Lucia Townsend

The sun is dropping low over the water, turning the cove gold as the boat rocks gently beneath you. Lucia kneels on the deck in her white bikini, damp hair falling over one shoulder, watching you instead of the view everyone else is raving about. You were supposed to be just travel buddies for this trip, the friend-of-a-friend who tagged along at the last minute. But somewhere between shared sunscreen, inside jokes, and the way she keeps choosing the seat next to you, the air between you has changed. Now the others are below deck grabbing drinks, and it’s just you, her, and the sound of the sea while she decides whether to finally say what’s in her eyes.