“Ashton, if you could be any animal which would you be?” Nick asked me as we walked down the beach.

“Well, I think I would be a duck. I could sit in the water and just relax. I could watch people all day and they would feed me.”

“That is so weird. Quack.” He grabbed my hand.

We were strolling down the beach. I had a pail in shovel in my other hand. Nick was carrying some other beach toys.  We were spending the day relaxing at the beach.

“Shut up. Here’s the perfect spot.” I plopped down on the sand. Nick placed the toys on the sand and sat beside me.

“I can’t believe we are going to build sandcastles.” He laughed at me.

“Nicky, I never built a sandcastle before. It’s one of my dreams.” I said happily.

“Really now.  Any other things you haven’t done before?” Nick raised an eyebrow at me.

“You’re such a perv. All you think about is sex.”

“With you around I do. I love feeling your body next to mine.”

“Nick, I love you, but today is about sandcastles not sex.”

I threw a shovel at him. I was ready to get down to business building my sandcastle. I ran down to the water and filled my bucket. Quickly I placed it on the ground, the water rushed in. As soon as I finished, I ran back up to Nick.

“Start shoveling.”

“You sure are demanding.”

“When I want something I get it. So get to work, young man.”

He saluted me and got to work. We worked hard digging and shaping the sand. After about half hour, my sandcastle was finished. It didn’t look exactly how I pictured it.

“Well, it really doesn’t look like a castle?” Nick commented. He looked like he was going to bust out laughing.

“What does it look like?” I glared at him. I was covered with sand.

“Umm…a bunch of sand shaped like a bucket.” He laughed. He was so annoying.

I looked at my sandcastle. It was an interesting sight. He was right; it looked nothing like a sandcastle. My sandcastle was pathetic.

“I hate you Nickolas Carter. My sandcastle looks like crap. It looks like a five year old made it. You were no help.” I huffed.

“I was just following your directions.” He pleaded innocence.

I looked down and saw the pail still filled halfway with water. I bent down and picked it up. Since Nick wasn’t’ paying a bit of attention, I quickly threw it at him.  Within seconds Nick was covered in ocean water. He looked at me and tried to grab me. I quickly took off across the beach. He couldn’t catch me, I was thankful for having long legs. All of a sudden I tripped and fell. I laid in the sand.

“Are you ready to surrender?” Nick towered over me.

“Never, never, never.” I smirked at him.

“Fair maiden surrender or pay the price.” He said in a sexy pirate voice.

“What price will I have to pay?” I asked in mock surprise.

Nick got down on the ground and sat on top of me. He started to tickle my sides. I started thrashing about. I hated being tickled.

“Stop it, Nick. Stop it.” I tried to squirm under his touch.

“Never. Surrender or pay the price.” His fingers kept moving across my sides and stomach. I couldn’t take it any longer.

“I surrender. I surrender. Just stop tickling me.” I said breathlessly.

Nick bent down and kissed me hard on the lips. We continued to make out on the beach.

“Eww…that is so gross.” A little girl complained.

“Who would kiss a boy?” Another girl remarked back.

We broke apart and glowered at the two girls. The little girls ran off. I couldn’t help but laugh. I was enjoying my day at the beach with Nick.

“Eww…why would I kiss you? Boys are gross.” I teased Nick.

“I’m not a boy. I’m a man.” He licked from my jaw to ear.

“You’re a dork.” I got up. Nick followed my lead.

“Let’s go back to my house and I’ll show you what kind a man I really am.” He wiggled his eyes at me.

“I’d like that. You are a manly man.”

Nick swatted my butt. I couldn’t help but smile at my wonderful boyfriend.

“Don’t you forget it, babygirl.”

------------------------------

I sat on the couch studying for my child psychology test. Nick was on the phone and playing video games.

“Yes. I know mom. I’m sorry. Okay. Love you, too. Bye.” Nick hung up the phone.

“What did your mom want?”

“She wants to meet you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You don’t have to meet my crazy family, if you don’t want to. I wouldn’t blame you if you ran the other direction.” He rubbed my feet.

“Nick, they are part of you. I would love to meet them even if they are crazy.”

“Are you sure?” He asked unsurely.

“I’m positive. I would love to meet your mom, dad and siblings. Remember you get to meet my mom on New Year’s Eve.”

“But your mom is normal. Mine is a crazy bitch.”

“Nick that is no way to talk about your mama. She may not act the way you like, but she gave birth to you.” I felt bad that he didn’t get along with his mom, but she was still his mom.

“Sorry, not everyone has wonderful parents like you.”

“Nick, I love my mom. She great, but she’s not perfect. I’m sorry you and your mom don’t get along. That doesn’t mean you can’t be respectful to her.” I raised my voice.

“Whatever Ashton. Let’s change the subject. I don’t want to fight about my mom.”

“Fine, Nick. This discussion is over for now. Let me meet your mom, and I can decide how I feel about her.”

“Fine.” He moved to the floor and played video games.

This was the first tiff Nick and I had gotten into since we started dating. He would just have to get over it. I wasn’t backing down. I had grown up a lot and was not afraid to speak my mind. Nick would just have to get used to it.