AugustThe first thing I heard was the laughter.It felt so freeing, so pure, echoing all around me, the grainy feel of hot sand burning beneath my feet, the wind rhyming with the bubbles of it. It was coming from me.“You are so cheating,” I gasped, catching my breath for the millionth time. “How is it fair?”“I am not cheating, I am winning,” a voice answered back. It was male, strong and sure. “You just hate losing, August.”I threw my head back, running down the seashore as my chest hurt from laughing even harder. “One of these days, I will beat you, cheat.”“Oh will you?”Strong arms wrapped around me, lifting me clean off the ground. I let out a sharp squeal, pushing against his shoulders.“Put me down.”“Accept you are a sore loser,” he retorted. “Just say it, I am a sore loser.”“I am a sore loser,” I laughed. “Now down.”He dropped me, still laughing. The vibration rumbled from his chest to mine, striking all the way to my toes. I had never felt safer.I pushed his chest,
Last Updated : 2026-07-17 Read more