No Better Version of Me Than When I'm With You

Chapter 6

Just what I was hoping for

[Minho, 11:42am]

You're missin out, man! We'll miss ya

[Newt, 11:42am]

I'll drink a beer in your honor, mate

Thomas laughed at Newt's comment as he tucked his phone away, and Newt grinned at him, lifting the hat off his head and hanging it back up. Thomas did the same and they carried on down the boardwalk.

"Guess it won't be just us all day, then." Thomas commented.

"It'll be nice to see 'em," Newt replied, "I feel like it's been a while." Thomas nodded in agreement and they continued in comfortable silence for a while, people watching and enjoying the change in scenery.

As he looked around, Thomas saw a shaved ice stand just up the path and pointed to it. "Whaddya say we get some shaved ice then go to the beach?"

"That's an excellent idea." Newt nodded, giving him a warm grin.

"Who would've thought it'd be this busy on a Thursday morning." Thomas said as they approached the shockingly long line in front of the shaved ice stand.

"Guess everyone else is also skipping work today." Newt joked, and Thomas chuckled. "Hold our place though, I saw a sign for the toilets a minute ago and am gonna head back over there."

"I'll be here." Thomas nodded, watching as Newt disappeared back into the throng of people.

He checked Instagram on his phone for a minute before straightening and looking around. He could see the dunes that blocked his view of the water, but could hear the crashing of the surf in the distance. It was as he was talking his sunglasses off to clean them on the hem of his shirt, that he heard a voice behind him. He put his sunglasses back on, pushed his hands into his pockets, and turned to the person speaking to him.

"I. . .I'm not usually this forward, but, er, I couldn't help but come over and tell you how much I like your sunglasses." Thomas looked up to see a man standing next to him with a shy smile on his face. "I have the same ones."

"Wow, cool." Thomas nodded, giving him a small smile as he noticed they did indeed have the same glasses. He had light brown hair that was cropped short, and wore a ridiculously bright Hawaiian shirt with shorts and flip-flops. They were roughly the same height, though he stood slightly taller. The guy seemed nervous, though, for just making a friendly comment. Until he kept speaking, and then he knew exactly what was happening.

"Pretty good day to be at the beach, huh? So glad I got today off of work so I could come here."

"I called out of work just to come here," Thomas replied with a small laugh, deciding to go along with the conversation since he was bored waiting in line anyway, and it helped that the guy was cute. "They think I got food poisoning from some bad takeout last night."

The man laughed, a light airy thing, and seemed to relax slightly. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." He winked conspiratorially. "I'm Caleb, by the way."

"Thomas, nice to meet you Caleb." Thomas reached out to shake the offered hand, noticing how the guy shifted slightly closer as he did so.

"So what're you thinking of getting? This place has the best shaved ice." Caleb said, gesturing at the cart, and the menu board hanging from the top of it.

"Not sure yet, got any suggestions?"

"Well, my favorite is Tiger's Blood, but the piña colada flavor can't be beat."