chapter forty

"Next time I think I'll do it," said Sage with a grin as she sat down on a wooden deck chair on the sand.

Logan just looked at her with mock-incredulity, before he pushed another deck chair up against hers and laid beside her.

He handed Sage the drink which he had gotten for her. She took in her delicate hands as she shook her head, the grin still wide on her face.

"Blue orange juice," she said, holding the drink above her face to examine it. She turned to Logan. "What will they think of next?"

"Shut up," he said gleefully, nudging her shoulder with his face and bringing her closer to him.

Sage moved her head so that it came to rest on Logan's large shoulder. A look of contentedness came over her face as they enjoyed the cool ocean breeze in the fading light of the sunset.

Sage and Logan had been planning and saving for this trip to Fiji for almost a year. Being able to lay on a beach, without any worries or stress, was a welcome change from their hectic college lives. Other than attending Mike and Laura's wedding on the other side of the island tomorrow, they were completely commitment-free.

Logan felt the parts of Sage's soft skin that were left uncovered by Sage's black, one-piece bathing suit against his own. To Sage's delight, Logan teased her thighs with his hand, and came to rest his hand on her crotch without a hint of reservation. Sage still had not gotten the surgery, but Logan felt nothing. She sipped her drink with an air of satisfaction.

In the years they had been together, Sage had never been found out, but Logan had stood by her through many, many hardships. He had proven himself to her many times over.

Sage looked up toward Logan, his muscles still dripping with water from their time in the pool a short while ago. She caressed his bicep between her thumb and index finger.

Logan looked down at Sage, the wind playing gently with a strand of her curly, red hair.

"I love you," Sage said in a small, breathy, utterly-feminine voice.

Logan paused for a moment. Even though he had heard the same line emanate from her beautiful lips a thousand times, there was still nothing like hearing it; after all, there was a time - a long, long time ago - when he thought he never, ever would.

"I love you too, Sage," Logan replied.

Their lips met, the red light of the sun glowing behind them. They had come a long, long way since they first met in high-school bio, all those years ago.

"Don't ever leave me, Logan," said Sage, their faces just an inch apart. Her expression was serious. She meant what she said.

"I won't," said Logan, placing his hand behind her head.

And he never did.