“Jax?”
“Hey,” he called out easily. “I’m just grabbing breakfast for us from the plane… I’ll be right there.”
Mary was already climbing out from the tent, trying to finger brush her hair into some sort of organized chaos – grabbing a rubber band out of one of the side pockets of the plane dutifully.
He smiled.
Jax knew she was very self-conscious about how she looked… and he thought she was the most spectacular goddess he’d ever laid eyes on – but he also wanted her to relax.
As she rose to her feet, she spotted him, and gave a little wave as he walked towards her with the treats – and beamed at him in delight.
“What?” he smiled.
“Is that Norwegian oatmeal?”
“Maybe?” he hesitated. “I’ve never heard it called that, but my mom used to make overnight oats for me in high school, and it’s a quick breakfast when I’m in a hurry.”
“I love that stuff,” she laughed easily, smiling at him. “I put berries, chopped apples, and yogurt in mine.”
“Yogurt, a little honey, some peanut butter, and a smashed banana,” he offered, beaming at her. “I ran a lot in high school and at the Academy – and needed the protein.”
“I’ve never had it with peanut butter.”
“You’re in for a treat then,” he said playfully, leaning forward to kiss her pertly, feeling so happy that they were a lot alike and enjoyed the same things. “Good morning.”
She chuckled easily, smiling shyly at him.
“Breakfast by the ocean?”
“Sounds perfect.”
He couldn’t help the joy taking over him as they walked towards the water together, down to where their chairs still stood, and marveled at how far out the tide was in that moment.
“Actually, do you want any shells to take home? We probably ought to take a peek around while the tide is low.”
“I was just thinking that,” she said shyly, smiling at him.
He set the Tupperware bowl down in one of the chairs, put the spoons on top, and set the two bottles of cold coffee down – before holding out his hand towards her. She laced her fingers with his easily, and they walked out a ways, looking around and talking easily, like two children without a care in the world.
He released her hand and moved away for a few moments to pick up a large unbroken shell, handing it to her… and treasuring her smile. He’d never seen anyone so perfect, so beautiful, and so alight in his entire life – and knew he was out of his element.
“You’re staring at me,” she said shyly, immediately moving to try to tame the snarled mass of curls.
Yeah, her hair was tangled badly – but the glow from her soul and the way it spoke to him was more heady than anything he could have imagined. He stepped forward, pulling her hand from her hair, and looked at her.
“I’m staring at the woman I love,” he said openly, feeling his chest tighten with awareness at how different it was to say this in the daylight, to her directly, and to see her reaction. “And she’s more incredible than I could have ever imagined.”
“I’m a mess…” she whispered shyly.
“You are breathtaking,” he countered softly, “… But – I do know how it feels to be worried about how you look when you feel uncertain.”
He pointed to his nose, grinning.
“Walrus, remember?”
Mary burst out laughing at the reminder, and he couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him, hearing such joy from her.
“Turn around, honey…” he offered – and was surprised that she dutifully did so.