Honestly, the whole thing had begun as a one-time-thing. The yes had slipped out of John’s lips before he even realized he’d agreed to go to a wedding with Elaine Burrows, as her date. Sure, he was a stand-in for Ward Eastwood and sure, it wasn’t exactly a date-date… But, it didn’t stop him from speed dialing Sally the moment he hopped in his truck as he waved goodbye to Elaine.

Sally - of course - had a field day; while John repeatedly reminded her he did not have a crush on one of his clients. He was merely doing her a favor. 

Now, almost two months and five stand-in weddings later, the two were on their way back to Elaine’s house after another happy celebration. Usually, the evening events would end with her reminding John how he needn’t walk her home, with him firmly disagreeing.

“What kind of stand-in date would I be if I didn’t walk you home?” He’d ask and Elaine would give in.

The proximity between them had lessened. Each wedding would have John draw Elaine even a little more closer to him as they danced. He’d gotten used to holding her, spinning her, and keeping her steady. Sometimes, he’d forget the only reason he was there was because some other dude couldn’t make it. 

Tonight, Virginia Beach was quiet as they walked in the moonlight. Every so often John would reach out to steady Elaine or he’d feel her arm brush against his or she’d stop them in their tracks pointing at something in the sky. Her voice filled the air and perhaps, it was the alcohol running through his veins, but John could have sworn hers was the most beautiful voice he’d ever heard. 

“Fucking spring in Virginia Beach,” he’d mumble under his breath and Elaine would giggle rolling her eyes.

They reached her home and climbed up the steps, John reaching to grab the screen door for her. 

“Every time,” Elaine said sweetly, and he couldn’t see but he was sure she was smiling. She proceeded to fumble through her small purse looking for her keys, while John gave a light shrug. 

“If you’d let me replace the lightbulb–” John began. 

“I found them,” Elaine marveled and held her keys up for him to see.

“Mmhmm,” he let out quietly. They stood close to each other, he could smell the wine on her breath and the faint smell of her perfume. “Well,” he said and knocked on her door with his knuckles a couple times.

“Better let you get some sleep. See you Tuesday, for the gnomes you found?”  He asked, but didn’t really wait for a confirmation. John slid past Elaine and began a quicker-than-he-meant descent down her porch steps.

“John?” Elaine’s voice pierced through his heavy steps.

His body reacted before he told it to do anything. He turned on his heels and glanced in her direction. 

“Ever wondered what it would be like if you stayed?” She asked.

His gaze softened. He could see the moonlight against her slightly-over intoxicated features. 

“Ah,” he let out.

Quietly, John walked back up the steps and neared her again. He reached out and tucked a few bits of her hair behind her ear. 

“Don’t you ever, for a second, say I didn’t try,” John Bowers said with a joking chuckle. 

Spring had come to Virginia Beach and with that, wedding season. It seemed like at least every weekend was occupied by someone’s nuptuials, which didn’t bother Elaine in the slightest. Spring was her best season at the shop and this year profits were exceptional. The bride for this weekend’s wedding had, of course, also come by the shop for her gown but, unlike with many of her customers, Elaine was also a guest at the wedding. 

“Never!” she protested, looking up at John. “You’re doing quite well, I must say!”

Ward had agreed to be her date to this wedding. Platonic wedding date, she had assured him. She had imagined it might be a fun evening of champagne and Elaine playing the roll of wing man to her old friend. But a week out, something (or, more accurately, someone) had come along to draw his attention, leaving Elaine dateless for the evening. 

John was a good sport about the situation when Elaine explained it to him and instantly agreed to come with her. He’d even joked he’d go by Ward the entire evening to see how confused people might become. She’d assured him that wasn’t necessary, but being able to dance properly would be. 

The pair were currently on her back patio, music flowing through the open door from the kitchen, as Elaine instructed John on the ways of dancing properly. 

“It isn’t this bump and grind nonsense that seems to be so popular,” Elaine had informed him, fully realizing John Bowers was not the sort of person who would be dancing in such a way. “Its proper dancing, like civilized humans.”

Elaine would confess she hadn’t expected him to pick up the steps so easily. As the song came to an end, she gave him a light applause for his performance. John make the motions of bowing.

“I’d say you’re nearly ready for the more advanced class,” she grinned as the music stared up again. 

“Something more along these lines?” John asked, grabbing her hand, spinning her around and dipping her backwards in a move that caught Elaine completely off guard. 

“I don’t think you needed my lessons,” Elaine commented once she’d regained her composure. 

John simply grinned and pulled her back upright. “Or maybe you’re just that good of a teacher.” Elaine stared at him, the hint of a smile on her lips. 

“I’ll pick you up at two tomorrow,” John informed her, grabbing his coat off the chair and heading towards his truck.

“It’s only midnight, where are you going?” The sound of waves crashing against the shore of Virginia Beach helped fill the silence in-between her shout and his lack of response. Her feet were bare, sand sliding in-between her toes as she ran across the shore to catch up with him. They had only met tonight and tonight was ending far too quickly for her liking

Leslie Mann was eighteen and full love life. All night she had thrown back keg beer and danced around a bonfire with her friends. She felt at home here on the beach. The salt in the air kinked her long brown hair into soft waves which could barely be seen in the yellow light of the moon. By comparison, Will (or had he said Bill?) was much more stone faced than Leslie. He was lighthearted and accepted beers from her when she strolled up to him at the party, but there was no dancing or yelling or skinny dipping on his agenda. She had been watching him for the majority of the night out of the corner of her eye, so she knew that the wildest thing about him was when he rolled up the sleeves of his red and blue plaid shirt. It left his hand free to grab, which she did to turn him around… otherwise she could have sworn he would have continued walking. 

Her stomached grew and shrank in a repetitive motion as she worked to catch her breath. He was a ways down the beach before she noticed his departure and went sprinting out of the water to catch up with him. As a result, she was still a little wet with saltwater. “I wasn’t done with you,” she said, only realizing what an odd statement that was after it was too late. She laughed a little at herself, but that didn’t stop her from squeezing his hand. 

“What?” He coughed, perhaps anxiously, because she was moving closer and closer to him. 

“Jump in the water with me. It’s warm.” She quirked a brow in her dangerous way. Water from dripped from her bikini onto his plaid. 

“I-I should really be getting…”

Leslie Mann was eighteen and full of life. All night she had thrown back keg beer and danced around a bonfire with her friends. And now she wanted to kiss a boy. Without a second thought, she ruined Will’s chances of returning home dry. And not because she convinced him to go swimming. The water still on her skin soaked into his clothes as she pressed her body against his. Like the ocean, her lips crashed into him, and he only rose from the chaos when he needed a breath of air. 

“…home.” 

Leslie slowly slid back from him, her one hand still grabbing his. The other fell from the back of his neck to fix a strap on her suit top. “If you insist.” She was slow like a calming tide.