Page 92 of Broken Beauty

My heart stops again.

I can fuck her until she doesn't remember what she just said.

But it won't change the fact that I am completely fucked.

Forty-Three

Ariella

Summer

“Ash!” I yell, feeling cold water splash on me.

I splash water back at him and then run in the opposite direction of him. I hear more splashing, making me run faster knowing he is trying to catch me.

He thought that spending the night at the beach again was a good idea. So, we’ve been at the beach all day in the water, walking around the area. We got ice cream earlier and ate at this Italian restaurant. He also took me for a ride down the Pacific Highway on his motorcycle. It felt freeing to experience that with Ash. He told me that one day he wants me to try and drive it. He paid for everything of course, despite my efforts to pay. This whole summer, I haven't paid a dime because of him. I feel like it's so unfair but he doesn't care.

I feel strong, warm arms wrap around my waist making me squeal. Ash picks me up and throws me over his shoulder.

“Got you,” he says, sending a light slap on my ass making me gasp and try to wiggle out of his arms.

Water splashes around us as a wave crashes on Ash and I. I still try to get out of his hold but he has a tight grip on me.

“Ash, let me go!” I laugh and he sends another slap to my ass making me gasp.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Please!” Next thing I know I feel my body surrounded by cold water. My eyes immediately close and I hold my breath. It's freezing cold in the water and it's only going to get colder as it gets darker. Ash and I should get out of the water before it gets too dark. I swim up until my head reaches the surface. I open my eyes and look around for Ash only to find him behind me with a smirk on his face. He swims closer to me and his hands hold my waist. I lick water off my lips. “Can we get out? It's starting to get cold,” I say, leaning closer to Ash, needing his warmth.

“Yea,” he mumbles before kissing the top of my head.

We swim to where the sand meets the water and Ash rewraps his hand around my waist, pulling me into his body. He feels so warm while I am shivering from how cold it is.

When we get to our tent, I grab the biggest towel I brought and wrap it around my body. I get inside the tent and sit down. Ash comes inside a few seconds later with a towel around his body. He sits next to me and pulls me into his chest.

“How are you so warm all the time?” I mumble and rest my head against his chest.

“How are you so cold?”

He got me there. “I wish I knew.”

Things with Ash have been good. Since the night we went to his tree house we have been going to the beach, the book store, restaurants, motorcycle drives late at night, sometimes we go hiking and then jump off waterfall cliffs. I have never been so happy and felt so free. Things with him have been amazing this summer.

We have completed all of the bucket list items.

2023 Summer

Go on a date with a stranger.

Kiss a stranger.

Go to a club and dance with a stranger.

Ask a hot person for their number.

Go to New York.

Have sex with a stranger.