so let the river run

Dalton hadn't planned on finding himself trapped in this situation, but pure curiosity and a questionable faith in the ability for people to not drag him into this issue.

He was being dragged left and right by sales people, a pair of eyes quickly turning toward the person on the outside watching.

"Help?"

where: the beach

non-event

" come on, give me a chance " the brunette forced a pout as fingers ran through her wet curly hair. a day off from the aquarium and being a mom felt rare, so she often sought to enjoy to the fullest, which meant lingering all day on the beach. " promise i'm a good teacher, i will get you from a kook to pro in a few waves " the shoort surf board remained in sand, sticking up in an offer. " it will be free, or you can pay me with a beer. "

"—don't quote me on this, but I don't think it's as worrisome as you make it out to be yet." Nikki told the girl behind the counter. Nikki didn't mean to be comforting but rather tone down the panic her old classmate was feeling over a few sleepless nights. She had seen —and been— worse anyway. Spotting him from the corner of her eye, she roped the poor guy in. "What do you think, doc? Is it worth asking for help or is observation cutting it for a few more days?"

She takes his phone and taps her name and number under a new contact. Having someone to show her around town is exciting in its own way. Maybe she can find a long term friend in Joseph, too. It's not a bad start to the next chapter in her life.

"Okay, here you go." She hands his phone back. "I look forward to my own personal tour around town."

“At least I know if it’s not my thing, I have a place to land back home.” Home, in Montana, when she knows she should be using ‘home’ to describe Aurora Bay.

It’ll stick — eventually.

Camryn offers Joseph a skeptical glance, but beneath is the smile pushing its way out. At least there’s a handful of friendly people to make settling in easier. “Sure. Did I give you my number? Maybe you can give me a tour of some of the popular places next week. I have to get settled in at the station this weekend, but I think my schedule will be clear Tuesday or Thursday.”

"You think I'm cute?" Maybe if he focused on that it would allow her to let her guard down slightly. "C'mon, won't you at least let me get you out of the cold? It might start raining or something. We can go anywhere you want, just as long as it's undercover." @rileyxmaddox

That alone was enough to make her feel bratty. But her stomach did rumble and her feet were tired. There were worse things that warming some lonely guy's bed for the night to have a roof over head.

"You live nearby?"

“Yeah, I get that. Some days it’s like the world’s just... louder than usual, like you can’t catch a break from it.” She took a slow sip of her drink, considering her words. “Sometimes, company helps—just someone to share the quiet with, you know? Doesn’t have to be anything grand, just a little space to breathe.” She met his eyes again, the teasing edge back in her voice as she added, “So, lucky for you, I’m pretty good at making things a little less noisy.” The grin she gave him was playful, but the offer was real.

Tea, pastries...the sketchbook, it all again made her breath catch, and when he asked if he could draw her, Valeria was pretty sure all the air escaped her lungs entirely. "Oh, I...--yeah. Yes, of course. I'd like that." She agreed, giving his hand a squeeze before she snorted softly, "I can barely draw an even circle, so I wouldn't expect art out of me if I'm being honest."

He gave her hand a last, gentle squeeze before letting go so he could pick up his pencil. "Just relax," he said, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her. "Not that you need direction. You look perfect as you are." Joseph could say that easily, because I’d was true. Right now he had the perfect back drop.

"I wouldn't let you kiss someone you weren't at least a little attracted to," Aylin assured him. Her eyes were still surveying the crowd when the question was put back on her. "I'm not kissing anyone." The proclamation was a knee-jerk reaction. "I'm not ready for that kind of thing yet." With her divorced not finalised yet, it was still way too soon.

Joseph understood her apprehension. He couldn't judge nor could he really relate because he really wouldn't know commitment if it bit him on the ass, regardless of being married. Aylin was well aware of his history. "Well, it's not like I'm picky," he let out a short chuckle, the glare he gave her showed the smallest amount of embarrassment.

( His mom's was the opposite, even on grocery day, the things she bought never lasted long with his grabby-handed siblings. )

"Managing's good, I hope."

It was damn sure better than the alternative.

"I'm okay, surfing and working mostly," Keo could summarise the story of his life in those two words, "Have you, uhh, heard anything from him?"

The him of it didn't feel like something he needed to define, not given everything that had transpired.

He pushed off the counter, grabbing his own drink but not opening it right away. "I asked to see him a while back..." His voice was steady, but he gripped the coke can a little too tight. “He doesn't want me to visit." He guessed Keo had a similar experience, if he'd even tried to visit everyone was always shoved away, by Harry's choice.

A father was supposed to protect his kid, supposed to guide them, keep them from making mistakes that could ruin their life. It wasn’t like he’d parented Harry long, but maybe he should’ve been stricter. Maybe it was his own fault for not being in the triplets life in the first place. Maybe he should’ve done a hundred different things, and maybe none of them would’ve changed a damn thing. Most importantly, he was a psychiatrist and he should have picked up on the signs.

"You better be here to give my journalists the next massive story that's going to sell a bunch of papers, or give me some exclusive photographs of the town superhero. If not, your parked ass better get movin'."

Her eyes flicked to the drink in his hand, and she smirked. "Besides, I couldn’t let you sit here brooding in your own little corner all night. Someone’s gotta keep you from turning into the mysterious loner at the bar." She flagged down the bartender with a quick wave, then turned her attention back to him, her tone softening just slightly. "Rough day? Or just needed an excuse to nurse a drink and people-watch?"

Talia had been waiting for what felt like a little too long. When she had text her father asking to meet for lunch she was almost unsurprised that he was late. She took a deep breath, wondering whether it was even worth it to wait around for him. She flicked another quick text to her father.

Talia: “Hey, I'm at the Jade Bowl you coming?”

Joseph: "On my way. Traffic. Hold tight."

He stared at the message, frowning when he realized he had somehow typed “Trffic. Hld tigt.” instead. Close enough. He hit send.

Stuffing his phone back in his pocket, he picked up his pace, already knowing Talia was probably debating whether to leave. Damn phones, he thought. Damn time.

Joseph pushed open the door to The Jade Bowl, the scent of spices and sizzling oil hitting him immediately. He scanned the restaurant, his eyes landing on Talia at a small table near the window. She looked just how he expected—arms crossed, eyes flicking between the door and her phone, probably deciding if she was annoyed enough to leave.