porch. 

“Bernadette, I love this place!” I say with some excitement, hoping she doesn't sense my sarcasm.  “I hope you will show me some hospitality this summer.” I add and I notice it strikes a nerve with Killian who begins to clean up the other breakfast dishes and brings them into the dingy little hut.  Once the  door between the porch and what looks like a sitting room shuts behind him, Bernadette grabs my hand as I reach for another slice of toast. “I don’t quite know what you are up to Zach, but I can tell you with great certainty that this is the first and last time you will see any sort of hospitality from me this summer!” she hisses.  “Well, we will just see about that Bernadette!” I answer. She rolls her eyes “Zach, you can wait here while I finish cleaning up and gather my things to take home – feel free to check out the beach as you probably won’t get another chance.” she says cooly before making her way inside, back to him. 

I roll my eyes before I stand and look towards the boardwalk.  I walk off the porch and make my way towards the beach that Bernadette loves so much. I never understood it, why she loved the beach. It was a miserable place; sand gets everywhere, the sea gulls constantly annoying everyone. I get to the boardwalk and stand lean against the bars that separate me from the edge of the sand.  The beach itself is empty and it's quiet except for the sound of the waves meeting the shore and the occasional cry of one of those damned birds. It's nothing special, nothing special at all.  How can I convince Bernadette to give up on this and spend her summer back home, away from this Killian dude. The way that I see it, he's nothing special either. How could she want him when she has me? 

I wait a few more minutes before deciding that Bernadette has had more than enough time to get herself together and make my way back towards the hut she plans on calling her summer home. I will make her see there's nothing here for her and when she realizes that, I won't have to worry about this oaf who seems to think he can come and take what is mine.