"Cress, it's time for us to have a good time. Relaxing, I mean," he added.
Cress looked up from her laptop and across the table to Thorne. He seemed already well relaxed in his casual wear and the sunglasses on his face. He had no appointments planned for the day so they had decided to go to a bistro at the beach and work on a few details for Kai and Cinder's wedding and, to Cress's delight, he also asked for her opinion on a few other events he was working on.
She might not care too much about the club opening but she was flattered that he sought her advice on a few upcoming weddings. He listened earnestly to her rambles and even took a few notes.
But for the last half an hour or so, Thorne had only leaned back in his chair, happy to let her make some calls, and soaked in the sun while all around them people were heading to the beach to swim.
"I'm having a good time." Which was true. The work kept her from thinking about Julian and she welcomed the distraction. Aside from that, she enjoyed the bright sunshine and the view of the endless ocean.
Cress was a big fan of both, she decided. L.A. turned out to be a great place after all.
He shot her a doubtful look over the rim of his sunglasses. "No. And if you are, I definitely worry." She stuck her tongue out at him but he just laughed. "Come on, we're doing so well, the weather is great, let's actually enjoy ourselves for once." He did a sweeping gesture towards the beach. "What do you say? Let's just seize the moment."
Seize the moment. Instantly, Cress thought back to her conversation with Cinder.
But I always told myself that whenever I got healthy again, I would only do the things I like and always dreamed about doing.
She had told Cinder that but was it true? Oh, she had pursued her dream of a career as a wedding planner with an almost single-minded focus. She had also told herself that once she found the right guy, she would make absolutely sure to have an epic romance with him.
No more being cooped up in hospitals, no more loneliness.
As for everything else, Cress had to admit to herself she wasn't pursuing as many different things as she had dreamed about. She had fantasized about moving away someday or at least travelling a lot. That she would see the world and try new things, never afraid of new experiences.
Very little had come from her daydreams so far.
Work wasn't everything, she knew that. Her dad had told her that whenever he came to visit in hospital, which hadn't been as often as he'd have liked. But her hospital stay and treatment plans had been expensive, so her dad had been away for work more often than not.
And then, as she had gotten healthy, he had turned gravely ill and died. Nothing could have brought back their lost time.
Was Cress really living life to the fullest as she had promised him to in his last moments?
She caught herself running her fingers through her hair, as she often did. She noticed Thorne had followed her habit too and stopped herself.
Seize the moment.
"O-okay." And as if to make her point, she quickly saved her progress, closed the laptop with enthusiasm and smiled at Thorne. "You're right. We made great progress and we should do something fun."
"That's my girl." He cleared his throat. "Figuratively speaking, of course." He waved at the waiter to bring them the cheque.
Now that she had agreed, Cress was very excited about the prospect of having a fun afternoon with Thorne. "What's the plan?"
"Ah-ah." He wiggled his finger at her in mock reproach. "No plans, just relaxing." He quickly paid their meals. "We're at one of the greatest beaches, why not take advantage of it? Let's go for a swim."
Cress grin faltered. "Oh but ... I don't have a bathing suit."
He pulled her with him as they made their way to the promenade, pointing to the various shops at the bay. "I believe it might be possible that we can buy one here. Or here. Or over there." He pointed to a several other shops that sold everything from tunics, sunglasses, hats and a whole range of bathing suits in every imaginable color.
"But ..." Cress stopped, forcing Thorne to come to stand next to her. "Thorne, I ..."
He blinked. "What?"
"I told you ... I can't swim."
He shrugged. "Perfect opportunity to learn."
But Cress didn't follow when he marched on, instead staying where she was, deeply uncomfortable.
Thorne jogged back to her. "Hey, what's wrong?" He had taken off his glasses and peered at her, curiosity evident in his dark blue eyes. "I can show you how to swim. I'm a great swimmer You'll be learning it in no time." His confident grin was almost contagious.
Almost.
"I don't want people to see that I can't swim and look stupid learning it."
When Julian had offered her to teach swimming at a nearby lake, he had understood that at least and left Cress to stay at the lakeside where she felt safer and that she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of his friends. She hoped Thorne would be just as understanding.
And as he smiled softly down at her and reached reassuringly for her hand, she thought he did.
But then he pulled her along. "Nice try. You don't want others to look at you? Then we go where no one else is."
Cress stumbled along, dumbfounded. "No one else?"
"I know just the spot." He winked at her, all charm. "But first, bathing suits."
"Are you decent?" Cress called from outside the makeshift changing stall.
"Never!" But Thorne strutted out, wearing a pair of blue trunks, obviously pleased with his choice, as he flexed in front of the small mirror.
Cress's mouth became dry. She had already seen Thorne's flawless physique when he had taken off his shirt as he tried to repair the Rampion but now that he was wearing even less ...
He was attractive. She had noticed it before, it was hard not to, but this was on a different level. Her eyes were drawn to his well-defined abs and broad shoulders, the muscles on his arms and legs and even back. Nothing overbearing just very in shape.
Add that to his devil-may care smile, the deep blue eyes, strong jaw and styled hair?
No wonder he claimed so much success with women.
Cress knew she should feel at least a little bit guilty for thinking that but then again, just because she was in a relationship, didn't mean she couldn't appreciate a good-looking man.
"Stop ogling," Thorne joked lightly.
Fighting the blush on her cheeks, Cress rolled her eyes. "I think you already ogle yourself enough for the both of us."
True. So, what do you think? Good or very good?" He struck a pose that made her chuckle.
"Whatever makes you buy them. This is the third shop we checked and the seventh pair you tried."
"I accept nothing less than absolute perfection. But alright, I'm taking them." He did a last check-up in front of the mirror before nodding and going back into the stall to change.
Cress scoured the little shop for anything that would suit her, already dreading to find suitable swimwear. Especially with Thorne looking like a model in almost everything he tried on - except for the trunks with the surfing kittens that Cress had a feeling he had only tried on to lighten the mood and make her laugh.
She pulled out a dark blue bathing suit that looked too sporty to really be her style. Another black bathing suit with cut-outs that could be okay except when she spotted the leopard-pattern on the back.
"So, bathing suits are your thing?"
"I guess."
Thorne pulled out a teal one. "This one could work then."
A simple cut with a deep back. A safe choice.
There weren't many choices. Not as many as in the bikini section.
"You could also try one of those," Thorne said, noticing that she eyed the bikinis.
"I'm not sure." She sighed. "I have this really big scar from my kidney surgeries. It's not even an even cut but it stretched out and it's covering so much skin. It's not pretty."
"Show me."
It was a simple request, softly spoken. Cress didn't even think about arguing as she pulled up her tunic to reveal the uppermost part of the scar that was visible over the waistband of her shorts. She didn't have to look to know how jagged it was.
"I'm not seeing too much but it doesn't look that bad." He lowered his head so she had to look him in the eyes. "Listen, it's going to be just the both of us. And I've seen worse."
That wasn't reassuring. "You have?" She asked, doubtful.
"Oh yes. Look, those two fingers"- He held up the ring and little finger of his right hand-" I broke them a few years ago. Worst thing you've ever seen."
Cress eyed the fingers for any deformities but didn't detect any. "Really?"
"There were bones sticking out, Cress! Bones!" He shuddered at the memory, cradling his hand. "And all that blood." He looked ready to faint and Cress knew he was trying to lighten the mood.
But he was right, it would be just the two of them. And despite his flirtiness with pretty much everyone around him, Cress never felt uncomfortable around Thorne.
Shyly, she made her way over the bikinis. Even for a store so small, the selection was much more varied though, as expected, not so much in Cress's size. She picked a cute, striped bikini where the top would be tied behind her neck.
"Nice." He scanned her pick thoughtfully. "But since we want you to learn to swim, I think it would be better to pick something that gives you more support. I don't want you to worry about swimming and whether the bikini might come off."
That made sense, so Cress nodded when Thorne held up a teal bikini with some gold accents that looked as if it wouldn't slip off with the slightest movement.
"It will look great with your eyes and hair," Thorne murmured, as he thrust the flimsy fabric into her hands.
Taking it from him, Cress made her way to the changing stall with burning cheeks. It was one thing to pick a bikini, another one to try it on and another one to ask someone's - a guy's - opinion about it.
Pulling her hair into a ponytail, Cress quickly changed into the bikini. When she looked her reflection, her eyes were drawn to the jagged scar on her left side.
"You don't have to come out if you don't feel like it." Thorne's voice was low and comforting.
"N-no, it's fine." She allowed herself a once-over without only noticing the scar and had to admit, she liked it. It was comfortable and, as Thorne predicted, the colors were complimenting her. "Anyone else there?"
"Just us."
Still a bit shy, she stepped out of the changing stall.
Thorne turned to her with an encouraging smile which then froze on his face.
But he wasn't looking at her scar.
He looked at everything but her scar.
Suddenly insecure, she wrapper her arms around her midsection.
"Sorry, I'm just ..." He gave a small cough. "I tell you, Cress. No one will look twice at your scar if you wear that."
She shouldn't feel as flattered as she did but she couldn't help it. "What's that?" She asked, pointing to the colorful cloth in his hand.
"Um, a sarong. Just in case you felt better wearing one but I for one, would feel better if you didn't wear it." He nudged her shoulder playfully with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows that was too comical to be offensive.
She took the colorful sarong from him. "I'll take it."
As she wrapped it around herself with a little smile, she felt better about herself than she had in a long time.
A/N: In my initial outline of the plot, the swimming lessons weren't included. But how could I resist Cresswell spending even more time together and ogling each other - nevermind the sun lotion touching in the next chapter? :D Many thanks to kiminicricket who betaread this chapter so I could publish on the Valentine's weekend!