You know it's going to be a warm day when you're already hot and all you've done is wake up. I supposed being wrapped in the arms of another human being didn't exactly help.
I wriggled one arm free and reached for my phone, flicking the thin sheet off of my body in the process. It was 9am, a sleep in compared to the hours I normally worked. As I became more awake, I started hearing noises filtering in. The birds chirping outside, trees moving ever so slightly and crashes and bangs from the direction of the kitchen. Mentally filing the fact Bozer was awake, I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling for a moment. The arm that was now sitting on my stomach stretched and beside me Mac groaned as he woke up.
"It's warm. What time is it?" he asked.
"Nine," I replied as I rolled to look at him.
"Eugh, okay."
I laughed at him. "I thought you'd be used to the heat after Afghanistan."
"Never said I liked it. I just dealt with it," he grumbled.
We lay side by side for a bit, enjoying the relative peace. The sheet had been flung to the foot of the bed and I'd unhooked my feet from it so they were resting on top of the bed.
My stomach growled, breaking the serenity.
"Suppose we should get up," Mac said, quirking an eyebrow at me.
"My stomach wants food, but I just want coffee."
"Iced coffee." I amended.
He shook his head as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. I followed suit, running my fingers through my hair.
"Mac," I called out just before he got to the door.
He stopped and turned to me, catching the shorts I threw at him.
"Put those on. Bozer's already up."
Bozer had made it clear after one incident that there were things that best friends just shouldn't see. Mac in his underwear was one of them. Not that this group hadn't already seen plenty of each other by accident and virtue of their jobs, especially when it came to Jack.

Sitting at the kitchen bench, the three of us only lasted about an hour before we started to complain about the heat. I didn't think it was unbearably hot, but it was enough to be uncomfortable.
"You guys got plans for the day?" Bozer asked.
"No," Mac replied.
"Stay cool, do nothing, eat ice cream," was my reply.
"I like the girl's thinking," Bozer cheered. "I was actually thinking of making some ice cream to eat later."
"Homemade?" My eyes lit up at the idea.
Bozer nodded. "Mocha and rocky road."
"Yes," I fist pumped.
Mac looked between the two of us and shook his head.
"You're not going to be able to eat it until it's frozen, you know," he reminded us.
"I know, I know. Which is why I'm gonna start on it now." Bozer stood and started collecting ingredients.
"How long do you think you'll be?" I asked.
"Not too long, maybe an hour max?" he replied.
"Then the beach?" I called.
Beside me, Mac gave me a strange look.
"Why the beach? We have a pool, and if you want company then we could call Jack and Riley and Matty." He was confused.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I like the sand and the salty air."
Mac grimaced at the mention of the sand. It had gotten into everything he owned while he was in Afghanistan; he wasn't particularly fond of it.
"Your girl has spoken, Mac," Bozer laughed. "We're having a beach day."
"Alright, but if you're dragging me to the beach then Jack can suffer with me."
He was smiling though, so he wasn't too upset.
"Well then, best let him know," I smiled sweetly, tossing Mac his phone.

The beach was as busy as you'd expect for a hot day in Los Angeles. Families, couples, friends and even the odd lone sunbaker lined the sand and splashed in the water, trying to escape the heat. Bozer, Mac and I had set up a beach umbrella on the sand, towels spread underneath it. We were still waiting for Jack, who was going to pick up Riley on his way.
Lying on the sand, I could feel the sun warming my skin even as the sand stuck to the sunscreen. I could hear the lazy crash of waves over the sound of people talking and children's shrieking laughter, occasionally punctuated by the call of a seagull. Closing my eyes, I drifted into a half sleep.
That sleep was interrupted when someone sat next to me, tapping me on the shoulder. Opening my eyes, I saw Riley looking at me.
"Planning on heading into the water?" she asked. I still had a loose dress on over my swim suit and board shorts. She, on the other hand, was dressed in just a black bikini.
"I will be in just a moment," I smiled at her, as I pulled the dress over my head.
We turned to the three males, who each had claimed a towel of their own.
"Are you guys going to join us?" Riley asked.
Jack shook his head, while Bozer and Mac both said they'd join us later.
I shrugged my shoulders and both Riley and I turned to make our way to the shoreline. I could feel eyes on me, and I looked back to see Mac smirking at me, and then blush at a comment Jack made. I shook my head then ran into the water.

True enough, about half an hour or so later Mac and Bozer both walked into the ocean.
"No Jack?" I asked.
"Texans don't swim," Mac said with a laugh. "Or so he kept saying."
"So we left him bemoaning the lack of beer," Bozer added.
I lay back in the water, kicking my legs to stay afloat. Unfortunately as I did so, I splashed Mac. In retaliation he flicked water at me, but missed and hit Bozer. Bozer yelped and scooped up water to throw at Mac. But Mac moved as he saw the water coming and it landed on Riley instead. We all froze for a moment as she spluttered but then laughed.
"Oh you are all on!" she shouted as she wiped salt water from her eyes.
Then chaos broke out and it was every person for themselves in an all-out water fight.

Eventually the mania died down as we all became exhausted and soaked through. Mac's hair was plastered to his head, while mine and Riley's hung around our faces and dripped down our necks. Bozer was the only one that didn't look like a drowned rat, his far shorter hair still looking reasonable. It was a unanimous decision to head back to the beach to dry off a little and reapply the sunscreen that the ocean had washed off.
"What happened to you four?" Jack asked, surveying us through his sunglasses.
"Water fight," Mac replied.
"It was epic," Bozer added, mock seriously.
"So, who won?"
The four of us looked at each other, dripping onto the sand.
"No one," Riley decided.
We each found our own towels and I stretched out on mine, letting the warmth of the day dry me before I reapplied sunscreen. It was interesting to watch the people on the beach, how they interacted, or studiously avoided other people. Families tended to congregate together, children finding playmates in each other despite having never met before. Almost as one, the children looked up as they all heard a noise. I stifled a laugh as they all ran to their parents as a group. On the pavement behind us, slowly trundling along, was an ice cream truck. The music had caught the children's attention. It had also caught mine.
"Maaac," I called sweetly.
"Yea?"
"Ice cream?"
We had brought one bag with things like sunscreen, keys and money as well as the esky filled with drinks.
"Oooh yes, ice cream!" Bozer shouted.
"Didn't you just make some at home?" Mac asked.
"Not going home in the next hour, are we?" Bozer replied.
With a snort, Mac passed me his wallet and Bozer his.
"Do you want anything?" I asked Mac as I got up.
"What about you, Riley?" Jack asked, also standing.
"Get me whatever," she said. Then her eyes widened. "Actually, no. You'll get me some ridiculous ice cream with a face on it. Get me one with a flake."
"Get me the same as Riley," Mac answered me.

There were a few kids already lined up at the truck, so we leisurely made our way over. When we reached the truck there were still kids waiting so we joined the line, content with waiting until the mass of children had been served first.
As I ordered the two ice creams I discovered a problem. I was still wearing only my swim suit and board shorts, which had no pockets. With an ice cream in each hand, I had nowhere to put Mac's wallet.
"Here, I can put it in my pocket," Jack said, reaching to take the wallet from me.
"How did you know?" I laughed.
"You've been with Mac too long," he replied. "You both have the same thinking, problem solving face."
He scrunched up his face, apparently trying to mimic the 'thinking face.'
"We do not," I mumbled around a mouthful of ice cream.
"You kinda do," Bozer agreed. "Yours is just a little cuter, and less likely to get us killed."
"Don't tell him I said that," he added.
"Which part?"
"'Both parts."
"Bozer's not wrong," Jack pointed out. "I'm surprised Mac hasn't built anything from scraps at the beach yet."
"The esky," was all I said.
Jack thought then nodded.

We were all quiet as we ate the soft serves, each enjoying the cool treat. Bozer's was covered on as much chocolate and as many sprinkles as he could get. Mine was slightly tamer, being chocolate dipped and a flake. As promised, both Mac and Riley had a single flake in theirs. Jack had opted for a plain ice cream. It was probably the first time he was the most sensible one out of all of us.
Once I'd finished mine I wiped my face, knowing I had ice cream or chocolate on it. I was somehow totally incapable of neatly consuming ice cream.
"You've got something here," Mac pointed to his own face.
I raised my hand, wiping where I thought he was indicating.
"No," he shook his head. "Here, let me."
Mac leant over, one hand on my hip to balance himself. With the other hand he wiped the spot of ice cream off. Then he leant in closer and slowly kissed me. I forgot about the others until Riley interrupted.
"Gross, get a room."
Mac pulled back and laughed. "Later."
"Anyone got a spare room for the night? Or a couch? Mattress on the floor?" Bozer joked.
I threw my balled up napkin at him, accidentally starting a game of catch.

It was getting to 6pm when we decided we had all had enough of the beach and it was probably time to head home.
"Have you got plans for dinner?" Bozer asked Jack and Riley.
Both of them shook their heads.
"Come around then. I was just going to do a barbeque and salad." Bozer told them.
"Sure. I reckon I might have some chicken wings and Ma's marinade at home." Jack mentioned.
"Yes, Jack!" Riley cheered. She had tried ma Dalton's barbeque marinated wings when she was younger and they were one of her favourite things.
"Better than that, we have chocolate chip cookies and mocha and rocky road ice cream." I told her.
"First of all, sacrilege. Nothing is better than Ma's chicken wings. Secondly, hell yea ice cream sandwiches." Jack cheered.
Mac rolled his eyes at the childlike glee in Jack's voice.
"Well, the sooner we head home, the sooner you get them," he said.
Jack all but jumped up, starting to fold his towel and pack the other things he had brought.
"Chop chop, Ma's wings wait for no man."
Laughing, the rest of us followed suit. Jack's excitement was contagious.

I walked into the kitchen, a loose dress now replacing my swim suit, to find Mac and Bozer arguing over a salad.
"Both of you, out." I instructed them. "Go deal with the barbeque or something."
"What? Why?" Bozer asked.
"You're arguing over salad," I pointed out. "So I am going to make two big salads. I'm going to make them my way and then there will be no problems."
"Mac blows things up or sets them on fire when he uses the barbeque," Bozer reminded me.
I looked over at the blonde, who shrugged and grinned.
"Right, I forgot your pyromaniac tendencies. Could you go get plates and stuff then?"
He nodded.
"And make me a spider?" I called after him.
"Aren't you going to have enough ice cream later?" he called back.
"Nope," I replied, popping my 'p' obnoxiously.
Mac did, however, make me a creaming soda and vanilla ice cream spider. So I'm pretty sure I won.

Everyone was sat around the fire pit which hadn't been lit in the heat. Empty plates were scattered around the place and glasses filled to various levels sat by each person.
Sitting in the adapted esky, Bozer's two tubs of ice cream were now only half full. Jack was on his third ice cream sandwich, but it would have to be the last one, as between the five of us we had eaten all the cookies.
"I'm so full," Riley moaned, "But the ice cream is so good."
I made a noise in agreement.
"If you want more you'll have to go get bowls," Mac said.
"I think there are some cones in the pantry," I commented, stretching out in the decking.
"No one needs more ice cream, surely," Riley said as she lay back.
"Aww, Riles, come on," Jack mock pouted.
"You'll get fat, old man!"
Jack put a hand over his heart. "You wound me."
"If everyone's right, I'm just going to have a food coma over here." I called from my spot.
I close my eyes as they laughed. Despite the heat, it had been a good day.