Seth’s parents were celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary by cruising for seven blissful days in the Mediterranean. He had taken the liberty of securing…uh stealing a key to their new house from his younger sister, and invited as many of his friends to join him for the conveniently planned week before graduation. Many had turned down the invitation since it did fall so close to graduation, but eight had eventually agreed and were now in two cars driving towards their vacation destination.

Lexi had initially been concerned about the arrangement. Several people in attendance had lived with Jack at one point in time, and all of the people going knew him. But when Clark had excitedly invited her for his pre-graduation vacation, she hadn’t been able to tell him why she felt unsure about going on a free week-long trip to the beach when her summer job hadn’t started yet.

Clark. She smiled just thinking about him. They had met through Jack originally back in her freshman year. He hadn’t known all the details of what had gone on between them at the time, but he had learned enough to put the pieces together. When Clark had stumbled across Lexi walking around the mall, he hadn’t been able to stop himself from asking her out even knowing something had gone on with her and Jack. He unintentionally confessed that he had always thought she was way too good for Jack, and not even close to Jack’s type. Lexi hadn’t been sure if she wanted to say yes to the offer. Clark was a friend of Jack’s. Awkward. And even worse, he knew at least some of what they had gone through. Even more awkward.

Clark hadn’t been offended by her lack of exuberance, but he had continued to pursue her promising her a casual evening out. Lexi had never thought about Clark in a romantic sense. She had always been clouded by her blind desire for Jack. Even as she accepted his invitation, she hadn’t realized quite how handsome he was.

Their first date was nothing out of the ordinary. He had taken her to a dinner, not too expensive, but still nice. Afterwards, he took her to a local ice cream shop for dessert. She couldn’t remember the last time she had had that much fun. Clark was easy going, yet attentive to her. He seemed to genuinely care what she was talking about, and what she was interested in. Something about him that night remained permanently etched into her memory. Clark just got her. They just clicked. It was strange, even then, for Lexi to feel like Clark understood something about her that, perhaps, even she didn’t.

But she couldn’t help seeing Jack in him that night. When she looked at Clark, she could remember another time when things had been this easy. Feeling uncomfortable at the prospect of being physical with Clark after having those improper thoughts, she left him with only a simple good night kiss. But after that night, Lexi couldn’t deny that there was something about Clark she liked.

He kept calling and eventually, without even realizing it, they were a couple.

A few rather uncomfortable situations had occurred, in which, she was forced into civil environments with Jack. She usually extracted herself as quickly as possible, making whatever excuse came to mind. Recently, it had happened less frequently, and it thankfully made things easier between her and Clark.

Lexi’s mind had returned to Jack when Clark had invited her on this trip. She hadn’t even meant to ask about him. But somehow it had slipped out, and she had asked Clark the one pressing question she needed to base her decision on: Is Jack going to be there? She could handle hanging out with a bunch of people who knew that her and Jack had had…something at one point in time. But actually having him at the beach house for a whole week looking damn sexy would just kill her. She couldn’t do it.

She had been able to hear the disappointment in Clark’s voice over the phone. They had been dating for nearly nine months, and she still had to ask about Jack. Sighing uncomfortably, he had told her that he wasn’t positive, but last he had heard from Seth, Jack would be out of town for his cousin’s graduation ceremony in Savannah. That was all the confirmation she needed, and she had happily agreed to accompany them to the beach. Her tan was waning anyway.

Lexi popped open the door to the Lexus SUV as soon as Seth placed it in park and gingerly stretched out her aching muscles. She breathed in the cool beach air with a smile. Her head swiveled up to the massive beach house Seth’s parents called home. The entire place looked modern and chic from the outside. She couldn’t wait to see how the interior matched, but all she really cared about at that moment was the beach. She just wanted to sink her feet into the pure white sand and stare out across the Gulf of Mexico.

Clark came around from the other side of the car and kissed her cheek. Taking one last look at her, he said, “Go on.” He nudged her towards a pathway leading directly to the beach. “I’ll grab your bag.”

Without a backwards glance, she rushed the gate blocking her way. Yanking it open, she dashed down the stone stairs, and around the corner. Her breath caught at the sight of the ocean looming ahead of her. Chucking her flip-flops to the side as she reached the threshold, she edged into the sand feeling the heated temperatures against her skin. Then she took off with a burst of energy, loving the overpowering feeling of release at the thought of being here, in this beautiful place, for an entire week.

Just before she reached the sand soaked through from the salty ocean water, she stopped dead in her tracks and stared dumbfounded in front of her. Maybe she was dreaming. Had she fallen asleep while she was in the car? Would she remember that she had been in the car if she was dreaming? Would he be here if she was dreaming? She didn’t really have to answer that question. He had always been in her dreams, but the real question was whether or not she was dreaming about him right now. Suddenly terrified, she wondered if Clark would hear her say his name. Then realizing she couldn’t be dreaming or else she wouldn’t be thinking about this, she would be doing…other things. Her mouth opened as he turned towards her.

Had she said his name out loud? She didn’t remember.

“Lex?” he asked obviously just as startled as she was. “What…? How…? I…uh…”

“Are you real?” she blurted without thinking.

A characteristic smirk appeared on his face, and she knew. He was real. Even her dreams didn’t make him look this gorgeous. Every feature was vividly defined in the afternoon rays pouring over his body, and into his intensely blue orbs.

He took a step forward clearing the gap she had left between them. It had been a safe distance. Now, he was so close their bodies were nearly touching. Her breath caught as she raised her head to meet his intense stare. God, he looked amazing. Her foggy image of his perfect features faded so quickly when he was out of sight. Everything felt right as she stood in his presence, only inches separating them. He reached out placing one hand on her cheek, checking to see if she was, in fact, real. Lexi’s heart raced at the gentle touch, her mind returning to a brilliant clarity.

Jack was here.

They both seemed to be in a trance as their looks never wavered. She felt his thumb stroke her cheek lovingly, but she couldn’t break away from him. She couldn’t remember the last time he had touched her…on purpose. Then, the image of her lying naked on his bed filled her mind, and she blushed deeply. He seemed amused by this and stepped closer to her. They both sank an inch or so into the sand as he shifted causing her to reach out and grab his chest to steady herself. His smirk returned when she didn’t pull her hand away from his incredible build.

This couldn’t be happening to her. There was no way that Jack would be here. Everyone had confirmed that he was supposed to be in Savannah…far, far away from the beach house. So she let her thoughts return to the possibility that she was dreaming. He was only a few inches from her succulent lips. It would be so easy to close the space. Though she had never envisioned being with Jack intimately on a beach before, she didn’t put it past her imagination. And her imagination could be very ingenious when it wanted to be.