Somewhere on Leo Carrillo Beach
Mac's green and white surf board was leaning up against a purple and orange one, the structure creating a small shaded spot in an otherwise sunny area. It also provided a bit of a break from the breeze off the sparkling blue water. Sandwich wrappers were stuffed into the picnic basket next to Mac, who was digging around in it, still hungry, hoping to find one they missed. Becca was reaching into the cooler for some fresh water bottles and came up instead with a handful of ice and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. The second Mac got up onto his knees, she dumped the whole handful down his back and into the waistband of his trunks. He yelped and jumped to his feet, trying to get rid of the ice as fast as possible without losing his shorts in the middle of the crowded beach. Becca hopped up and danced away. Mac contemplated her with his own gleaming eyes and dipped down into the cooler. She squealed, "You wouldn't dare!" and took off running toward the water line. Their chase turned quickly into a race. And he always won those, damnit! She pelted for the water so hard and fast that her ponytail came loose, sending her dark hair cascading down her back. She beat Mac into the waves by less than a second with a triumphant shout. They tackled each other into the water and were rolled back on the sand a minute later by the waves.
Mac got up first, offering a hand which Becca turned down so she could try to wash some sand off in the next breaking wave. Mac dusted himself off a little and rinsed his hands in the shallow water lapping his feet. "So … wanna go to the stand and get some fish tacos?"
"You are legitimately a bottomless pit, Mac. We just ate!"
"We've been outside a lot," he said, mock defensively.
She was still sitting in the water and grinning up at him. "We have. Your hair is so light from the sun, I think I know what you'll look like when you're an old man."
"Yeah, yeah. Well, you got freckles. All of them. I think you're stealing them from other people." This time when he held out his hand, she took it and popped up next to him. "So … we getting some tacos or what, Becs?"
"I'm not hungry."
"I'll buy you a margarita," he winked.
"Hard liquor at two o'clock in the afternoon. Talk about living dangerously."
"Hey, it's my day off. I get to have those. In fact, I'm kind of ordered to have a few. I've barely come up for air at work in three weeks."
She took his hand and started leading him toward the little bar and taco stand a short distance from their towels. "Okay. Fish tacos for you. And two margaritas."
"Two?"
"For both of us. It is your day off. And the afternoon is young."
They walked down the beach together, holding hands, waving and calling out to the other people who they'd gotten to know because they all frequented the same stretch of beach after work and on the weekends. It painted a lovely picture. The kind that winds up on California postcards.
From high on the rocks, she watched them. She didn't have binoculars or anything so obvious; just a cell phone, held casually in her hand, like she was waiting for a call, maybe a date, rather than recording the scene between the water and the cliffs with some extremely advanced modifications. She didn't need her device to tell her that she was recording the right person. She knew that green and white monstrosity very well, had been pleased when it became disused. Now, at least, she knew where he was. And he looked well. Irritatingly well. Happy. Well, for now.
Things fall apart.
The center cannot hold.
Angus MacGyver had no idea just how close to slouching in to Bethlehem the beast really was.
But he would find out soon enough.
That's it for this one guys. Thank you all for your kind reviews, suggestions, and just little things you said that kept this one going and gave me ideas for some other stories that I'm very excited to write. I just got news that my book is coming out in June (I'll have the launch date soon) so I'm really excited and have a lot of energy to channel. If you have prompts you'd like me to fill or just little things you'd like to see, just let me know and I'll do my best. Tune in again soon. Same Mac time. Same Mac channel.