THREE WEEKS LATER

As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting a golden glow over the rugged coastline of Trinidad, Audrey walked up to Bode as he finished packing up the firetruck after another long shift.

"Hey, I was thinking," she started, her blue eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Have you ever been surfing?"

Bode glanced at her, surprised. "Surfing? I haven't done that since I was a teenager."

Audrey grinned, nudging him playfully. "Then it's about time you get back out there. It's kind of the thing to do around here. My friend Nikki works at the rental shop, so I'll be able to get you a wetsuit and board for free. It'll be fun—I promise!"

Bode hesitated, then nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Alright, let's do it."

The next morning, they arrived at the beach just as the first light of dawn kissed the water. The air was crisp, and the ocean shimmered under the rising sun, with waves curling in a steady rhythm. Audrey handed Bode the rental board and wetsuit, her own board tucked under her arm.

He striped down to his swim trunks and started the tricky work of getting into a wetsuit.

He bent slightly, working the wetsuit over his legs, the movement causing his biceps to flex and his back muscles to ripple under the strain. Audrey's eyes traced the V-shape of his physique, the way his body seemed carved from stone, each muscle perfectly formed from years of firefighting and physical training.

His tattoos and scars, stark against his sun-kissed skin, added an edge to his rugged appearance, telling stories she could only begin to guess. The way he moved, effortlessly powerful yet with a certain grace, left her breathless.

Bode finally pulled the wetsuit up, adjusting it over his shoulders with a quick, practiced motion, but not before Audrey had taken in the full allure of his athletic build. As he turned to her, catching her gaze with a lopsided smile, she quickly looked away, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

There was something magnetic about Bode, and it wasn't just his looks. It was the confidence in his movements, the quiet strength he exuded, and the hint of vulnerability in his eyes. Audrey felt a flutter of excitement, realizing just how drawn she was to this man who seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Ready to shake off the rust?" she teased, trying to sound more casual than she felt.

Bode chuckled. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They paddled out into the waves, Audrey's movements fluid and effortless, while Bode found himself reconnecting with a part of himself he hadn't tapped into for years. The salty breeze, the rush of the waves—it all felt strangely familiar, yet distant.

After catching a few waves, they decided to take a break, sitting on their boards just beyond the break line. The calm of the morning was only interrupted by the gentle crashing of the waves and the occasional cry of a seagull.

"This is amazing," Bode admitted, catching his breath. "I forgot how much I loved this."

"Good to see you smiling, Bode," Audrey replied, her gaze softening. "You've been through a lot. You deserve this."

Bode was about to respond when they heard a familiar voice from the shore.

"Audrey" Camden called out, waving from where he stood on the sand, his own surfboard tucked under his arm.

Audrey waved back, and Bode felt a mix of surprise and amusement. "Camden! What a surprise seeing you here," she replied sarcastically, as Camden practically lived in the water.

Camden grinned, paddling out to join them. "I didn't peg you for a surfer, Bode. You've been holding out on us."

Bode chuckled. "It's been a while. Audrey dragged me out here."

Camden raised an eyebrow at Audrey, a knowing smile on his face. "Sounds like you're in good hands, then." He looked back at Bode. "How's it feel to be back on the water?"

"It's… freeing," Bode admitted. "I didn't realize how much I missed it."

Camden nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Surfing's like firefighting in a way. It's about timing, reading the waves, and knowing when to go all in. You've got good instincts for both."

Bode felt a swell of pride at the compliment. "Thanks, Cap. Means a lot."

They spent the next hour surfing together, Camden and Audrey exchanging stories and laughs while Bode found himself gradually relaxing, the weight of his past slipping away with each wave he caught. There was something grounding about being out there on the water, surrounded by people who understood the same challenges and shared the same passions.

After their surf session, the trio sat on the sand, the sun now fully risen and casting a warm glow over the beach. They talked about everything and nothing, from firefighting techniques to favourite local spots, and even music.

As the conversation wound down, Camden glanced at Bode, his tone more serious. "You're doing good, Bode. I've seen the way you handle yourself, not just at the station but in the field. Fear doesn't shut you down. It wakes you up. Most people aren't like that. Keep leaning into your instincts and you'll keep crushing it."

Bode nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie that had been missing for so long. "Thanks, Cap."

After a couple of moments, Camden stood. "Well, I should head out. I have a mountain of paperwork that I have been avoiding. That was a great day. Thanks, you two," he said with a grin, as he turned and grabbed his board.

"Back at you, Camden. See you tomorrow," Audrey said with a wave.

After his departure, Bode and Audrey sat in a silence for a couple of minutes. Audrey couldn't help but steal a glance at Bode's muscular frame. He had peeled the wetsuit down to his waist, revealing the broad expanse of his shoulders and the chiseled definition of his torso. His skin, tanned and glistening with a light sheen of saltwater, highlighted every ridge of his toned abs and the powerful lines of his chest.

"Can I ask you something?" she finally said.

"Shoot," he answered with a raised eyebrow.

"Sometimes I catch you looking off into the distance and you look so sad. Like really, really sad. Is that you just trying to figure out life on the outside again? Or is it something else?"

Bode let out a soft sigh and shook his head gently. "Nothing gets passed you, does it?" he teased, then continued quietly. "A couple of days after I got out, the girl of my dreams... the only girl that I had ever imagined a future with, married someone else. I knew it was coming. They'd been engaged since I got back to Three Rock. But, somehow... deep down, I still had hope that she would choose me. And... she didn't."

Audrey reached out and wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulders. "I'm sorry, Bode. That's really tough."

Bode nodded, then gave her a weak smile. "Getting back on a crew, fighting fires, meeting new people... and days like today, make it hurt a lot less. And, make me feel like, one day I'll be able to move on. So, thank you."

Audrey blushed a little and returned a smile, her blue eyes sparkling in the sunshine. "Would you be open to some advice that helped me when I first got out?"

"Of course," Bode said genuinely, his eyes meeting hers with intensity.

"Instead of focusing on what your life isn't, or 'should have been,' maybe try to imagine what it can be because things are different for you? You're not the guy with a house, two kids, a dog and a 401K at 30 years old... but you have freedom that guy doesn't have. You can focus on your artwork, you can get back into surfing, you're travelling light... the world is your oyster... well, as long as you don't leave the state," she finished with a smile.

"Hmmm... that's an interesting take. I really like that," he said thoughtfully.