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“What are we exploring?” Athena canted her head to the side in the most adorable look of confusion.

Leaning in, because she couldn’t resist, Monti kissed Athena’s nose and grinned. “Everything.”

This time, Monti didn’t wait. She dropped Athena’s hand and walked away. She headed straight for the surf, and when the sand was wet against her toes, she sighed with relief. She needed the comfort of it, the contrast of the cold to the warmth of the day. Yet she still felt cold inside, like something wasn’t quite sitting right within her.

Turning back around, Monti was surprised to find that Athena had followed her into the surf, her feet bare and her pants rolled up to her knees. The flash of skin was absolutely enticing, and if Monti had her way, they’d pick up right where they left off the night before. Neither one of them would likely regret it, and they’d both be satisfied.

“The water’s warm today.”

“The gulf usually is, especially when the water’s coming in from the east instead of the south,” Athena answered.

“Don’t take the fun out of it.” Monti laughed, her voice carried in the breeze as she went farther into the water, the waves brushing against her pants and wetting them. She was going to have to change, but she didn’t care. She was more fascinated by the fact that Athena was actually doing this, willingly.

She was standing in the middle of the ocean, her hands on her hips, with only a slight scowl on her face. The intrusive thought came to her without a moment’s hesitation. Monti shook her head once before giving in. Bending down, she flapped her fingers into the water, bringing it up to splash against Athena.

“Monti!” Athena screeched, but her lips were curled upward.

“Yes?” Monti straightened her shoulders, playing off the role that she’d been caught red-handed. But she’d intended it, completely. She wanted to see if Athena would play into this lighthearted game that she’d set up.

When Athena didn’t say anything else or scold her again, Monti bent down and scooped up even more water, splashing it at Athena.

“Monti!” Athena shouted again with a laugh.

Giggling, Monti bent down just as Athena did. Water flew between them, catching their clothes, their skin, their hair. Monti eventually stepped forward, grabbing Athena by the waist and spinning her as the waves hit against their thighs. They kissed.

Athena moved in, deepening the embrace. Her fingers cupped Monti’s cheeks and pulled her in closer. Monti wrapped her arms around Athena’s back, tilting her slightly to change the angle of the kiss. Athena gasped.

“Are we going to spend all day frolicking in the water?”

“Only if you want to,” Monti answered, kissing her again. “But I suppose we have to eat at some point.”

“And have tea.”

“And read books as we bask in the sun,” Monti murmured against Athena’s neck. “I know you despise electronic books, so did you bring a suitcase filled with paperbacks?”

“What makes you think I don’t have my own mini-library here?”

Monti laughed wholeheartedly. She should have guessed. She should have figured that Athena would have prepared for that, especially since this was—according to her—her second most favorite place on earth. Monti tugged her in for another long kiss.

“When’s the last time you played in the ocean?”

Athena shook her head, biting her lip. “When I was sixteen or seventeen?”

Monti spun her around, holding her as they stared out into the vast expanse of the ocean in front of them. They rocked side to side as the waves lapped against their thighs. “If you could go anywhere, where would you go?”

“I’m loving where I am,” Athena answered. “Really. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

Something tightened in Monti’s chest, something that she couldn’t quite name. But it hurt. She knew Athena had meant for those words to be kind and comforting. Athena was being honest. They were enjoying each other’s company so why would Athena want to be anywhere else. And yet, it pained Monti to think about that.

If Athena clung to her presence too much, holding on to her as if she was the solid rock Athena could stand on now instead of her own two feet, then Monti would be exactly where she didn’t want to be. Hurting someone when she did finally leave. Because she would go. The world called to her, that quest for peace.

Monti paused.

She sucked in a deep breath, pressing her chin against Athena’s shoulder as she held her tightly in a hug. Athena was choosing to be here, and here was where she was finding comfort and peace. Perhaps there was something to that. Perhaps Monti was missing the biggest point of Athena’s statement.

Clenching her jaw, Monti kissed Athena’s neck. “Let’s go in and dry off.”

“You get me all the way out here and now you want to go in?” Athena raised an eyebrow at her, questioning Monti.