85 Sunday at the beach 1

~ Seattle ~

In a small seafood restaurant on the beach…

Hunter and Mia fed one another while smiling and exchanging glances which showed that they are hungrier for each other than for the food.

More than once Liz stifled a laugh.

"What's funny?", Max asked.

"That", Liz gestured toward Mia and Hunter.

How Max sees it, watching his brother acting like an enamored teenager is NOT funny. But the more vexing part is that he needs to control himself in order not to spook Liz away.

Ah, if this is Max from a month ago, he would whisk Liz away to one of his hookup places and have his way with her. Whole day, and night.

Liz shook her head in disbelief. "I've never seen Mia like this."

Max sighed. He agrees with Liz. "I can't believe that my own brother is making me look away."

"Oy!", Liz called when she threw a piece of breadstick at Mia. "If you two don't cool it off, we are not going to repeat this four-people lunch."

As much as Max is uncomfortable with his brother being lovey-dovey while he can't be, the idea of them not repeating this double-date nonsense sounds good. After all, he wants Liz only for himself.

Mia stuck her tongue out at Liz playfully. "Watch your boyfriend and leave us alone."

Liz narrowed her eyes at Mia and Mia pretended to be scared and then both of them burst into laugh.

Liz is not uncomfortable, she is happy for Mia.

The rest of the lunch passed in a good mood, after which they agreed to split up.

…

"What do you want to do?", Max asked Liz while they walked back to his car from the restaurant. Other than spending the day with Liz, he didn't make any plans.

Liz thought how she didn't visit many places in Seattle, and that includes the beach. But the thought of going anywhere in public with Max made her uncomfortable. The memories of their photograph ending online, and that smear-campaign flooded her mind and she does not want to go through that.

"I want to go home.", Liz responded.

"Home?", Max's disapproval was impossible to miss. "It's a great day, we could…"

"I need to do some research. For work.", Liz interrupted him. "I am sorry. If you want to spend the day outside, feel free to, but I have work to do."

Max felt that something is off, but then he thought how this might be just Liz being… Liz.

"No, no... I need to catch up on some reading myself. I will join you.", he said with a smile. "On the way back, let's get some snacks. There is a bakery on the other side of the town which makes a killer tiramisu…"

…

Hunter made plans for him and Mia. They will spend the afternoon on the beach, and they got a backpack with a change of clothes and some snacks.

Mia's eyes lit up when she saw volleyball nets in the distance.

Hunter noticed where Mia's gaze landed and smiled. Those nets are part of his plan for the day. He pulled her closer to him and explained: "There are matches through the day. Sand volleyball. Two person teams. Will you team up with me?"

She smiled. "Always."

Hunter grinned. The idea of Mia always teaming up with him sounds… fantastic.

Mia and Hunter headed to the outdoor dressing rooms which are available on the beach. It's more like a hut with lockers which people can use to keep their things and a back area where narrow dressing boxes are. They reminded Mia of public restrooms (but without a toilet), with a gap on the bottom which is exposing people inside from their knees down.

Mia came out wearing black biker-shorts and a light gray tight-fitting tank top. It's perfect for activities. She was tying her hair in a ponytail while looking for Hunter. She rolled her eyes internally. Why does he always take so long to get ready?

"Isn't that Mia?", a male voice came from the side.

"Ah, looks like it…", a second voice sounded.

Mia was confused. Who knows her here?

Mia looked at two young men who returned friendly gazes to her. Based on their smiles, they obviously know her, but she can't figure out who they are. It took her a minute to remember her teammates from yesterday's game in the sports club. "Ashton and Derek!"

They grinned happily.

"Jake and Mike are there.", Derek pointed behind her. "Mike was unable to show up yesterday, so you played in his place, and you met Jake."

"Hunter told us you are out of town.", Ashton started a chat. "Do you want us to show you around?"

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"You look dressed up for a run. Or are you up for volleyball?", Derek chimed in. "I can be your partner."

Ashton shoot an angry look at Derek. "A partner? Derek, I know you fancy her, but come on… Aren't the two of us partners? Are you going to leave me hanging?... Mia, you want to pair up with me, right?"

They spoke so quickly that Mia found her head spinning. She raised her hand, indicating them to stop talking.

"Volleyball, yes. But I have a partner, thank you.", she told them.

"Oh?", Ashton craned his neck toward the dressing room. "Is she any good? Maybe we can be mixed partners?"

Mia stifled a laugh when she understood that Ashton assumed how her partner is a girl.

Derek took Mia's laugh as an agreement. "Great! We can go and register and…"

"Get lost!", Hunter growled at Derek.

In two steps he was next to Mia and pulled her closer to him.

"Are these two bothering you?", Hunter asked Mia in a low voice before turning to glare at stupefied Derek and Ashton.

They were not sure what shocked them more. The fact that Mia's partner is Hunter, or that Hunter is acting so hostile toward them, or that it all points to Hunter having a girlfriend! Definitely the third one. Hunter having a girlfriend is the most difficult thing to digest. And since when is Hunter greeting them with 'get lost'?

"No, they are fine.", Mia told Hunter. "It seems we need to register?"

"Yes. There are four nets for the open tournament which happens on Sunday. We should hurry…", Hunter said while walking away with Mia.

Derek tilted his head like he is trying to see how the image in front of him will change if he looks sideways. Hunter's hand around Mia's shoulders... Mia holding Hunter around waist... the two of them walking away... definitely something unusual. And did they match their clothes? Mia's black biker-shorts are matching Hunter's black athletic shorts, both ending above knees with the difference that Hunter's shorts are loose fitting. And Mia has a gray tank top while Hunter is in a gray t-shirt.

"Hey, are you listening?!", Ashton's voice snapped Derek out of his daze.

"What?"

"We should go and register...", Ashton reminded Derek.

…

Hunter sat next to Mia on the sand and pointed toward the net on the right where a game is in progress. "We are on that net. Two more games and then we are up."

"Mhm…", Mia hummed in response and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Hunter moved his arm, wrapping it around Mia, and the two of them sat like that and watched the games.

Mia enjoyed the view of the beach, people playing volleyball with Pacific Ocean and Seattle skyline in the background. But the best part was Hunter. Right next to her. Her sight fell on his left knee, and the bruise.

"Will you be able to play?"

"Why?" He didn't understand from where is that question coming.

"Is your leg OK?", Mia clarified.

He smiled. "It's fine."

"You don't need to pretend. If you are in pain, let me know."

His smile widened. "I. Am. Fine."

Mia rolled her eyes. Last night he was limping. Can he really be fine? But she sees that he will not admit it. Well, she will pay attention during the game, and if she notices that something is off with his movements, she will demand that they stop.

"You didn't ask if I am a good at volleyball."

"Mhm…", he hummed in confirmation. "You told me how in regard to you, I need to see it to believe it. So far, everything you showed me exceeded my expectations and I am eager to see more."

Mia was lost in Hunter's deep blue eyes. The way he spoke to her, tugged her heartstrings and she was unable to look away.

"Hey Hunter! Hi Mia!", Jake called and stood in front of them.

"When did this happen?", Jake asked Hunter while his index finger shook from Mia to Hunter. "Yesterday you said that she is not your girl…"

Hunter narrowed his eyes at Jake, warning him to watch his language. "She is now."

Jake was unsure how to respond to a sudden hostility. He was just asking, alright?

The awkward atmosphere dispersed when others arrived. Ashton and Derek arrived with Mike. All four of them joined Mia and Hunter on the sand and chatted while waiting for their games to start.

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