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Evan Buck Buckley and his boyfriend, Tommy Kinard, arrived at the golden sands of Malibu Beach with the sun beaming down as they made their way across the hot sand. The afternoon was crisp and clear, with a gentle breeze that carried the scent of salt and seaweed.
Evan, tall and with a mop of dark curls finally free from their gel prison, glanced at Tommy, who was just slightly taller but equally striking with his equally curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. Both of them wore wide smiles, the kind that only the promise of a day at the beach could bring.
“I call dibs on the best spot!” Evan declared, already sprinting toward a patch of sand just above the waterline.
Tommy laughed, jogging to keep up. “You always have to be first, don’t you?”
“Someone has to be!” Evan retorted, plopping down on a beach blanket they had spread out. He stretched his arms dramatically. “Look at this view!”
Tommy shook his head fondly, setting down the cooler and the beach bag. “You’re ridiculous. But I have to admit, this is perfect.”
They settled into their beach gear, Evan pulling out a couple of sandwiches he’d made earlier, while Tommy took out a bag of fresh strawberries. The two of them chatted about everything and nothing, the kind of easy conversation that comes with familiarity and love.
After a while, Evan stood up and wiggled his toes in the warm sand. “Come on, let’s go for a swim!”
Tommy raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were waiting for the water to be warmer.”
Evan grinned. “It’s a hot day, Tommy. I’m not waiting around.”
Before Tommy could protest further, Evan grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the waves. They waded into the cool, inviting ocean, the water lapping gently at their ankles before turning into a playful splash fight. Tommy squealed as Evan managed to get him drenched, and soon they were both laughing and splashing each other, the laughter echoing over the sound of the waves.
Eventually, they swam out into deeper water, where they floated side by side, gazing up at the clear sky. Evan reached over and intertwined his fingers with Tommy’s.
“This is nice,” Tommy said softly. “Just us and the ocean.”
“It really is,” Evan agreed. He took a deep breath, letting the salty air fill his lungs. “I’m so glad we have days like this.”
Tommy turned to him, his eyes warm and sincere. “Me too. You know, I wouldn’t want to spend this day with anyone else.”
Evan squeezed Tommy’s hand and then let go, rolling onto his back and staring up at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky. “What do you think the clouds look like today?” he asked.
Tommy squinted up at the sky. “That one over there looks like a giant sea turtle, and that one could be a dragon.”
Evan laughed. “A dragon? Really?”
Tommy nodded seriously. “Yeah. A dragon that just finished a big meal and is taking a nap in the sky.”
Evan shook his head, chuckling. “I guess I never really looked at clouds like that before. You have a great imagination.”
“It’s one of my many talents,” Tommy said with a wink.
They floated in companionable silence for a few moments, content in the presence of one another. As the sun climbed higher, the warmth of the beach enveloped them, and the sound of the waves became a soothing rhythm in the background of their day.
Eventually, they swam back to shore and laid down on their beach blanket, the sun shining down and warming their skin. They spent the afternoon sunbathing, talking about their future, and even taking turns reading aloud from a novel Tommy had brought along.
As the day began to wind down and the sky turned a palette of oranges and pinks, Evan sat up and looked around. “You know, I think the sunset’s going to be amazing tonight.”
Tommy looked over and smiled. “Let’s make sure we’re here to see it.”
They moved closer together on the blanket, their shoulders touching as they watched the sun dip toward the horizon. The colors in the sky deepened and shifted, painting the world in hues of red, gold, and purple.
Tommy rested his head on Evan’s shoulder. “This has been a perfect day,” he murmured.
Evan wrapped an arm around him, holding him close. “Yeah, it really has.”
As the last sliver of sun disappeared below the horizon, they sat there, hand in hand, content in the knowledge that moments like these, simple and beautiful, were the ones that made life special.
When it finally grew dark, they packed up their things and walked back to the car, their steps slow and unhurried, enjoying the warmth of the day’s last glow. They were quiet for a while, both lost in their thoughts, but their smiles spoke of a shared happiness.
As they drove away from the beach, Evan glanced over at Tommy, who was gazing out the window with a dreamy expression.
“Same time next week?” Evan asked.
Tommy turned to him and smiled. “Definitely.”
And as they sped down PCH, Evan knew that whatever the future held, as long as he was with Tommy, it would be filled with more days like this—full of love, laughter, and simple joys.