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Tim does not like the beach. He does not like to get sand everywhere, and sand unfortunately gets everywhere for Tim. Not just on his clothes but in his clothes, in his shoes.
Everywhere.
It doesn’t help that he literally stumbled upon the dead body (what is with all the dead bodies being washed up?)
It doesn’t help that he and Lucy were at a beachside restaurant and then decided to go on a walk.
(He doesn’t like the beach—but he does like Lucy. A lot.)
He almost trips over it, but Lucy catches him. “Woah.” She says. “Oh my god is that a body?” Tim stares down at the body in front of him.
This wasn’t happening.
“It is.” Lucy says giving him a look, he is already pulling out his phone and she is guarding the body so no one else almost trips over it.
Tim is on the phone, and soon there are bystanders coming to look. “Did you boyfriend kill him?” A woman asks. Tim looks over at her.
“He is a cop.” Lucy says but she doesn’t correct boyfriend. He’s not sure he would either. “We are both cops. We are calling it in.”
“What were you doing—” a man asks. “How—”
“We are just as confused as all of you.” Lucy says sounding exasperated. Tim is telling the operator what is going on but he is sure it’s jumbled. There is too much going on for him to even think straight. He finally hangs up and turns to look at Lucy.
“Everyone is on their way. I don’t know how I got that out.” He says. Lucy just gives him a smile and continues to push the people back that get close.
“It’s our day off and we are still on the job.” Lucy says. “We can’t get a break.”
“Were you on a date?” A girl asks curiously. She looks like she is in her late teens but she definitely shouldn’t be seeing a dead body on the beach.
(That was nightmare fuel).
“No.” Tim says quickly. People were being too nosey, he just wanted to get this body out of here and be on his way. “We are just friends.” The word sounds foreign on his tongue, they weren’t just friends. Ever since Vegas, they turned into something more. Lucy broke up with Chris and Ashley broke up with Tim because of… Lucy. Tim really didn’t mind because he knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere with Ashley.
(Plus Ashley loves the beach and Tim did not).
Lucy never told him what happened with Chris, and he never asked. He didn’t like the man, Lucy was way too good for him. She deserves better, and one day he hopes she will get that.
Tim feels Lucy’s eyes on him, and he looks away and around the beach. He sees a figure walking towards them. It looks familiar and when it approaches, he frowns when he sees who it is.
Ashley.
The very last person he wanted to see. To be honest, he shouldn’t be surprised this was basically Ashley’s home.
“Tim?” She asks as she gets closer. “Someone said you and your girlfriend found a dead body?” She looks around and looks right past Lucy.
“Yes we did.” Tim says. “We are waiting for the right people to get here.” Ashley studies him, and then looks at Lucy.
“Why are you here?” She asks Lucy. “Do you always have to follow Tim around?”
“I was with Tim.” She says. “We were eating and then we came for a walk on the beach…” She trails off and looks at Tim with a sheepish look.it did sound like a date. A non date.
“We just happened upon it.” Tim says and winces when he hears it out loud. “It’s not a big deal.” Ashley eyes Lucy, and she looks disgusted like it’s Lucy’s fault that there’s a dead body.
“Remember that one time—” Ashley says sidling up to Tim and blinking at him. He has no idea why she does that.
“Yes and that was horrible.” Tim says looking away from Ashley. He sees the coroner and some officers approaching. “Over here!”
He catches Lucy’s eyes and nods at her. They didn’t have to be here anymore. “It was…I have to go.” Tim says and he walks away without another word.
***
“You know we got mistaken as a couple.” Lucy says as they walk away. They are no longer on the beach and Tim is relieved. “Several times.”
“I know.” Tim says and he’s trying not to think too much into it. He’s trying not think about whether or not that’s a good or bad thing. “Ashley even thought so.”
“I know. I don’t think she likes me very much. But didn’t she break up with you?”
“She did.” Tim says and he studies Lucy for a minute. Ashley broke up with him because of Lucy, she told him that and he supposes he should have denied it. But he didn’t. He couldn’t. Ashley called him out, and pulled out feelings that he didn’t even know he had for Lucy.
That he still has.
Who knew a dead body and an ex girlfriend would bring it out again.
“Huh.”
“What?” Tim asks. Lucy looks over at him and shakes her head a little.
“It’s just weird that she has a grudge against me.” Lucy says. Tim sighs, and then pulls her to a stop.
“There’s something I need to tell you.” He says. “What happened between us.”
“It was just for undercover.” She says quickly but too quickly. “Right?”
“I guess but Ashley noticed I guess and—it wasn’t fake to me.” He says. “It wasn’t just undercover.”
“Oh.”
“I know this is—I’m sorry.” Tim says. “I just—” But he’s cut off when Lucy’s lips connect with his. It’s just like in the apartment and on the plane.
Oh.
He pulls her closer, relishing in having her close. He has only had this a few times but he wants it all the time.
He pulls back and Lucy makes a noise. “Wow.” She mutters. “That’s definitely not fake.”
Tim laughs and presses his forehead against hers. “No it’s not.” He says. “How about that?” Lucy laughs and pulls him in for a kiss.
Maybe the beach wasn’t so bad after all.
***
A few weeks later:
“The beach isn’t so bad babe.” Lucy says as they walk out onto the beach once again. Tim grumbles, except this time he really doesn’t mind. And it’s mostly because of Lucy who he has made his entire world. They are hand in hand and Tim really can’t think of anything better.
“I guess not but I have you here.” He says. “And with you? I like it a little more.”
“Come here,” she mutters and she pulls him down for a kiss. He’s not sure how but he’s already falling in love with her. He’s never felt this way about anyone.
“Keep talking like that Bradford and we will be ending this date early.” She mutters against his lips. Tim perks up, Lucy kisses him again.
The beach was definitely not that bad.
(And they definitely ended the date early).