At First Sight

Chapter Seven

The beach was deserted, sun beating down on the sand and cliffs. Drew nearly had a heart attack when Copeland stripped off her dress revealing a toned, yet curvy physique.  She ditched her shoes in record time and started doing the same strange moves he’d seen her do the day before. She spun to face him, her palms down, then up and forward. “This is called the commencement of tai chi. It’s soft like cotton,” she brought her hands up, “and smooth like water,” then down. “The next step is called half grasp bird’s tail.” 

She continued her routine and Drew mirrored her movements as best as he could when he was only half paying attention. She was too distracting but as she carried on, he joined her following each step one by one. He obviously wasn’t practiced like she was but he could be into this for sure. Further proof that she was his type of girl.

“How long have you been doing this for?”

She shrugged, “a couple of years I guess. I used to carry a lot of stress, never really fit in anywhere and I was walking home from school one day and I saw my neighbor practicing tai chi. It fascinated me so I asked him about it, and he offered to show me. Been doing it ever since. It’s how I meditate and reflect on things.”

“It’s beautiful,” Drew admitted. 

A shrub of wildflowers lined the embankment to the beach and he plucked one. When Copeland was finished and slipped her dress back over her shoulders, he tucked it behind her ear.

She dug through the bag she’d brought to retrieve her camera and turned it to face herself before snapping the picture. “I never want to forget this moment,” she said.

He positioned his body behind hers; placing his hands on the camera’s shutter release and took a second photo. “I never want you to forget it either.”

He kept taking the pictures like he’d seen her do so many times before. He changed up their pose, kissing her neck, even tickling her side and as he ushered the two of them back up the embankment toward his campsite, she had her head thrown back in laughter. As they reached the top of the hill, the sight of a blond girl, hands clasped behind her back, one leg crossed over the other, moving side to side like she was part of some invisible dance, captured his attention. Drew blinked then realized Wes stood beside her.

“Hey,” Wes said.

“What’s up, Wes?” He turned to face the girl. “Are you the imaginary yoga girl who lives next door?”

“I’m Rowyn. Did Wes tell you about me?”

“Yes.”

Copeland had somehow wedged herself behind him, so he reached to bring her back in front of his body.  “Rowyn. Wes. This is Copeland and now we all know each other.”

“Hi.”

What was Wes doing here? Drew’s stomach dropped for a beat. “Where’s Keaton? Is everything okay?” 

“He’s fine,” Wes said. “Keaton’s fine. We got sick of looking at the same four walls and decided to come and see you.” 

Oh. Well in that case… he held out his arms, showcasing the scenery. “Namaste. Welcome to my kick ass abode.”

Copeland took a step ahead, giving Rowyn the once over. “Something is missing,” she said, heading to a small clearing left of the tent. She returned with a wildflower, exactly as the one he’d just given her and tucked it behind the blond girl’s ear so they were a matched set. “There. Better.”

When he looked away, he noted that his campsite was a popular spot this morning because Scarlett and Ana were approaching, looking bored. “Copeland,” Ana said, “Your mom wants me to remind you that the barbecue is starting early afternoon.” She stared blankly for a second until it clicked. “Wes?”