The rising sun painted pink and purple streaks across the otherwise lightning blue sky. Ocean waves tumbled over white stretch of sand, reserved as a quiet place to gather one's thoughts. At such an early hour it was empty except for one figure jogging in blue shorts and a gray t-shirt. Jamie let his breaths in and out slowly as his feet kicked up dust from the sand.
Jamie let in deep breath as he stopped halfway across the sand in front of a rock. He rested both hands on his bent waist to try and let more air in. The water crashed over itself forming a white cap that stopped just inches from Jamie's sneakers. His mind wandered to his tour later that day so that when the voice spoke he nearly jumped.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
A short blond woman met his eyes when he turned towards the voice. The pink sundress she wore gently blew with the breeze, her powder blue eyes watching him with an amused smile. "Did I startle you? I usually walk on the beach and hardly see anyone yet so when I saw you I wanted to come say hi."
"No not at all. I just wasn't expecting anyone else to be up this early," Jamie smiled, finding his voice. Giving her one look and Jamie was smitten with this beautiful woman. "I was just jogging for my job and it keep me sane."
She offered him a smile, "Oh, what do you do for a job?"
"I'm a NYPD officer," Jamie brushed his shirt back to reveal his shield and off duty piece. "I mean I'm still a rookie. I only started a couple of months ago but. I'm Jamie by the way. Jamie Reagan."
"Eddie Janko. Well Jamie Reagan not to interrupt your training but you look like you could use a break. " Before he answered Eddie started walking to the set of rocks and slowly looked over her shoulder at him. Smiling she sat down, studying him expectantly.
Jamie chuckled, agreeing he could use a break and went to sit beside her. They both turned to the ocean, watching it sparkle under the blooming sun. "I love coming here, it's so pretty and peaceful so early in the morning," Eddie lay her head against his shoulder.
Jamie felt a shiver fill his body feeling her warm body so close to his. They just met but it felt so right. "Do you live close by," he asked softly. His hand rested on the hot rock touching her fingers, slowly testing the waters.
She rubbed her fingers over and through his allowing the first physical contact between them. "Not to far away. I live in the Charleston Country Club houses which is a ten minute walk from here. Where do you live? I never saw you here before."
"I live in Brooklyn but take the train here because I can get my training in without crowds of people to run around," Jamie replied. His head spun never guessing she was one of those rich country club girls. The kind who would never give him a second look. Yet, here they are sitting together holding hands. She was not like any other girl he met.
"Jamie? Do you live with your parents," Eddie broke his thoughts before he finished. She wanted to know everything about him.
He blinked processing the question and smiled, "Huh. Oh uh no. I live alone in an apartment in Bay Ridge, but my family has Sunday dinner together every week at my dad's house where he and my grandpa live. My brother and sister come over with my niece and nephews. What about you?"
"Oh, no mom? I live with my parents while I take college classes. I just started but I can't wait to save up and get my own space away from them. I love my parents but," Eddie smiled.
"No I get it. My mom passed away a couple of years ago from cancer," Jamie shrugged his shoulders, "What are you looking to do after college?"
Eddie's head brushed against his, she looked up at him, "I'm so sorry about your mom. I'm an art history major but I'm not sure exactly what I want to do with it. What made you want to become a cop? That's a tough field."
"Yeah it is but my whole family is in law enforcement so I guess it's in the blood. My brother is on the job as a detective, my grandpa and father were former detectives and commissioners and my sister is a prosecutor," Jamie took her hand in his over his lap.
Her head tilted up to look at him, "Your father is the police commissioner? Really? Whoa." She settled her head back against his shoulder contently when another question popped up. "Jamie, how old are you?"
"Twenty six," Jamie responded, not surprised by the question. "I guess you're about nineteen?"
Eddie lifted her head up slowly until their eyes met, "Must be a cop sense because you're right. I turn twenty soon though."
They talked for hours in each other's arms until Jamie realized the time. "Ugh, I have to go home and shower for tour. I have an earlier tour tomorrow but maybe we can meet up Wednesday here, same time? I'd love to see you again."
"Yeah I would too and I'll be here. Do you have a phone so I can put my number in so you can call me," Eddie took his phone out smiling as he handed her the phone. She smiled, adding her ne and number under a new contact. "Give me a call."
She stood up, walking with him towards the boardwalk. "I'm glad I came to work out today. It was good meeting you," Jamie slipped his fingers over hers before they parted ways.
During his tour Jamie looked out the window while his partner Sergeant Renzulli drove to their assigned sector. He stared out the window unable to stop thinking about Eddie. "Hey earth to Harvard. What's on your mind kid? You have that look on your face, whose the girl?"
"How did you know it was a girl Sarg," Jamie's cheeks flared up , turning to look at him.
Renzulli offered his protégée a fatherly smile, "Because I've been married a long time and that's the exact same look I had when I first saw my wife. So spill the beans Reagan, who is she? "
"I went to run on the beach and I met this girl on the beach. She doesn't live far from there in the country club. We spent hours just getting to know each other, our families and we held hands," Jamie smiled. "She's really pretty Sarg and funny. She gave me her number so we can talk more."
Renzulli's lips parted into a smile, "Country club huh? That's pretty fancy stuff. Did you tell her you're a cop?"
"Yeah she knows about my family just not about Joe. We didn't get into that part yet," Jamie smiled. "I could have talked to her all day Sarg. It just felt so comfortable being with her. We're going to meet up on Wednesday."
"Just be careful all right kid? Those country club people are pretty snobby and I'm pretty sure her parent's won't approve of her dating a cop," Renzulli started to warn when their radio came to life with a job.
Heading the warning from his boss and mentor Jamie continued thinking about Eddie. The more he tried to stay focused on work the more his attention wandered back to Eddie. He couldn't wait to see her again.
He went back to the beach a few minutes early smiling at Eddie's figure waiting for him on the rocks. "Hey Eddie," he said, approaching her slowly. He slid on the rock to her left and took Eddie's head in his while meeting her eyes.
"Hey," Eddie let their fingers slide through his. "How was your shift the other day?"
"it was okay, really busy but that's pretty typical. Everything is so new still you know," Jamie's eyes searched her.
She flipped her hair over the shoulder of her orange sundress. " Hey it's nice out let's walk up the beach. Do you have a suit to go swimming? It's a little chilly still but warm enough to go in unless you don't want to."
"Sure let's go swimming." With their hands interlocked they headed to the water. The first wave crashed over their feet making the two jump at the sudden cold. For early April it was unusually warm but not enough to warm the water just yet.
They slowly waded deeper into the water letting their body adjust to the temperature. The water hit against their chest. Jamie put his arms on her waist holding her against him while they floated together in the water. Their heads met, resting together enjoying the peace and quiet together.
After spending a little time swimming around they settled on the hot sand hidden by the rocks. Eddie lay her head against Jamie's chest smiling when he circled his arms around her. "So tomorrow I have tour early but after do you want to come over for dinner," Jamie used the rock to prop himself up into a half sitting position.
"Sure. Text me your address," Eddie agreed. "What time should I come?"
"Around five thirty so I have time to cook. I can drive you home so you don't get travel in the dark," Jamie's fingers trickled down her wet arm. It felt soft even with the goosebumps from coming out of the cold water.
Eddie agreed and lay in his arms drying quietly. With the afternoon theirs the new friends spent hours talking and getting to know each other more. In his head Jamie already planned the dinner he was going to make Eddie.