Everly

When I glance around the beach, everywhere I see people swarm the area. Families unpacking their belongings to settle in for a day of summer fun, but Sage is nowhere to be found.

Weekends are busier than other days, but the number of people surrounding the beach takes me by surprise. It’s mainly families with little kids, but what’s peculiar is every kid carries a pail and tiny shovel as they run toward the sand, not waiting for their parents.

“Steven, wait up,” I hear a mom yell behind me as she runs toward her son who’s already halfway down the walkway.

A young boy, probably age six, turns toward his mom with enthusiasm evident on his face. “But I need to find the treasure chest today. I was so close last time.”

His mom laughs, shaking her head. “Fine, please watch where you’re going and be respectful of the other kids.”

“I will, Mom. Wish me luck.” He runs off, top speed, kicking up sand with every step.

“Can I ask what’s going on?” I reach out to get the mom’s attention.

“It’s the great treasure hunt. Every Saturday the kids are invited to dig around the beach to find the buried treasures. My son counts down the days all week until we get to do it again, he loves it—as you can tell.” She chuckles, repositioning her bag as we head down the steps.

“How long has this been going on?”

“Not long actually. I think this is our fourth or fifth time. Steven was only feet away from the kid that found the biggest treasure,” she raises her voice in excitement like he would say it. “He’s found some pretty cool things so far, but there’s always one big thing, and he’s dead set on finding it today.”

“Who puts this on?” I ask, searching around for booths or some kind of sponsor for the event.

She shrugs. “No clue, actually. I found it on Facebook, but there’s no name or organization tied to the page. Just information about what beach to search and how many prizes are hidden.”

“Mom! Look!” the little boy yells, holding up a Frisbee he located in the sand.

“Yay, baby!” she yells back. She turns to me, saying, “Have fun today,” before heading her son’s way to retrieve his treasure so he can continue to dig.

I push my hands into the pockets of my shorts and look around the beach, enjoying all the kid’s faces of determination as they dig for prizes. I can’t help my laugh when one kid holds up a baseball mitt. You would swear he just found a pot of gold worth a million dollars by the emotion he displays. It’s as if finding that mitt is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

My phone dings, and I lift it from my back pocket, seeing a text from Sage:

Come to the lighthouse.

I turn to the dilapidated lighthouse but see no one’s around. Making my way to it, I notice a single set of footprints leading to the tall structure that’s no longer functional.

The old stone and brick building stands tall next to the side of a cliff with a huge wooden door nestled at the bottom. With Sage nowhere around, I reach for my phone and text him:

Where are you?

The wooden door swings open when he says, “I’m right here.”

Tingles fly down my body at the sound of his voice, but when I see him they feel more like explosions. This is the most casual I’ve seen him dressed, wearing cargo shorts, a simple tee and flip-flops. He oozes relaxation and I suddenly want to lie in his comfort.

“I didn’t even know this door opened anymore,” I say as I approach him, trying to tamp down my nerves.

“It was a bitch to get open, but I got it.”

I enter the building, and he shuts the heavy door behind me. We stand in near darkness, the only light shining in from the windows high above us. My heart pounds at his proximity, and the sensation that we’re suddenly alone wraps around me. Outside the door—only a few hundred feet away—families play on the beach, but in here, we’re the only people on the planet.

The area can’t be bigger than ten-by-ten feet, including the space taken up by the large staircase winding its way up the middle of the building. The smell of salt, sea air, and Sage overwhelm my senses.

There’s not much room for me to move, so I lean back against the door when his hand stays where he pushed it shut. His warmth comforts me as I turn my gaze up, seeing glimpses of his eyes through the darkness.

“Thank you for coming,” he whispers.

I lick my lips and regret it instantly when his curl into a grin like he knows I was remembering what his felt like pressed against mine.

I stare up at him for a breath too long and close my eyes, trying to clear my mind. “What’s going on out there?” I ask, thankful my brain was finally able to function.

He smiles, his face going from one of lust to one of joy in an instant. His hand drops from behind me, giving me a second to breathe before reaching to grasp mine. “Come on, you can see it best up here.”

I follow him as we climb up a steep, narrow staircase. Entering onto a wooden platform, we walk the circle of the building to a door that leads us outside.

The view of the coastline of Canterbury is magnificent. As the waves crash in, I take a deep breath, relishing the fresh salty air as the heat of the sun kisses my skin.

He takes me to a ledge where we enjoy the scene at the beach. The event is still in full force, but instead of seeing all the kids digging, I watch as some play with the prizes they found.

We sit in silence, and when I sneak a glance in his direction, the happiness glimmering in his eyes says everything I need to know. “You did this, didn’t you?”

He rests his arms against the railing, grinning as he drops his head before peeking at me through his lashes, but not responding.

“Why keep it a secret? The kids love it. Why aren’t you down there searching with them?”

He shrugs. “That’s not the point.”

“Does your dad know you do this?”

He lets out a sharp laugh. “No way.”

“Then why do you do it?”

He pauses, taking a breath, laughing as a kid finds another prize before turning to face me and leaning back. “That’s why. If they knew it was me, news crews would be here, and it would take away from them. The fun is the secrecy behind it. It’s like magic to them, and I want to keep it that way. I know these families don’t have the means to get the things I hide, and I like to see their faces when they find them.”

“When did you hide everything?”

He reaches his hand out to lightly wrap around my fingers. “After I dropped you off last night.”

“How come you didn’t tell me?”

His gaze meets mine. “I don’t know. No one knows I do this. Not even Logan or Joey.”

“So now I know.” I smile playfully.

He pulls me closer to him. “You do. Are you going to tell anyone?”

Screams of joy fill the air as a kid finds the treasure chest.

“Never.” I smile.

He leans in, placing his lips to mine slowly, making sure I would allow his advance.

Our kiss last night was different, like he was trying to prove something. This kiss is softer, and I can tell he’s taking his time, not wanting to rush.

When my arms reach around his neck, pulling him closer to me, I hope he knows my intentions. I don’t need to come out and say how amazing it is that he does this for the kids. That’s not the recognition he wants. But I can show him that every time I’m with him, and as I learn more about who he really is, he’s changing my thoughts on him as a man—and a prince.