I've won the fucking jackpot. That's what I thought as I drove the open-topped Jeep along the beach on a glorious summer's evening. I turned to the blonde in the passenger seat and she smiled and blew cigarette smoke from her moist red lips. I savoured the aroma of tobacco and expensive perfume. Was this a snapshot moment from my twenties that I'd remember for the rest of my life? I had the beach, the sunshine, the company of a girl who turned heads wherever she went, and the promise of some time alone with her. It was a grand moment. Just grand.
"All we need is a nice little spot for dinner," I said.
There was a cool box in the back with enough food for an evening meal, a portable barbeque that most Australians find hilariously small but was perfect for the occasion, a six-pack of beer, and a bottle of Barossa red.
"How about over there?" Kate said. She pointed to a gap between a pair of dunes.
The beach was a distance from the road and deserted. Hidden between the dunes would be better still.
"Beauty mate," I said, and winked at her.
I'd somehow found the courage to call and ask her out, and she'd accepted. She also suggested we take the tent if we were going to drink alcohol. Just in case we drank too much and needed to spend the night on the beach. Fucking result.
I think it was Kate's idea to go for a swim before eating, which was cool, but I sensed she was as nervous about undressing in front of me as I was with her. I took the initiative and disappeared behind the Jeep to change.
When I was ready, I went back around and stood and faced the sea. Kate came over and stood beside me in the warm evening breeze.
"When did you last have a swim?" I asked.
"A couple of weeks ago. In Thailand. Remember the pool at the end of the trek?"
Yes, I remembered the pool. I remembered her black bikini and being unable to take my eyes off her lovely full tits, but scared she'd think I was creepy if she caught me looking.
We walked towards the sea and chatted, but I could sense a nervous edge in Kate's voice. It was kind of a relief to think that, beautiful as she was, she had feelings for me too. She took my hand as we walked. My legs went weak.
"Let's do it," Kate said.
The shock of the cold water brought me back to reality. Kate ran ahead of me and I watched her cute little bum cheeks twitch when she plunged into an approaching wave. Moments later she surfaced, turned to look at me, and smoothed back her wet blonde hair over her high forehead.
"Come on, slowcoach."
I didn't want to disappoint her so I dived into the next wave. I didn't even think of my contact lenses until I was already under the water, but they stayed in. Kate came over when I stood up. We faced each other.
"Nearly lost my contacts," I said. Shit.
"Oh," Kate said. She brought her delicate fingers up and stroked my cheek and lips.
I snapped like a dog and growled. Kate jerked her hand back. Immediately I knew my attempt to be funny had gone completely wrong. I blurted an apology but I could see it was too late. Kate turned and dived into the water again and distanced herself from me with strong smooth strokes. Then she stood and looked out to the sea with her hands on her hips. A rejection if ever I'd seen one. I turned and went back towards the jeep. I'd fucking blown it. What an idiot.
I got the barbeque on the stand and lit it. I remembered the tent, but then dismissed the idea of setting it up, considering I'd been such a fool. I reached down to the cooler for a beer. I sensed Kate come up behind me as I fumbled with the latch.
"Why did you come back so soon?" she asked.
"I thought I, um," I turned and looked up at her and squinted through the setting sun as it haloed behind her blonde head, "you know, that I'd upset you with that stupid dog impression."
Kate looked at me, puzzled. "No. It was silly." She paused. "Anyway, you got a drink for me too?" She held out her hand.
"Yeah, here." I flipped the lid and passed it to her.
"Cheers," Kate said. She touched her bottle to mine.
"Cheers." What a relief. I hadn't blown it after all. I took a swig and busied myself with the food. I'd kept it simple. Thick sausages and a piece of steak big enough to be cut in two, a bag of premixed salad, and bread rolls. I slapped the meat on the grill.
Kate still had her wet swimmers on and she unpacked the Jeep while I cooked the meat. I tried not to stare at the outline of her erect nipples through the bikini top when she bent over. She finished unpacking and put a large towel on the sand next to the tent and sat. She motioned for me to join her.
I got the wine from the Jeep and placed it beside us. It wasn't the first time we'd had a drink together. I think the first time was shortly after we met in the backpacker hostel in Thailand. I remember being scared of saying the wrong thing. Then I was scared she would think I was boring if I didn't speak. But this time I wasn't worried.
"Do you have anyone?" Kate asked then, out of nowhere.
I waited. Better to have her think I was struggling to explain, rather than the reality -- that there was no one, and there never had been. Not really.
"No, I haven't. But I'm falling for you big time, Kate," I said finally, as sincerely as I could. I looked into her lovely blue eyes and prayed she wouldn't laugh.
Her face seemed to concentrate. Serious concentration about how to best answer my sincerity.
"Oh Ethan, that was really hard for you, wasn't it?"
She put a hand on my cheek and this time I kissed her fingers. I nodded and she looked at me all teary and I felt like crying too. Instead, I leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. Then we looked at each other and leaned forward to do it again, but still a little hesitantly. I know I felt too mature for teenage tonguing and fumbling, and I hoped she did too. It was more like we wanted to acknowledge how we felt about each other to get it out of the way so we could enjoy the rest of the evening.
"Time to eat," I said.
I walked over to the barbeque and Kate picked up my glass and followed. She did her best to get on tippy-toes in the sand and leaned upwards to kiss me lightly on the cheek. Then she cupped an affectionate hand around my waist and handed me the wine. She put her head against my arm. I figured it was a little too soon to ask her to marry me.
"Not exactly gourmet delights," I said.
"No worries, I always like..." Kate giggled as she squeezed me.
"A big sausage?"
We laughed. It was silly and unoriginal, but we didn't care.
Another five minutes' cooking and the food was ready. We were ravenous. It must have been the sea air. Paper plates, plastic cutlery and fingers, tomato sauce and barbequed meat. Yep, it was just right. The delicious red wine complimented it perfectly.
Afterwards, we sat on the sand and sipped wine and chatted as the sun went down behind the dunes. Then I gathered up the rubbish in a plastic bag and took a rug from the jeep and put it down in place of the towel. There was just enough wine to top up our glasses.
My bladder was full after the beer and wine and I'd have to relieve myself soon. I put my glass down and kissed Kate, deeply this time. She responded in kind.
"You're such a beautiful girl," I said.
"You're the most gorgeous boy," Kate said. She put a soft hand on my cheek again. "Those green eyes."
Then we were at each other again, eager for the taste of warm wet breath and wine -- such a sweet pungent mix. I put my arms around Kate and felt her full tits press against my chest. I wanted to suck them.
