Page 38 of Seashells and Other Souvenirs

I smooth my hands over the skirt of my floral sundress and adjust the pin in the side of my hair one more time.

I want Jude to know that I put time and effort into getting ready for this date, that he’s the kind of guy who’s worth dressing up for even though I know he’d be just as happy to be with me if I wore sweats and an old T-shirt.

“You look gorgeous,” Kelsey says before we walk downstairs.

Donovan looks up from his game of Zelda. “I like your dress, Alex. It’s pretty.”

“Thanks. I hope your uncle thinks so too.” I glance nervously at the hallway where his door is still closed.

Kelsey picks up my purse. “He will.”

“Can I come?” Donovan asks, not for the first time today.

His mom laughs. “It’s one afternoon, bud. We’ll have fun here. And you have surf lessons in the morning, remember?”

“Will you come watch, Alex?”

“If you want me to. Maybe I can—” A knock at the door interrupts me.

Kelsey hands me my bag and turns me toward the door. “It’s for you.”

When I open it, Jude is standing on the other side, a bouquet of flowers in hand. He’s wearing khaki shorts, a pink collared shirt, and the tentative smile that always draws mine out.

“Did you seriously just knock on the door to your own house?” I giggle and step back to let him in.

“I wanted you to get the full experience,” he says, extending the bouquet. “These are for you.”

I hold the blooms to my nose and breathe in their sweet scent. “Thank you. How did you know tulips are my favorite?”

“I have my sources.”

“Would these sources happen to be slightly bossy and have just exchanged phone numbers with you last week?”

Jude chuckles. “Maybe.”

“Can I come, Uncle Jude?” Donovan pipes up.

Kelsey reaches for the flowers. “I’ll put these in a vase. You two get out of here before you end up with a third wheel.”

Jude opens the front door again and holds out an arm, gesturing me through.

“Have fun!” Kelsey calls behind us.

The afternoon is warm, but a nice sea breeze tickles my skin. I feel like the younger version of me did every time she left the beach house to go on an adventure. We descend the steps, and Jude opens the passenger side of the white car for me before walking around and sliding into his own seat.

“You look beautiful, Alexandria. Have I said that already? Because I’ve thought it several times.

” He reaches for my hand, but instead of tucking it inside his own, he holds it up and studies my fingers.

“Sorry I wasn’t there to help paint your nails this time; I won’t look at the other hand too closely. ”

I pull my hand away and fold down a rogue corner of his shirt collar. “Your sister helped me actually.”

“Really?” He smiles and reaches for the gear shift.

“Yep. She did my hair and makeup too.”

He backs the car out. “I like that you two are friends.”

“Me too.”

He puts the car into drive and takes my hand again, this time lacing his fingers through mine. “I can’t believe we’re on a date.” He sighs. “Sorry, does that make me sound lame? I’m trying to play it cool here, but you have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”

“Not lame at all. I had trouble sleeping last night. It’s been an exciting twenty-four hours. You finishing your job. Landing your new, dream job. Best pancakes I’ve ever eaten this morning. And now, this.”

“I guess I understand it a little bit better now.” He swallows.

“Understand what?”

“That feeling you described. Of everything feeling perfect. And being afraid of it all slipping away.”

A cold wave of uncertainty slaps me in the face, and I grasp for a change of subject. “So when do you start?”

He turns the car and drives toward the bridge. “August thirteenth. It’ll be a week of training, and then I’ll start meeting with people from other beaches to gather ideas. They want me to plan some holiday events this year.”

“That’s fun!” I turn in my seat. “We can brainstorm during Christmas in July on Saturday.”

“Yeah. It’s hard to think about Christmas for real when it’s ninety-something degrees,” he comments.

“It’ll be here before you know it though.”

“Christmas in July or real Christmas?”

“Everything,” I say.

His smile falters. “Exactly.”

I don’t want to spend our date—or any of the rest of our time together—dancing around this ticking clock-shaped elephant in the room. Thankfully, we pull onto the bridge and hold our breath, giving the topic time to dissipate, or at least giving me time to think of a different one.

When we exhale on the other side, Jude speaks first. “I’m sorry. I want to be here. Now. I promise.”

I tighten my grip on him. “Good.”

“Want to know where we’re going?”

I nod eagerly, and his smile returns. “I thought I’d take you to the aquarium since you said you’ve never been.

Then we could walk around the outlets a little if you’d like.

And I made us a reservation at Ragazzo's for dinner.” I’ve driven past the Italian restaurant multiple times but never dreamed of having an occasion to eat there.

“Ooh. Isn’t that place super fancy though? I’d be just as happy with fast food.”

“It is,” he says. “And I know I won’t be able to take you somewhere that nice every time we go out. But this is our first date, so I want it to be extra memorable.” He jostles my hand. “That okay?”

The butterflies in my chest stir. “You make me feel special, Jude.”

“You are special.”

We ride in silence, both of us simply content to be in the other’s company, until Jude steers the car into the big aquarium parking lot.

I unbuckle and reach for my door handle. “No. Sit tight,” Jude says, ever the gentleman.

I wait for him to open my door and escort me inside, training all my attention on the man beside me rather than anything that lies behind or ahead.

Inside, just to the left of the ticket counter, a lady with a camera waves us over to a green screen.

“Let me snap a quick picture of you guys before you get started. Here.” She points.

“Stand a little closer and hold your hands out together in front of you like this.” She demonstrates.

“Right. Okay, smile.” The camera clicks a few times in rapid succession.

“If you head over to that screen after you buy your tickets, you can see them.”

“Looks like we came at a good time,” I tell Jude. “It’s not crowded in here at all.”

He pulls out his wallet and approaches the counter. “Two, please. And can we also get tickets to the 3-D movie?”

“Yes, sir. Did you want to take a look at your photos and see if you’d like to add on a photo package?”

“They’re already ready?” I pull Jude over to the computer screen. There we are, smiling back at ourselves. They’ve photoshopped a little turtle into my hands and a starfish into Jude’s. We look good together. Like a couple.

“How much?” Jude asks.

The ticket agent smiles. “You can buy a package of two prints for forty dollars. Or you can purchase the digital file.”

“Whoa,” I whisper. “That’s insane.”

“We’ll take the prints.”

I pull on his arm. “That’s way too much for pictures. We’ll take our own.”

He ignores me and swipes his card, takes the tickets as they slide across the counter along with the promise, “We’ll have your pictures ready for you to pick up on your way out.”

“Jude,” I start as we walk away. I need him to know that all this isn’t necessary, that I just want to be with him.

“I know what you’re going to say.” He tucks his wallet back into his pocket. “But I want you to have this picture.” He shrugs. “I’m kind of hoping it might make it into that box of treasures you wrote about.”

I loop my arm through his. “Oh, it’s definitely going in the box. As soon as we get back to the house.”

He guides me to the first wall of floor-to-ceiling tanks. “You ready for this?”

I am.

It’s dark when we drive back onto the island, a box of leftovers on my lap and my stomach and my heart both full.

“You had a good time?” Jude asks again.

“The best,” I assure him. “Thank you for everything. Today was perfect.” It truly was. My only complaint is that it went by too quickly.

“Thank you for spending time with me.” He parks in the gravel between my car and Kelsey’s. “Can I see you again sometime?” he jokes.

I stifle a giggle. “I was just about to ask you if we could move in together.”

“Slow down, Alex.” He reaches for his door handle. “Let’s not rush into anything.”

I follow him up to the deck, wondering if Donovan’s still awake and what show we might watch with Kelsey tonight. It’s nice to have gained a whole new family I’m looking forward to seeing.

He pauses in front of the door and adjusts his glasses.

“Hey, Alex?”

“Yes?”

“Before we go inside, may I kiss you goodnight?”

My heart misses its cue to beat.

It’s not like the question is unexpected. I’ve been ready for it, hoping for it even, for a while now. But I still feel unprepared for what it does to me. Everything goes fuzzy around the edges. I don’t trust my voice, so I simply nod and take the tiniest step closer to him.

Before he leans in, he pauses and studies me, as if he’s committing the moment to memory. I do the same, then close my eyes.

Everything else fades away, and there is no past, present, or future to worry about. Time stands perfectly still. His nose brushes against my cheek, and his lips find mine. And then, Jude Alford is kissing me.

There are no fireworks.

This is something stronger and much more beautiful, something far less fleeting. Like the warm glow of a fire in the hearth. Like the steady welcoming presence of a front porch light. Like coming home.

Too soon, he pulls away. I open my eyes.

His expression is uncertain and vulnerable, and it makes me want to kiss him again.

“Was that okay?” he whispers.

I let the words fall from my mouth before I think too hard about them, about what saying them aloud could set us both up for in the days to come. “I love you, Jude.”

His face splits into a smile of relief. “I love you too, Alex. I have for a long time.” He gently presses one more kiss to my forehead and reaches for the doorknob.