Chapter 42
Up ahead, Delaney reached the top of the boardwalk and took a right, disappearing around the shop on the corner.
Tara didn’t slow down, even though she knew her chances of reaching a bench before Delaney were slim. She reached the boardwalk a few steps behind Delaney and paused long enough to look around, first left, then right, but she didn’t see her new friend any—
Suddenly someone tackled her from behind.
“Boo!” Delaney cried, catching Tara around the waist before she could fall. The moment Tara was steady on her feet, though, Delaney’s fingers started to wriggle. “Ticklish?”
“Hey!” With a breathless laugh, Tara squirmed out of reach and turned to grin at Delaney. “Yes, I am. Don’t…”
Then she realized her advantage and took off, racing for the opposite side of the boardwalk and the nearest bench. A second later, Delaney must have realized the competition was still on because she shot after Tara. “Hey! No fair!”
“You’re the one who waylaid me!” Tara hit the bench at full speed and collapsed onto it, spent. She watched as Delaney jogged over to join her. “I win.”
Then Delaney tumbled down beside her, half in her lap. When Tara started to sit up, Delaney pulled her into a hug, holding her close. “Not so fast, missy. You’re right, you won. Fair and square. That entitles you to some sort of prize.”
Tara smirked. “Oh? Like what?”
“Like this.” Delaney’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her near.
Tara closed her eyes in anticipation and held her breath. Please,she prayed. Please…
A moment later, Delaney’s lips covered hers in a sweet kiss.
* * * *
Hand in hand, they strolled down the boardwalk for a few blocks. The shops and amusement piers were closed and the tourists had long returned to their hotels, but Tara and Delaney weren’t the only ones out at such a late hour. There were bicyclists and skateboarders using the concrete tramcar tracks and ramps, and quite a few police officers patrolling the area. Delaney kept them close to the ocean side, away from everyone else. Tara could almost believe they were alone.
At some point Delaney took the steps down to the beach below, tugging Tara’s hand to guide her. When they reached the sand, she stopped and kicked off her shoes, then tugged off her socks. Tara stopped and did the same. The sand felt hot beneath her feet, and she wiggled her toes, letting them sink further into the warm grains.
“Are we supposed to be down here?” she asked in a loud whisper.
Delaney shrugged. “As long as we don’t get caught…”
Taking Tara’s hand again, she started to run towards the distant surf. The moon reflected off white-capped waves, beckoning them on. Tara stifled a giggle and struggled to keep up as the sand dragged against her feet. It threatened to hold her back but she kicked it away as she let Delaney pull her along.
Soon they were on the firmer, packed sand near the sea, then they splashed into the foamy tide. Tara’s giggles escaped as cool water tickled her toes.
“Shh!” Delaney said, giggling herself as she caught both Tara’s wrists and spun around.
Their shoes fell to the sand; Tara leaned into the spin, head back, watching the stars circle above them. Delaney’s hands slipped into hers and they splashed farther into the water, spinning faster. “Whee!” Tara cried.
Delaney laughed out loud, but didn’t stop spinning. “Quiet!”
With one final turn, Tara flung herself down, pulling Delaney with her. Together they fell into the ocean, salt and foam spraying around them, soaking their clothing as well as their arms and legs and hair. Then Tara rolled onto Delaney and pinned her to the sand, propping herself up over her new friend. She could barely see Delaney’s face in the darkness, but the moonlight sparkled in Delaney’s eyes.
Tara could also see saltwater beading on Delaney’s cheeks and eyelashes and lips, and in those impossibly red curls. Each drop shimmered in the starshine like a diamond. “Hey,” she whispered.
Delaney licked away the water on her lips and shifted into a more comfortable position. For a brief instant, her hips pressed up against Tara’s, which sent a spear of pleasure shooting through Tara. “Hey yourself. So, what do you plan to do now that you’ve gotten me all wet?”
The innuendo in her words surprised Tara, who laughed before claiming another tender kiss. Delaney’s mouth tasted sweet and summery, like pink bubblegum and Mountain Dew. The more Tara kissed her, the harder it was to stop.