#vacation rental management orange beach

[ronexmark]

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[lifeofpriya]

Romance in The Hamptons - Alexis Lafrenière imagine

[gif credit goes to @alexislafreniere]

author's note: this is my submission for @wyattjohnston's summer 2k24 fic exchange, and i had the amazing pleasure of writing for @wildrangers! a quick shoutout to @2manytabsopen for helping me with Laf's characterization -- love you, bestie 🫶🏼. but yeah, i hope y'all enjoy the fic!

summary: summertime in The Hamptons leads to a budding romance...

wc: 3,028 words

"I still can't believe you managed to find us such a swanky rental," you giggled at your friend, Jamie, as you stepped into the luxury house that was nestled away in The Hamptons. The walls were painted in a cool, beachy white, and the smell of freshly cut grass and lemon cleaner filled the space. The floorboards groaned slightly underfoot, echoing the promise of lazy days and wild nights ahead.

Jamie shot you a knowing smile. "What can I say? Sometimes, being a travel agent has its perks." The house was indeed a steal for the season, boasting an expansive backyard that led directly to the beach, a hot tub that was already bubbling invitingly, and a fully stocked kitchen that made you want to throw a dinner party every night.

You set down your bags and took a moment to appreciate the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room. The sun was setting over the ocean, casting a warm, golden glow across the waves. The horizon looked like a canvas painted with a watercolor wash of pinks and oranges. You felt a gentle breeze waft in, carrying the salty scent of the sea. It was the perfect escape from the stifling city heat.

"Let's grab some drinks and hit the beach," Jamie suggested, tossing you a beach towel. You nodded eagerly, feeling the excitement of the vacation bubble up inside you. The two of you walked out the back door and down the short wooden staircase to the sand. The grains felt warm and soft underfoot as you laid your towel on the sand and pulled out a novel you'd been dying to read. The waves rolled in, a rhythmic soundtrack to the quiet evening that was quickly filling with the distant laughter of other vacationers.

As you settled in, you could hear the faint sounds of laughter and a beach ball bouncing in the distance. You glanced over to see a group of people playing beach volleyball, their shadows stretching long across the sand.

Shrugging your shoulders, you diverted your attention back to your novel, eager to dive into the story between the pages. Well, all was going well until you heard someone yell out, "Heads up!"

You looked up just in time to see a beach ball flying towards you. Instinctively, you reached out and caught it, feeling the rough texture and coolness against your palms.

You turned to see who had thrown it, and that's when you saw him: Alexis Lafreniere. He was jogging over, a sheepish grin on his face, with a group of friends in tow. "Sorry about that," he said, his French-Canadian accent making your heart skip a beat. "Are you okay?”

You felt your cheeks flush as you nodded, holding onto the beach ball. "Yeah, I'm fine," you replied, trying to sound calmer than you felt.

Alexis looked relieved and chuckled. "Good catch," he said, closing the distance between you. His eyes were a warm brown, and his brown hair was a wild mess from the wind. He stuck out his hand. "I'm Alexis.”

You took his hand, feeling the firm grip and the warmth that radiated from his skin. "Nice to meet you," you said, your voice a tad shakier than you'd have liked. "I'm…" But before you could say your name, one of his friends called out, "Laf, come on! We need you back!”

With an apologetic look, Alexis took the beach ball from you. "I'd love to chat more, but we're in the middle of a game. Maybe I'll catch you around?" He didn't wait for your response before he turned and sprinted back to the volleyball match.

You watched him go, his athletic build moving with ease across the sand. As the game resumed, you couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that he didn't ask for your name. You shrugged it off, telling yourself it was probably for the best.

The days in the Hamptons passed in a blur of sunscreen, salt water, and late-night bonfires. You and Jamie had made a pact to enjoy every moment, and you both stuck to it. The group playing beach volleyball every evening grew familiar, their laughter a comforting background to your own adventures. But Alexis remained elusive, always disappearing before you had the chance to approach him again.

\\\

One sun-kissed afternoon, you found yourself at the local ice cream shop, the bell jingling as you stepped inside. The walls were adorned with vintage posters of surfers and sailboats, and the smell of fresh waffle cones filled the air. You scanned the flavors, feeling the anticipation of choosing the perfect one to cool off with. That's when you heard it again - that accent. You turned around to see Alexis standing behind you, a sheepish look on his face as he realized you'd caught him.

"Hey," he said, running a hand through his hair. "It's you. From the beach. With the good catch." His smile was as warm as the day outside, and you felt your heart do a little flip. "I've been hoping to run into you again.”

You couldn't help but return the smile. "Well, you found me," you said, trying to play it cool. "What brings you here?”

Alexis shrugged. "Just needed a break from the heat. You know, the usual." His eyes searched yours, looking for something unspoken. "I've seen you around the beach, but I never got the chance to talk. I've been wanting to apologize for that. I'm usually not so… abrupt.”

You laughed it off, feeling a flutter in your chest. "It's fine. I've been pretty busy enjoying the sun and the waves." You paused, then took a risk. "So, are you staying in the area for long?"

Alexis nodded. "Yeah, l've got a place here for the summer. I try to get out of the city as much as I can." His eyes searched yours for a moment, and you felt a spark of curiosity. He was famous, but here, he was just a guy trying to escape the heat with an ice cream cone.

"What about you?" he asked, breaking the silence. "What brings you to the Hamptons?" You leaned against the counter, feeling the coolness of the marble seep through your shirt.

"Just a summer vacation with my bestie," you replied, gesturing towards Jamie, who was chatting with the cashier. "We wanted to get out of the city and enjoy some beach time.”

Alexis nodded, his gaze lingering on you before looking away. "It's a great place for that," he said, his eyes scanning the ice cream flavors. "So, what's your go-to?”

You pointed to the mint chocolate chip. "Can't go wrong with that," you said with a grin.

Alexis nodded thoughtfully. "Good choice. I'l have the same," he told the cashier, then turned back to you. "Would you like to sit outside?" He gestured to the small patio with a few tables scattered under an umbrella.

You felt a rush of excitement. "Sure," you said, trying to keep your cool. As you stepped outside, the warm sun kissed your skin, and you found yourself hoping it wasn't about to turn into a sweaty mess. Alexis pulled out a chair for you, and you sat down, watching as he did the same.

You both licked at your mint chocolate chip cones, the sweetness a stark contrast to the salty ocean air.

"So, are you guys here for the whole summer?" Alexis asked, breaking the ice between you.

You took a bite of your ice cream, the mint and chocolate a delightful blend on your tongue.

"We're here for a couple of weeks," you replied, hoping you didn't sound too eager. "It's our annual escape from reality.”

Alexis laughed, a deep, rich sound that made you want to lean closer. "I get that," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's nice to just… be, you know?”

You nodded, feeling the beginnings of a connection. "Yeah, I do," you said, your voice a little softer than you intended.

Alexis's eyes searched yours, and for a moment, it was as if the rest of the world had disappeared. "You guys should come to our beach party tonight," he said, his voice low and inviting. "It's nothing crazy, just some friends and a bonfire.”

Your heart raced, and you felt a jolt of excitement. "That sounds amazing," you replied, trying to keep the eagerness from your voice. "What time?”

Alexis leaned back in his chair, his eyes still locked on yours. "It starts around eight. Just follow the sound of the music and the smell of the bonfire. It's not hard to miss." He took a bite of his ice cream, the chocolate chips glinting in the sun.

You couldn't believe your luck. "We'll definitely be there," you said, trying to keep the excitement from spilling over.

Alexis nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Great," he said. "I'l make sure to save you a spot by the fire.”

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of excitement and preparation. You and Jamie spent hours picking out the perfect outfits and getting ready for the night ahead. The anticipation was palpable, a mix of nerves and excitement that had you checking the time on your phone every few minutes.

\\\

Finally, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the sky in a tapestry of oranges and purples. You and Jamie made your way down to the beach, the sound of the waves and distant laughter growing louder with each step. As you approached the bonfire, you could see the flickering flames and the silhouettes of people dancing around it. The smell of roasting marshmallows and woodsmoke filled the air, making your stomach rumble.

Alexis spotted you before you saw him, waving from the edge of the light. He was dressed casually in board shorts and a white t-shirt, his feet buried in the sand. You felt a flutter in your chest as he made his way over, his smile growing wider as he approached. "You came," he said, his eyes lighting up.

You nodded, feeling the heat from the bonfire warming your face. "We couldn't miss it," you replied, trying to sound casual.

Alexis took your hand, leading you through the crowd to a spot he'd reserved. "I'm so happy you're here," he said, his voice sincere. The warmth of his hand sent a thrill down your spine, and you couldn't help but squeeze his fingers gently in return.

The party was in full swing, with music playing from a portable speaker and people of all ages mingling around the fire. You recognized some of the faces from the beach volleyball games, but there were plenty of new faces too. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, the kind of gathering that made you feel like you'd been coming here for years.

Alexis introduced you to his friends, who were all welcoming and curious about the newcomer. You chatted and laughed, sharing stories of past summers and the thrill of escaping the city. The fire crackled and popped, casting a warm glow over everyone's faces. As the night grew darker, the stars began to appear, twinkling like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky.

You watched as Alexis interacted with his friends, his ease and charm evident in every gesture and word. When he turned to you, his eyes held a warmth that made you feel seen and appreciated. You found yourself sharing stories of your childhood and hopes for the future more than you usually would with a stranger. His questions were thoughtful, and his laugh was genuine.

The party began to wind down as the night grew later, and the group around the bonfire grew smaller. The stars grew brighter, and the crackling fire painted shadows on the sand. Alexis leaned closer, the heat from his body a comforting warmth against the cooling night air. "Would you like to take a walk?" he asked, his voice a soft whisper that sent a shiver down your spine.

You nodded, unable to hide the smile that had been playing on your lips all evening.

\\\

Hand in hand, you strolled along the beach, the waves whispering secrets as they kissed the shore. The moon was a silver crescent, casting a soft glow that danced on the water's surface. The sound of the party grew faint behind you, replaced by the rhythmic pulse of the ocean.

"This is incredible," you murmured, feeling the cool sand between your toes.

Alexis nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving yours. "It's one of my favorite things about being out here. The quiet moments when you can just listen to the ocean.”

You let the sound of the waves wash over you, the saltwater breeze playing with your hair. The stars above twinkled with a clarity that was impossible to find in the city, and the darkness of the night wrapped around you like a comforting blanket. The tension between you was palpable, a delicate dance of attraction that neither of you wanted to acknowledge outright.

As you strolled further down the beach, the moonlight reflected off the waves, creating a path of shimmering light that led you to a secluded cove. Alexis stopped, turning to face you, his hand still holding yours. "It's beautiful here," he said, his eyes searching yours.

You nodded, feeling the butterflies in your stomach. "It really is," you replied, your voice barely audible over the whispers of the tide.

Alexis took a step closer, and you could feel the warmth of his breath against your cheek. The air was thick with unspoken words, and the scent of the bonfire lingered on his skin. His eyes searched yours, and for a moment, you thought he might lean in for a kiss. Instead, he tugged on your hand, leading you closer to the water's edge.

The waves lapped gently at your feet, the cool water a stark contrast to the warm sand. You watched as the moon's reflection danced in the ripples, creating a dazzling pattern that stretched out to the horizon. The silence between you was comfortable, filled with the steady rhythm of the ocean and the occasional call of a night bird. You felt a sense of peace that was rare in the bustling city life you were used to.

Alexis released your hand and took a seat on a piece of driftwood, patting the spot next to him. You sat down, feeling the wood's smoothness against your legs, the salt and sea-worn edges digging in slightly. The warmth of his body was a comforting presence beside you, and you couldn't help but lean in slightly, feeling the electricity in the air.

For a moment, you both just sat there, watching the waves play in the moonlight. The silence stretched out, filled with the sound of the ocean's whispers and the distant laughter from the party. It was as if the universe had paused just for you two, the rest of the world fading away into the background.

Alexis turned to you, his eyes searching yours. "You know," he began, his voice low and earnest, "I've been thinking about you a lot since that first day on the beach.”

You felt your heart skip a beat, unsure of how to respond. "I've… I've thought about you too," you admitted, the words tumbling out before you could stop them.

Alexis's smile grew, reaching his eyes. "I'm really glad to hear that," he said, his voice warm and sincere. He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, his touch sending a shiver down your neck. "You know, I don't usually do this sort of thing," he began, his gaze dropping to your lips.

You felt your breath hitch, the anticipation building in your chest. "What sort of thing?" you asked, your voice barely a whisper.

Alexis leaned in, his gaze never leaving yours. "This," he murmured, before his lips met yours in a soft, gentle kiss. The taste of mint chocolate lingered on his mouth, mingling with the salty tang of the sea air. Your heart raced as you melted into the moment, the feel of his hands on your arms anchoring you to the present. It was a kiss filled with promise and hope, a whisper of what could be.

When you pulled back, the world felt different somehow. The stars seemed closer, the ocean's whispers more intimate. You searched his eyes for reassurance and a sign that this was real. Alexis's gaze was steady, his smile warm and inviting. "I've wanted to do that since the first time I saw you," he admitted, his thumb brushing against your cheek.

You felt a blush creep up your neck, your heart racing in your chest. "I've wanted it too," you murmured, your voice barely above the sound of the waves. The air was charged with a tension that was both thrilling and terrifying. You didn't know where this was going but didn't want it to end.

Alexis leaned in again, his lips brushing against yours in a soft, tender kiss that made your toes curl. His hands moved to the small of your back, pulling you closer, and you melted into him, feeling the heat of his body against yours. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring you to this moment, under the stars with the sound of the ocean as your soundtrack.

When the kiss ended, you both sat there for a moment, the only sound the gentle whoosh of the waves. Alexis's hand remained on the small of your back, his thumb tracing small circles that sent delightful shivers down your spine. You took a deep breath, filling your lungs with the scent of the sea and the faint hint of his cologne.

"Thank you for walking with me," he whispered, his eyes never leaving yours.

You nodded, unable to find the words to express the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside you. You felt a strange mix of excitement and fear, knowing that this could be the start of something beautiful or just a fleeting summer fling.

[thespiritssaidso]

Rain Date

Summary: A vacation to the east coast comes to a halt when rain starts pouring down. Shawn won’t let that stop him and his Lassie from having fun, though. 

Notes: Couldn’t think of anything for the original prompt (“Left. Other left!”) so I went with the extra prompt ‘Rainy Day’. Hope you guys enjoy!

Flufftober day 2: Rainy Day (extra prompt)

—————

Rain poured from the sky in buckets. Fat drops pattered noisily on the metal roof of the house currently being rented by one head detective and one psychic detective. 

Lassiter stood by the large bay window, slightly leaning against the frame as he watched the street outside flood and the small yard out front become a metaphorical swamp. 

“‘Go to Georgia’ he said. ‘The beach is nice this time of year’ he said. ‘We'll get oranges at the market’ he said.” Lassiter huffed and took a sip of his coffee. “They grow peaches in Georgia, not oranges, Shawn.” He mumbled to himself. 

Of course, Shawn was not awake at the moment. He was still in their shared bedroom, fast asleep. The rain must have soothed him, or he was still jet-lagged. Although the clock read 11:07 am, it was technically only eight in the morning according to the faux psychics internal clock. Heaven forbid he get up any earlier than noon. 

Lassiter took another sip of coffee and cringed at the taste. It was bitter, and dark. Kind of like the weather outside. Oh how he’d wished he’d thought ahead just a little bit and bought creamer and sugar. But no. He was stuck with disgusting pitch-black coffee with nothing to sweeten it. 

In the distance, lightning flickered, briefly lighting up the sky. Not but a few seconds later, thunder rumbled. It was deep, and practically shook Lassiter. If he strained his ears enough, he could hear a few of the decorations rattling against the wall. 

Scowling, he turned from the window and to the tiny kitchen. He couldn’t drink any more of this crap. Besides, he only really needed a few sips to feel energized and ready to start his day. 

But looking at the weather outside, he knew he wouldn’t actually need a boost. What would he do with it? Use it to pace the small rental as it continued to rain cats and dogs outside? Yeah, today was looking more and more like a lazy day inside. 

Which was a bit of a bummer. Shawn had planned so many activities for them while they were on vacation. Visiting the arcade, a romantic stroll on the boardwalk, swimming in the Atlantic, and, of course, visiting the local farmers market to buy and taste the state fruit… All of those plans went down the drain when Lassiter woke up to a sky as dark as his suit. 

He was startled from his thoughts by a loud “Carly!” 

Lassiter nearly dropped his mug, now empty, into the sink. “What? What’s going on?” He turned to see Shawn right behind him, looking a lot more energized than he usually would be at this time in the morning.

“It’s raining!” 

That only confused him more. And it wasn’t helping that Shawn looked ready to bolt at the drop of a hat. He was quite literally bouncing on the balls of his feet. “What are you doing?”

Shawn looked at Lassiter with a big grin. “Outside!”

Lassiter could only raise his eyebrows. He had both answered and not answered his question, all while raising more questions. And with improper grammar to boot. Only Shawn could manage to do that. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s raining outside.”

“Exactly! The perfect time to go out!” 

“Go out where?” 

“Right here! In the front yard! It’s like a free waterpark right now!” 

Lassiter took a deep breath. “Shawn, it’s thundering outside. I saw lightning. There is no way in hell-”

“Race you!” And before he could process the meaning of what Shawn said, he was already out the door. 

“No, wait! Shawn!” He didn't stop to think, sprinting out after his boyfriend, barefoot and wearing nothing but his flannel pajamas (no, he hadn’t gotten dressed yet. He’d assumed he’d be staying inside. Sue him). 

The moment he stepped out he was almost immediately soaked. The rain had let up, but not by much. He felt like a drowned rat. He must have looked like one too. 

Shawn looked even more drenched, having gotten out before Lassiter. The moment he saw the detective barreling after him, he let out a girlish screech and took off. 

“Shawn, get back here!” 

Ever the child, Shawn shouted back “No!” He rounded the corner of the house. 

Lassiter ran after him. He wanted a chase? Well, he was going to get one. So he sprinted, careful of the sharp turns.

Despite himself, Lassiter found he was laughing at the sheer absurdity of the situation. Real, genuine laughs. Here he was, chasing his boyfriend around the house like two children playing tag. Soaked to the bone, running around the house, wearing pajamas. 

Rain kept falling, but he couldn’t even feel it anymore. Joy and euphoria warmed his veins as he kept running. Was this Shawn’s plan? Had he planned this all along? No, that seemed too elaborate, even for Shawn. This felt more like a ‘spur of the moment’ idea. He’d gotten good at differentiating the two. 

Lassiter was getting a bit dizzy now, having circled the house at least five times. Shawn’s energy, however, seemed never-ending. 

And then he got his own ‘spur of the moment’ idea. He abruptly stopped in his tracks, doing his best not to slip in the slick mud. Shawn didn’t notice, continuing to run around the corner of the house. 

As he did, Lassiter backtracked and went the other way. It was genius, really. Shawn would keep running and running right into Lassiter. He would be none the wiser. 

Just as he came around the corner, Lassiter tackled Shawn like a football player, sending them both flying into the ground. Both were laughing uncontrollably, laying side by side in the grass, drenched in rain and covered in streaks of mud from their tumble. Lassiter was partially draped over Shawn, arm and leg laying on top of him. 

Lassiter hadn’t felt this good in… ever, actually. He couldn’t place the last time he’d felt so good. Adrenaline pumped in his veins, dopamine from his brain making him feel giddier than a kid on christmas. He couldn’t even think straight, but he knew he didn’t want this to end. He was having fun.

He watched as Shawn stood up and began spinning around in the rain, neck craned up to catch the falling droplets. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight. 

‘Oh, what the heck.’ Lassiter thought to himself as he stood up to join Shawn. He would be sick and miserable later, but for now he was going to have some fun and enjoy the moment. 

—————

Notes: yea. Rainy day :3

ao3 link

[ultrarevision]

Bellator Real Estate: What You Need to Know Before Investing

Investing in real estate can be a life-changing decision, and partnering with the right real estate agency is crucial to your success. One name that stands out in the real estate industry is Bellator Real Estate & Development. Known for their wide range of properties and commitment to customer satisfaction, Bellator Real Estate has made its mark in the U.S., particularly along the Gulf Coast. Suppose you're considering an investment with Bellator Real Estate. In that case, it’s essential to understand what the company offers, the benefits of working with them, and what you need to know before making your investment. Curious about Bellator Real Estate? Here’s everything you need to know before investing. 1. Who is Bellator Real Estate? 2. Real Estate Markets Bellator Operates In 3. Why Invest in Bellator Real Estate?a. Local Expertise b. Diverse Property Portfolio c. Growing Market d. Property Management Services 4. What to Consider Before Investing with Bellator Real Estatea. Define Your Investment Goals b. Research the Local Market c. Consider the Costs of Coastal Living 5. Bellator's Real Estate Services 6. How to Get Started with Bellator Real Estate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)1. Why should I invest in Gulf Coast real estate with Bellator? 2. Does Bellator provide property management services? 3. What types of properties does Bellator Real Estate specialize in? 4. What additional costs should I consider when investing in Gulf Coast real estate? 5. How do I get started with Bellator Real Estate? Ready to Invest in Bellator Real Estate?Downloadable Resource:

1. Who is Bellator Real Estate?

Founded in 2008, Bellator Real Estate & Development is a full-service real estate agency specializing in residential, commercial, and luxury properties along the Gulf Coast. Based in Spanish Fort, Alabama, Bellator has a strong presence in the region's Baldwin County, Mobile County, and other key areas. Bellator Real Estate offers various services, including property management, investment opportunities, and traditional real estate transactions. They’ve built a reputation for integrity, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Why it matters: Bellator’s extensive market knowledge and local expertise make them a reliable partner for investors looking to buy property in a fast-growing region.

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4. What to Consider Before Investing with Bellator Real Estate

a. Define Your Investment Goals Before you invest, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your financial goals. Are you looking for rental income, long-term property appreciation, or a vacation home that doubles as an investment? Bellator offers a range of property types that can help meet different financial objectives, but knowing your goals will guide your decisions. b. Research the Local Market Though Bellator’s agents provide excellent local market knowledge, it’s always a good idea to do your own research. Explore property trends, average rental yields, and property appreciation in areas like Baldwin County, Orange Beach, and Mobile County to ensure that your investment aligns with market realities. c. Consider the Costs of Coastal Living Properties along the Gulf Coast, especially beachfront homes, may come with additional costs like flood insurance and property maintenance due to coastal weather conditions. Factor these costs into your investment budget to ensure that you don’t encounter any unexpected expenses. Pro Tip: Speak with Bellator’s agents about potential risks and necessary insurances to protect your investment in coastal areas.

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Bellator Real Estate offers more than just buying and selling. Here are some additional services that make them stand out as a comprehensive real estate partner: - Real Estate Consulting: Offering insights into the best investment opportunities based on your financial goals. - Property Management: Handling all aspects of managing rental properties, from tenant placement to maintenance. - Luxury Real Estate: Specialized services for high-end investors looking for luxury homes or vacation properties. - Commercial Real Estate: Bellator assists investors with acquiring, leasing, and managing commercial properties in key Gulf Coast locations. Why it’s beneficial: These services ensure that every aspect of your real estate journey is handled with care, from the moment you decide to invest to the long-term management of your property.

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If you’re ready to take the next step and invest in real estate along the Gulf Coast, Bellator’s team of experienced agents can help guide you through the process. Here’s how to get started: - Consult with an Agent: Bellator’s real estate agents will help you identify the best properties for your investment goals. - Tour Properties: Take a look at available properties, either in person or virtually. - Secure Financing: Bellator can recommend financing options if needed. - Close the Deal: Once you've found the perfect property, Bellator will guide you through the purchase and closing process. - Property Management: If needed, sign up for Bellator’s property management services to take care of the day-to-day operations. Pro Tip: Schedule a free consultation with Bellator to discuss your goals and explore the best investment opportunities.

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1. Why should I invest in Gulf Coast real estate with Bellator? Investing in Gulf Coast real estate offers high rental yields, property appreciation, and access to prime vacation spots. Bellator’s local expertise ensures you get the best properties and personalized service. 2. Does Bellator provide property management services? Yes, Bellator offers comprehensive property management services, which is especially beneficial for investors who live out of state or prefer a hands-off approach. 3. What types of properties does Bellator Real Estate specialize in? Bellator specializes in residential, commercial, luxury, and beachfront properties. They cater to a variety of investment goals, from vacation rentals to long-term residential homes. 4. What additional costs should I consider when investing in Gulf Coast real estate? When investing in coastal properties, you should account for flood insurance, property taxes, and additional maintenance costs due to weather conditions. 5. How do I get started with Bellator Real Estate? To get started, schedule a consultation with one of Bellator’s agents. They will guide you through property options, financing, and the purchasing process.

Ready to Invest in Bellator Real Estate?

Bellator Real Estate provides a wealth of opportunities for investors looking to capitalize on the growing Gulf Coast market. Whether you’re interested in luxury homes, vacation rentals, or commercial spaces, Bellator’s expert team is here to help you achieve your real estate goals. Ready to take the next step? Contact Bellator Real Estate today and start building your real estate portfolio in one of the most promising markets in the U.S. Downloadable Resource: Free Real Estate Investment Starter Guide Download our free guide to help you understand the key steps to investing in Gulf Coast real estate and working with Bellator properties. Start your investment journey today! Read the full article

[pompeiilimousine]

Group Travel Made Simple: Explore San Diego's Transportation Options

San Diego, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant cultural scene, and year-round pleasant weather, is a popular destination for group travel. Whether you are planning a family vacation, a corporate retreat, or a group outing, navigating the city efficiently can enhance your overall experience. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of San Diego’s transportation options, ensuring your group travel is simple, enjoyable, and hassle-free.

Understanding San Diego’s Transportation Landscape

Public Transportation

San Diego offers a robust public transportation system, managed by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). Key components include:

Trolley System: The San Diego Trolley is a convenient and cost-effective way to explore the city. It has four lines—Blue, Orange, Green, and Silver—covering major attractions and neighborhoods.

Bus Services: MTS buses provide extensive coverage across San Diego, including express and local routes. They are a reliable option for reaching areas not served by the trolley.

Coaster Commuter Train: This train connects downtown San Diego with coastal communities to the north, offering scenic views and an alternative mode of travel for group excursions.

Ridesharing and Car Services

For more flexibility and comfort, ridesharing services and private car hires are excellent choices:

Ridesharing Apps: Popular apps offer on-demand rides and are suitable for small to medium-sized groups. They provide door-to-door service and can be a convenient option for short trips or when public transportation is not feasible.

Private Car Services: These services offer a range of vehicles, from sedans to larger vans and SUVs, catering to groups of all sizes. They provide a higher level of comfort and personalized service, ideal for corporate groups or special events.

Charter Buses and Shuttles

For larger groups, charter buses and shuttle services are highly recommended:

Charter Buses: These buses can accommodate large groups and come equipped with amenities such as air conditioning, restrooms, and Wi-Fi. They are perfect for group tours, corporate events, and long-distance travel.

Shuttle Services: Shuttles offer scheduled services to and from popular destinations, including airports, hotels, and major attractions. They are a cost-effective and efficient solution for Group Transportation San Diego.

Biking and Walking

San Diego’s pleasant climate and scenic routes make biking and walking viable options for exploring the city:

Bike Rentals: Numerous rental shops and bike-sharing programs are available throughout the city. San Diego also boasts a network of bike lanes and paths, making it safe and enjoyable for cyclists.

Walking Tours: Many neighborhoods, especially downtown, Old Town, and Balboa Park, are pedestrian-friendly. Walking tours allow groups to experience the city’s charm and attractions up close.

Choosing the Right Transportation Option

Assessing Group Needs

The first step in selecting the right transportation option is to assess the specific needs of your group:

Group Size: Determine the number of people traveling together. Larger groups may require charter buses or multiple vehicles.

Budget: Consider the budget available for transportation. Public transit and ridesharing can be more affordable, while private car services and charter buses offer added comfort and convenience.

Itinerary: Review your travel itinerary to identify the most efficient transportation modes. For instance, a mix of public transit and private services may be ideal for different segments of the trip.

Evaluating Convenience and Comfort

Balancing convenience and comfort is crucial for group travel:

Public Transit: While economical, public transit may require transfers and longer travel times. It is best suited for groups with flexible schedules.

Private Services: These provide door-to-door service, reducing travel time and offering greater comfort. They are ideal for corporate groups or when punctuality is critical.

Biking and Walking: Great for short distances and experiencing the local atmosphere. However, they may not be suitable for all group members, especially those with mobility issues.

Planning and Booking Transportation

Research and Reservations

Thorough research and advance bookings can streamline your travel plans:

Public Transit Passes: Consider purchasing day passes or multi-day passes for the trolley and bus services. These can save money and simplify travel logistics.

Ridesharing and Car Services: Book rides in advance for peak times or special events. Many services offer pre-booking options to ensure availability.

Charter Buses and Shuttles: Contact providers well ahead of your travel dates to secure the necessary vehicles. Provide detailed itinerary information to help them plan routes and schedules.

Coordination and Communication

Effective coordination and communication are key to a smooth travel experience:

Group Coordination: Designate a group leader to manage transportation logistics and communication. Use mobile apps and group messaging to keep everyone informed of schedules and changes.

Provider Communication: Maintain clear communication with transportation providers. Confirm reservations and share contact information for real-time updates.

Tips for a Smooth Travel Experience

Be Prepared

Preparation can prevent many common travel issues:

Plan Ahead: Create a detailed travel plan, including transportation schedules, pickup points, and contact numbers. Share this plan with all group members.

Pack Accordingly: Encourage group members to pack light and carry essentials in a day bag, especially when using public transit or biking.

Stay Flexible

Flexibility can enhance your travel experience:

Allow Extra Time: Factor in extra time for potential delays, especially when using public transit or during peak traffic hours.

Adapt to Changes: Be ready to adapt to changes in the itinerary or transportation plans. Having backup options can be helpful.

Safety First

Prioritize safety to ensure a worry-free trip:

Follow Guidelines: Adhere to safety guidelines provided by transportation services. This includes wearing seatbelts, following bike lane rules, and respecting pedestrian signals.

Stay Together: Ensure the group stays together, especially in crowded places. Use meeting points and buddy systems to keep track of everyone.

Conclusion

Exploring San Diego’s transportation options for group travel can significantly enhance your overall experience. Whether you opt for the city’s efficient public transit system, the flexibility of ridesharing and private car services, or the convenience of charter buses and shuttles, there are options to suit every group’s needs and preferences. By assessing your group��s requirements, planning and booking in advance, and maintaining flexibility and safety, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey through San Diego. With thoughtful preparation and coordination, group travel in this beautiful city can be simple, efficient, and memorable.

[lucyslaundryoc]

Convenient and Reliable Laundry Services in Orange County

Keeping your clothes clean and fresh is an essential part of maintaining a well-groomed appearance. In Orange County, there are numerous laundry service options available to cater to your needs. Whether you're a busy professional, a student, or simply looking for convenience, finding a reliable laundry service provider in Orange County is essential. Let's explore the benefits of each service and how they can make your laundry experience hassle-free.

If you own a business in the hospitality industry or manage vacation rentals in Orange County, having fresh and clean linens is crucial. An Orange County Linen Service specializes in catering to the linen needs of various businesses. They provide professional laundering and folding services for towels, bed sheets, tablecloths, and more. By opting for a linen service, you can ensure that your linens are hygienically cleaned, properly pressed, and delivered on time. This allows you to provide your guests with a luxurious experience while saving time and effort on laundering and maintaining linens yourself.

Orange County Laundromat offer convenient and self-service laundry options for individuals to wash and dry their clothes. These facilities are equipped with a range of washer and dryer sizes to accommodate different loads. With the assistance of modern machines and amenities such as folding tables and seating areas, doing laundry becomes a more efficient and enjoyable task. Orange County Laundromat provide a cost-effective solution for residents and students who seek a clean and comfortable environment for their laundry needs.  

If you're looking for ultimate convenience and time-saving solutions, a Newport Beach Laundry Service that offers pickup and delivery is the perfect choice. With this service, you can schedule a pickup from your home, office, or any desired location, and have your laundry professionally cleaned and delivered back to you. This eliminates the hassle of sorting, washing, and folding your clothes. Newport Beach Laundry Service employ experienced professionals who handle your garments with care, ensuring they are cleaned according to the highest standards. Whether you have a busy schedule or simply want to free up time for other activities, this service provides a hassle-free and reliable solution.  

[findrentals]

Vacation Rental Property Manager Profile for Phoenix Rentals Vacation Properties - Phoenix Rentals is Alabama’s Gulf Coast Premier Property Management Company. The..

[minachuuu]

Something About the Sunshine

❣Something About the Sunshine❣

❤ Pairing: Ryujin x Reader

❤ Genre: Fluff

❤ Word Count: 4.2k

❤ Song Suggestions: Surf & Nobody Like You by Itzy and Something About the Sunshine from Starstruck

Literally everyone but Ryujin found suspicious the amount of times she had been repeating the words 'It's just a friend's trip!' when asked about your upcoming vacation together to California. Her bandmates laughed the first time, but by the twenty-seventh time they were around to hear it they just mockingly imitated Ryujin. They were a hundred percent sure every single employee on JYP knew she was going on a ‘just friends’ trip’.

But it’s not like they didn’t notice how Ryujin’s eyes glow when she’s talking about you, how she messes her hair when somebody asks her about you, or how she goes from the fiercest and bravest person when you are being attacked by a nasty spider minding its business on wall, to the softest and clingiest girl when she cuddles with you on movie nights.

Maybe the ‘it’s just a friend’s trip!’ wasn’t trying to convince anyone, but herself.

The day arrived, and you were sitting in Itzy's living room, waiting for the car to arrive to take you both to the airport.

Yuna sat down by your side eating a tuna wrap, still wearing her night suit and the messiest mane you had ever seen. You were very used to seeing them all like that, since you are really close to Itzy, others have even mistaken you for their manager since you are basically always around them.

“Want some?” The younger girl extended her snack to you courteously, her voice still raspy from being awake so early.

“I’m okay Yuna, thanks!” You tried to hold back a giggle at the sight of Yuna clumsily existing at five o’clock in the morning. “Why are you up so early?”

“Schedules, practices, couldn’t stop thinking about this wrap…” She got lost in her own subconscious as she stared at the piece of food embraced by her hands. “It’s not even mine, but why would someone leave it abandoned in the fridge like that?”

“The car is here!” Ryujin rushed out of her room with her suitcase in hand. She fashioned a huge smile and a weirdly big enthusiasm for this time of the day. “Time to go Y/n!”

You stood from the couch, scrambling the younger girl’s hair to which she just looked at you drowsingly dumbfounded. You both headed towards the door carrying all your luggage.

“Have a nice trip! Bring me a gift, and don’t come back unless you’re dating” She whispered the last part, urgently took another bite of her tuna wrap and a smirk teasingly appeared on her mouth.

The last thing you saw was Ryujin throwing a beanie straight to the younger member’s face before closing the door behind her. 

Even though the flight was long, the 12 hours passed swiftly in between naps, movies and little scattered conversations with Ryujin. You could talk about anything all the time and never get tired, but couldn't fail to see something bothering her, deep inside her conscious the entire journey. 

After picking up your luggage and grabbing a taxi to your hotel, the effects of hour difference and the hustle of the trip started to dawn on you. And you were both so tired that you failed to realize the room they gave you had only one queen-sized bed. It still wouldn't have bothered you, you both had shared even smaller beds before. 

Ryunjin jumped into the bed as one should, patting the side for you to join her. You laid beside her, as she wrapped her arms around you. Both not hesitant to fall in a deep slumber. 

The clock marked 7 O'clock, and a little ray of sunshine peeked through the disheveled curtains and rested over your eyes, waking you up with its warmth. You stretched your body grasping your reality, this was not your house and you were not in Korea anymore. Carefully stretching your body, you recognized the presence of the girl beside you. Turning around, you saw her calm and resting expression, the image plastering a smile on your face. 

You silently rose from the bed, tip-toeing towards the sunrays. You warily slided open the door to the balcony, being welcomed by the sights of a waking city, illuminated by the dawn of a new day. That's when suddenly you felt a pair of arms surrounding your neck. The familiar embrace made the moment even more special, as you took in your hands those that rested in your chest. You stayed there in a comfortable silence, feeling Ryujin's breath and smile forming against the back of your neck. 

"Hey…" Ryujin broke the silence first. "Sorry about what Yuna said back home, she was just-" 

You released a light chuckle, finally having the answer to her worries. "I know Yuna, she's not the serious type." 

"Yeah…" Even with a weight lifted from her shoulders, Ryujin couldn't help but dwell on the matter. "I guess she was just joking." 

"But hey, we didn't come here to be locked down in the hotel room, did we?" You turned around, jokingly punching the other girl's arm. "Let's go!" 

"Twelve hours of flying are pretty heavy," She watched your enthusiasm fly as you scattered throughout the room, grabbing some things from your suitcase and heading to the bathroom to take a shower. "Are you sure you don't want to stay a little more and-" 

"Oh, c'mon!" You grabbed her by the hand, shaking her mind up. "We'll just go for a walk, grab something to eat. It's not like we're going to Disneyland right now."

"Sounds good to me!" Ryujin didn't hesitate to match your enthusiasm and rushed to get her stuff ready. "Where do we go?" 

"Actually…" You fidgeted your hands playfully. "It's a surprise."

-❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️-

“Venice beach?” Ryujin’s eyes grew as big as the moon. “This is where I-”

“-filmed the Nobody Like You music video!” You both said at the same time.

“Yes!” An eager smile was painted across your face at the sight of the shimmer in the other girl’s eyes. "I thought you might like coming back…”

"And I prefer the company a whole lot more this time!" Her fingers interlaced with yours as she chuckled at her joke. "Please don't tell the girls I said that."

"I'm texting Yeji right away-" 

"What, no!" Ryujin threw herself for your phone but you reacted quickly, prompting a whole game of tag for your phone. 

"Hi Yejiii-unnieeeee!" You started a voice note at the same time that you tried out-running Ryunjin in the still calm paths of the boardwalk. "The flight was fine and we landed perfectly! The hotel is very cosy and the sight's amazing. But Ryujin just said that she prefers me over yo- AH!" 

You felt your body be wanked from the floor, your back landing against the sand. Your phone flew from your hand, and Ryujin dove to reach it, landing beside you. An endless stream of laughter followed, one of those that make your eyes tear and your belly ache. Ryujin made sure the voice note didn't send, but to her bad fortune, Yeji had already listened to it and typed her response: 

Glad the trip went alright! And don't worry, we already knew Ryujin prefers you. Not only over us, she prefers you over anything or anyone really. 

Ryujin's cheeks flared up as she read the message, the laughter in her disappearing abruptly. She sheepishly handed your phone back, playing nervously with her hair as you read it too. 

"Awwww!" You mockingly teased her, wrapping your arms around her head. "Do you really love me that much??" 

"I… Well, maybe, yeah- I don't know-" She couldn't even finish a coherent sentence, trapped in between her nerves and your teasing. 

You stood up, still giggling at everything that just happened, glaring at the fine line separating the sky from the sea as it shined a light blue with little hints of orange and yellow as the last minutes of sunrise bathed you in their light.

This gave Ryujin a perfect view of you, as your silhouette was perfectly enframed on the sun rays hitting your body. She smiled at the way the sun rested on your soft cheeks, your smile competing against it for the brightest thing in her life. 

It started dawning on her, that maybe it was true. Maybe she did prefer you over anything and anyone. 

"Care to give me a tour Mrs. Shin Ryujin?" You proposed with a fruity and jestering voice while extending your hand, breaking her daydreaming. 

She took your hand as she stood and shook away some sand in her clothes. That Ryujin from the hotel room who wanted to rest and who was a little too much inside her head banished in a matter of seconds, pulling you around the stores and streets she visited with her group mates. You weren't complaining at all, aside from being Ryujin's best friend you were also a huge fan of Itzy. Always present, front row on their performances, shows and even sometimes rehearsals. And there was nothing better than listening to an excited Ryujin showing you around and retelling her memories with the glow in her eyes reflecting all the light of the vibrant place. 

You walked among the shops and food stands, halting in front of a familiar stand, with displays full of sunglasses of different shades and shapes. You both tried a thousand different styles after finally deciding on a matching pair. A round dark frame with the crystals tinted to each of your favorite colors. You kept walking along that ally, hands intertwined as you pointed to all of the little details you found along the way.

“And here…” Ryujin smirked teasingly at you, stopping in front of the skate rental where Itzy got theirs when they filmed the Nobody like you MV. “It’s where the fun starts.”

“Oh no.” You pushed her away from you, a nervous but playful giggle escaping your mouth. “There’s no way you’re going to get me on one of those.”

“You asked for the full Itzy Experience Tour didn’t you?” She lowered her new sunglasses to glare at you teasingly. 

“I- Yes but…”

“Then it’s time for you to learn how to skate.” She turned around, quickly renting a pair of skateboards from the man tending the local. She came back, holding the skateboards on each hand, handling you one of them with a triumphant smile. “Here Y/n, I even rented the helmet, knee pads and elbow pads in your favorite color, they will match with your glasses!”

“It’s not like I don’t like how they look Ryujin.” You sneered, taking the board on your hands. You examined its weight, hesitating to put it on the ground. “I don’t know how to ride one.”

“Oh I know, I’m going to teach you!” She confidently rejoiced in her talents, as she fastened the safety equipment around her body. “If I was able to make you dance Wannabe, do you think I can’t do this?”

“How many times have you rode one of these?” Ryujin stopped her movement at the question, clearing her throat pretending not to listen to you. “Ryujin-ah…”

“Maybe like…” She stood up, her face trying hard to convey a sense of security but only managing to sound arrogantly sweet. “...Once?”

“That’s it, we’re dying today.” You laughed as you put your safety equipment on, shaking your head in disapproval at yourself, since you still were willing to do anything for the girl in front of you, especially when a hit of her puppy eyes started peeking out of her.

“Okay first, one foot. Straight.” After you were both equipped and ready, she started demonstrating on her own board, stepping with her left foot on the board, turning around to make sure you were following the instructions. You imitated her movements with so much less confidence. "Now, you'll push with your right foot and…" 

You only watched baffled, your body refusing to move as she glided through the plaza with no problem. Pleasantly surprised and relieved that she still had the muscle memory to remember how to stay on top of it. A smile emerged in your face at the sight of your bestfriend making an effort to keep herself going, giggles filling the air as she circled you with ease. You took your phone out to capture the moment, and the instant Ryujin noticed the camera, her idol-self came out, acting with charisma at it, flustering you with the winks and smirks she gave to the lenses. 

“C’mon, now it’s your turn.” She approached you defiant, confident. Her presence and attitude helped you grab a bit of courage, but not enough to start without a little bit of help. 

You innately searched for Ryujin’s hand, not surprised when you realized she was already offering to take yours. You firmly put your left feet on the skateboard, and pushed gently with the right, helping you glide, as the girl beside you jogged at your speed. You tried again, now gaining more speed, and then tried once more. The sea breeze hit your face, rampaging your hair, a big and refreshing change from the city air you were so used to breath all the time back home. Your body flinched at the velocity you were traveling to, but Ryujin didn’t let you fall, her support helping you stay on.

“You have absolutely no permission to let go of my hand Shin Ryujin.” You babbled, holding on for dear life to her hand which was probably the only thing keeping you from falling down.

“You know I never would.” For a moment, all those worries in Ryujin’s head dissipated. You blushed at her words and she smiled at your sun-kissed image. 

It had a certain charm for her, you needed her protection and guidance, as she only focused on you staying alive and having fun. You stopped for a while, ecstatic at the thought of still being alive after that. 

“You are a very quick learner. Or maybe I’m just an excellent teacher.” Ryujin joked, earning a slap on her arm as she helped you stabilize yourself to get off the board. “I think you're ready to go on your own.”

“I only could do that because you were grabbing on to me!” You whined.

“I’ll be close to catch you if you fall.” Her smile was kind, protective, the kind that made you melt into everything she said. A big part of your friendship was teasing each other non-stop, but when it came to serious matters, there was no one out there you trusted more than Ryujin.

“Promise?” You trembled.

“I promise.” 

You, a little bit more confident now, repeated the steps to get over your skateboard and you pushed, gently. When you stabilized your body over the moving board, you repeated but with a stronger push. With a bit more confidence now taking up, you started steering with the weight of your body, your nerves releasing themselves in the form of giggles. 

You noticed Ryujin skating close to you, now skillful enough to be focusing you with her phone while gliding around to get some pretty takes and pictures of you. She cheered, a wide grin adorning her face as little wrinkles appeared on the edges of her eyes, the way they did when something made her stupidly happy.

You were so focused on Ryujin’s antics and she was so into you too, that you failed to see a slightly raised sidewalk straight in your path. Ryujin caught a glimpse of it just in time to jump towards you, surrounding your entire body with hers. With her feet landing first in a patch of grass, the scenario of you both flying through the air and landing into concrete was avoided. But thanks to the speed your bodies carried and you not being able to stop them, you still tripped down, Ryujin falling on her back and you right on top of her. You were quick to raise your heads, realizing they were only a few inches away, blood rising, coating your faces in red.

“Maybe I should-” You were quick to get up, no scratches or bruises in sight. Ryujin seemed free of injury too, so you extended your hand to help her up. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t worry. I’m totally okay.” She took your hand and stood up, fixing her clothes. Her hands instinctively wished to check you, and help you fix yourself too, but a certain tension that filled the air stopped her from doing so. “Are... are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine too.” You responded, fixing your hair yourself and avoiding her glance.

Ryujin went to pick up the skateboards, leaving the silence between you lingering for longer than it should. While walking back, you both caught a glimpse of each other’s eyes, making you release an stressed giggle, easing the ambience around just a bit.

“Let’s take this back and grab something to eat.” Ryujin proposed as you walked side to side back to the skates rental, an strange and awkward quietness encircling your steps.

-❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️-

You sat cuddled between Ryujin’s arms, the sights of the sea in front of you as you both enjoyed the beach, snacking on some american-flavored chips that you found on a K-mart along the way.

“Close your eyes.” You playfully demanded Ryujin.

“Why, what are you going to do to me?” She asked.

“I’m going to give you one of these flavors randomly and you have to guess which one it is!” 

She obeyed, closing her eyes and releasing you from her embrace as you reached for your target. You grabbed one chip from the five bags sitting in front of you and gently placed it on Ryujin’s tongue. She opened her eyes at the instant flavor that filled her mouth, confused and maybe even a bit disgusted.

“Is it really that bad?” Your laugh bursted at her expressions.

“No, it’s just that-'' She kept chewing the chip, her face contorting even more with each second passing. “It’s interesting?”

“That’s what people say when something tastes bad but they don’t want to be rude about it” You kept laughing, looking at her amusingly. “Well, what flavor do you think that was?”

“I’m gonna say…” Her eyes and brows exaggerated her thought process as they playfully moved up and down. “...salt and vinegar?” 

“No, Pickle-flavored!” You raised the bad of chips, triumphantly. “I told you these were a bad idea!”

“No! I had some hope for these!” She grabbed the bag from your hands, disappointment in her eyes as she examined the chips closer as if that could magically enhance their flavor for better. Ryujin extended the bag to you. “Here, try one and tell me what you think.”

“After seeing your face? I’ll pass, thanks” You pushed away her hand with the bag and her eyebrows furrowed.

“You can’t make me suffer alone! The chips thing was YOUR idea!” She started throwing one of her usual tantrums, shaking the bag in front of your face now. You kept throwing your head backwards and she answered by leaning in even closer, mumbling her complaints in a cute tone. Neither of you noticed when, but suddenly you found yourself laying under Ryujin. The instant she realized your position, she stopped her fit and the blush in her cheeks flared up.

“You have some-” In your attempt of diffusing the situation, you reached your thumb towards her lips, paralysing even further the girl on top of you. She couldn’t take the flood of ideas invading her mind that the sight of you staring straight at her lips, caressing them gently created. 

She quickly sat up, distress all over her face avoiding looking at you as much as possible. You were both just friends, nothing more. Why do those ideas start appearing now? No. Why was Ryujin not able to suppress those ideas now as well as before? 

You followed her, looking straight at her conflicted face now being illuminated by the sunset in the horizon. Your hand reached for her chin, gently pulling it to meet your eyes with hers. You felt her breathing halting at the action, to what you offered a delicate smile.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” You skipped the ‘something’s bothering you’ talk, you knew your best friend enough to know she would deny everything, try and cover anything. 

“Yes, I know…” Now Ryujin’s eyes were the ones who could decide to rest on your eyes or in your lips, with even more ideas invading her mind. “I just don’t know where to start.”

“Would it help if I start this time?” You smiled even wider, hiding the amount of courage you were trying to gather inside your mind. 

Ryujin looked at you perplexed, as she expected you to keep pushing for her to talk but got this instead. She shook her head remembering your question, to which she nodded as an answer.

“It’s not new, I’ve been dealing with all of this for a long time but I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. And maybe it’s not even the best time to tell you, giving that there’s an entire vacation together at risk…” You started mumbling, your eyes diverting all around you as your train of thoughts backed up from the enthusiasm. 

“Hey…”  She used your techniques against you, grabbing your chin and raising it to meet her eyes. Your nervous rambling woke up Ryujin’s protective side, as she now offered you an uneasy smile. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

You deadlocked your eyes on her, serious. You jokingly slapped her arm for using your own weapons against you, but like a magnet, the silence between you only called for your eyes to be lost on hers. You couldn’t tell thanks to your nerves, but you were getting your faces closer with each second passing. A deep sigh from Ryujin’s side broke the tension, aided you to gain back your courage, you were going to blurt it out now or nev-

“I like you. Maybe I could even dare say that I love you Y/n.” Ryujin sputtered first, avoiding your eyes. Your breath halted, earning a gasp at the sudden confession, bringing your hands to your open mouth. Your mind was way too shocked to remember how to properly function, paralysed in the moment. At the awkward silence created, Ryujin gathered all her body strength to look back at you, her mind racing a thousand miles per hour to find a way to save the moment. “It’s okay if you don’t return-”

“Shin Ryujin, I was going to tell you that!” You moaned playfully, the entirety of your body relaxing now as you could help painting a huge smile across your face.

“You- what?” It was now her turn to be astonished. Your unusual response made it even more confusing to her, as the scenarios that her head created were of totally different colors from the one presented in front of her. It wasn’t until you stopped nervously giggling and locked eyes with her again that you realized that you had to explain yourself.

“I love you too dummy.” You cupped her hands in yours, happy tears blurring your sight from excitement. 

“Oh. OH!” Ryujin’s whole face illuminated as the facts dawned on her, her worries floating away with the sounds of the sea in the background. She released a chuckle as she confidently put her hands around your waist, pulling you closer. “Does that mean I get to-”

“Yes! A thousand times yes!” You giggled, not even bothering to listen to the rest of her sentence, knowing exactly that what followed was something you’ve waited for a long time.

Ryujin excitedly cupped your cheeks, pulling you towards her. Your lips clashed with urgency, dancing at the rhythm of the tropical music in the background of Venice Beach, earning a smile from both that could only be eased as you joined your lips each time after breathing for air. The warmth of the sun setting in the horizon, filled your bodies from head to toe, as your beating heart took care of the inside. 

Time is never the first thing that counts when you’re sure you just found the love of your life, but when you parted your lips again and looked around, the lamp posts started turning on, some neon signs from the stores behind you started coloring the streets. You sighed, resting your head on your girlfriend’s shoulder. A comfortable silence surrounding you both, with everything but your heartbeats synchronized resonating in the air.

“The girls are going to lose their mind when we tell them.” You broke the silence first, sighing at the idea popping in your head.

“We’ll worry about them later.” She laughed as her mind painted the picture too. “Let’s keep this between us for now, we’ll plan a prank in the plane back home. Deal?”

“Deal.” You chuckled at the suggestion, glad that your best friend was back. And even better than before, cause now you get to kiss her whenever you want.

The last rays of sun lighted you both like a spotlight in the end of a show, but what it really felt like was the beginning of the best adventure, by the side of the most amazing person in your life.

[dutchforstrangers]

Digiweek 2021 Day 2 - Voyage | Shades of red; a Taikoura fanfiction

Chapter 2/7. Sangria

Chapters [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Characters: Taichi Yagami, Koushiro Izumi & Sora Takenouchi Genre: Friendship, romance Rating: K Wordcount: 1.459

Art by Sanni @seventeenlovesthree

It was a Tuesday when Sora heard the news. Her ‘around the world’ collection was a real hit and she was asked to fly to Madrid for a fashion show and a symposium about Japanese culture and fashion design. The way she squealed upon hearing the news was a squeal Taichi hadn’t hear her make for a long time. Or maybe never, he couldn’t tell. What he could tell was that it was incredibly important to Sora and so it was incredibly important to him.

As well as it was incredibly important to Koushiro.

Taichi remembered how Koushiro had set up some fashion design software for Sora to use while making sketches a year ago. The two of them had grown closer over it, Koushiro helping her out with the software among other technology questions from Sora’s side and Sora helping him out with his fashion in general. They called each other ‘fashion buddies’ after. It had been something Taichi never quite understood, leaving them be, but he would lie if he said he wasn’t a little bit jealous in a certain way. Especially after finding out his true and shocking feelings towards both of the redheads.

He had managed to burry those feelings for quite some time, but as he started to see his friends more frequently in the past couple of weeks due to social gatherings and football matches they watched together, it became harder for him to fully hide his feelings. In some moments when either Sora or Koushiro had made innocent small talk with him, he had found himself blushing hard. Luckily for him he had a talent for casually waving things off which he did every time one of them asked him about his reddened cheeks.

They had their suspicions towards Taichi’s odd behavior, he sensed. However they never questioned him, by now very familiar with his antics. Of course this was all fine with Taichi.

Which wasn’t fine with Taichi was when Sora told both boys about the presentation she was asked to give in Madrid during the symposium, Koushiro casually offered her to tag along to Spain to help her out. It was a nice act from Koushiro, something Taichi thought both of them wouldn’t go through with. But in the end he was proved wrong and one month later his friends left to Spain. Not only for the fashion show and symposium, but for a, by them so called, ‘friendly roadtrip’ as well. Taichi would be happy for them if it weren’t for his own confusing feelings. So instead of just happy, he felt a heavy and dark blanket of sadness and jealousy descend over him and his happiness for them.

Acting on that jealousy he now found himself sitting in an airplane from Tokyo to Madrid.

Wanting it to be a surprise, Taichi hadn’t told both of his friends about his travel plans to Spain. He was a little anxious about how the surprise would be received by both Koushiro and Sora and so he stood a tad scared in front of the building where the symposium was taking place. He swallowed, the stupid flowers Hikari had convinced him to buy after he told her about his plans in hand, before he let his feet take steps to where Koushiro and Sora would be.

Luckily for him the whole surprised turned out fine and the flowers -and he himself- were received well. Koushiro looked quite surprised but happy upon seeing him, giving him a confused hug that felt truly welcoming and warm despite the awkwardness. Sora, because of the nerves, almost tackled Taichi down swinging her arms around his neck and fully pressing her body against his, talking all fast and exciting. Her eyes watering, but Koushiro reminded her she couldn’t cry because it would ruin her make-up. She quickly took back her composure, throwing one glance to Taichi and showing him that pretty smile of hers. Taichi could hear them tell each other good luck which was both a bit strange and cute in his eyes, melting his heart.

Seeing Koushiro giving Sora an innocent and sweet peck on the cheek made his heart flutter from surprise and excitement. A loving feeling he knew all too well. His eyes still glued to where Sora stood seconds ago and Koushiro still was, Taichi tried to make up his mind. As Koushiro raised an eyebrow his way, Taichi felt caught. With a red blush on his cheeks and one hand scratching his neck he followed Sora walking on the stage ready for the presentation. Proud feelings filled him up.

After the successful symposium and fashion show, Koushiro suggested to grab a bite together in a cute little Spanish restaurant he found with Sora while strolling through the city. Taichi listened to Koushiro and Sora’s stories from the past days. About the preparations Koushiro had helped Sora with, their little shopping adventure together and Sora’s slip with a Spanish guy in a dance club, which made Taichi jealous.

The warm night and good conversations were accompanied by the freshness of sangria. The deep red color with a hint of orange warming up their veins like the sun had warmed up their skin. The alcohol making their brain foggy, the sweetness bringing out the childlike impulsivity they needed for the road trip they were about to plan out; ten days with a stylish rental car city hopping from Madrid around the Spanish peninsula. Koushiro and Sora already had planned it partially, but with Taichi being there they grew even more excited.

One day later they took off to Barcelona. Driving in between the Spanish locals, enjoying the sight, listening to music and singing along to the songs. The redheads pestering Taichi with his hideous singing voice and Taichi in his turn pleasantly surprised with Koushiro and Sora’s duet in the car. Laughing together, digging up old stories from back in the days, getting excited only thinking about visiting FC Bareclona’s Camp Nou and dreaming of all the Spanish days and nights that were about to come.

They strolled through the streets of Barcelona, admired the Sagrada Família and the thousands of beautiful decorated balconies. Their journey led them to bigger cities and little villages they’d never heard of before while traveling to the south of Spain. Continuing their trip late in the night or early in the morning, driving alongside the coast line, the car following the sun as it rose and replaced the clear and starry night with broad daylight. A warm Spanish sun proudly beaming in the sky, the sunrays slowly browning their Asian skins. Along the way they stopped to have little picknicks, their bond growing even stronger by the shared vacation.

Bare feet walking through the sand as the salty seawater slowly flooded the beach they were taking a break at. The small waves bringing Taichi out of balance at moments he felt weak. Weak in the knees upon seeing his two friends walking in front of him fully invested in a friendly conversation. They looked happy to him which made him overly happy as well, a smile on his lips that wouldn’t come off easily nor soon. Seeing them walking in front of him was as if an old daydream played out in front of his eyes, making Taichi stop in his tracks. His eyes focused on the two in front of him, now looking at him questioning. But he didn’t move or speak, a familiar realization hitting him once again.

In Sevilla they were invited to a local flamenco dance night where Sora and Koushiro gladly accepted a little dance lesson on the spot in front of Taichi’s eyes. He observed the way the music made their bodies move in a way he could’ve never imagined before. Both Koushiro and Sora weren’t the extraverts, but from what Taichi could see they seemed to bring up the best in each other. Enjoying the fun they had, seeing how the sangria loosened them up once more. Taichi could feel his heart tripping over all the romantic feelings occupying his whole being since the beginning of this trip and before. Koushiro and Sora positively haunting his life and dreams since the moment he had met them.

And for a moment Taichi felt like a stranger to himself, his whole body heavily reacting to his friends. He barely recognized himself in the overhelmness of it all. A traveler in a foreign land was what he was, but right then and there he felt more like a voyager in his own head and body, trying to figure out his feelings as the with sangria filled redheads were unknowingly guiding him to unknown places he had not dared to fully surrender to yet.

[thorne93]

History Repeats (Part 10)

Prompt: Life’s hard, right? Well throw in a not so great job, a broken heart, and chasing a pipe dream in LA. But could someone come along to make all the bad shit disappear? Or is he just another heartbreak waiting around the bend?

Warnings: language, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, angst/heartbreak, adult themes (??)

Word Count: 2139

Note: Aesthetic made by @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo​ because she’s absolutely amazing Beta’d by @like-a-bag-of-potatoes​ and @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo​ . Brainstorming from @carryonmyswansong​​

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The energy around the house hadn’t changed -- not really. Not between you two. You tried to shrug off the rejection, and work definitely helped serve as a distraction. The first shift manager kept calling out, meaning you had to cover him. It seemed like every other day he was either sick, extremely late, had a flat tire...You name it, he had an excuse. So between running yourself ragged at work and trying to keep up with the housework, you couldn’t really dwell on the fact that you humiliated yourself. 

But you decided to just let it go, the times you did think about it. Sure you felt like you had started to fall for him, but ultimately, he didn’t want that and you had to respect it, no matter how bad it hurt. No matter how badly you wanted to change his mind, you knew you’d still rather have him as a friend than nothing at all. 

Yet, when you strolled in one day after working double shifts, exhausted, he thoroughly surprised you. 

“Oh, hey, you look beat,” he commented as he looked up from the dining room table. You barely moaned a response as you trudged in, dropping your purse and going to the couch to flop down. 

Quickly, he jumped up and walked over to you on the couch, lifting your feet and putting them on his lap.

“That good of a day, huh?” he teased but you were too tired to even muster a smile. 

“Just long. These double shifts are killing me. Between angry people checking out and frustrated people checking in and running around taking care of this complaint and this cold room service meal and ...It's just too much,” you complained, your arm draped over your eyes. 

Hayden spoke up, poking your leg. “What you need is a getaway,” he remarked. 

Laughing without humor, you pulled your arm off your face and rolled your eyes before looking down the couch at him. “Hah! With what time and what money?”

“You don’t have any vacation days stocked up?”

“I do...But I’m saving all of them for Europe,” you informed before blowing out air. 

“I see,” he said, nodding his head to the side. “Well why don’t you get some extra sleep?”

“No, I ca--” you started, but he held up his hand, stopping your objection.

“Before you say you can’t because you have too much housework. Leave it to me. Tell me what you were going to do and I’ll get it done.”

“You don’t have to do that,” you countered. “You have work too. I’m sure you’re exhausted,” you noted.

He shrugged. “We just went on hiatus for a week or two,” he informed. “I’ve had the last two days off. I’m fine. I can pick up the slack,” he informed with a half smile. “So what do you say? Give me your chores and go to sleep?”

You turned the idea over and over in your head. Sleep did sound absolutely divine right now. With a giant sigh, you pulled yourself up and went to the dining room table, where Hayden followed. 

“Okay, here’s the things I was gonna get done,” you informed as you leaned over and scribbled out a short list. 

“Nothing too intimidating,” he commented as he peered over your shoulder. 

“Good. I’m gonna go pass out,” you informed as you breezed past him, into your room, shutting the door to change and go to sleep. You barely remembered your head hitting the pillow.

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

It seems your eyes had just closed with a soft voice was urging you awake.

“Y/N, Y/N,” Hayden whispered as he sat on your bed, lightly shaking you.

When you opened your eyes, you noticed the room was considerably darker. Not night time, not quite yet, but the sun was definitely setting. 

“Hey,” you greeted. “What’s up?” you mumbled into the pillow. 

“Get up,” he excitedly commanded.

“Why?” you asked, nuzzling into your pillow and blankets.

He animatedly responded, “I want to show you something.”

“Can it wait?”

“Come on, this will be fun, I promise,” he vowed, slight plea in his tone.

“Alright,” you finally said, flopping the covers off your body and he stood to let you get out of bed. You threw on your pajama pants and followed him out into the open living area, noticing that it was practically sparkling. Every surface had been polished, every floor swept, every spot washed, and every pillow fluffed. 

“Hayden,” you breathed in disbelief. “This is amazing. Wow. It looks stunning. You did amazing,” you boasted.

“Eh, it’s nothing but a little elbow grease and time,” he said, brushing it off. “But this isn’t all of it,” he quickly added. “Go get changed. Swimsuit and a change of clothes,” he said.

“What? Why?” you wondered. 

“Are you always this inquisitive? Just do it. Please,” he gently commanded. 

“Okay,” you said, a bit of a sigh coming out as you said it. But you turned and went into your room, grabbed your bikini, slipped into it, threw on a loose, beach shirt over it, and pulled on some shorts. Then you grabbed your purse and flip flops. “Okay, I’m ready,” you announced as you went out into the living room.

“Great. Let’s go,” he encouraged as he thrust his head toward the door. 

“Where are we going?” you asked as you walked up to him, playful curiosity in your tone.

“You’ll see. Ever the nosy one, aren’t you?” he teased as you got in his rental car. 

He started the car, and he let you pick the radio, like always. You tuned it to some easy listening music, letting the sounds soothe your tired and tense muscles, letting your mind slip and become filled with ease. 

The drive wasn’t long, but you weren’t paying attention, so when he stopped the car and told you that you had arrived, it stirred you from a mindless daydream. 

Hayden climbed out before you, reaching in the backseat to grab something. Meanwhile, you lazily climbed out of the car, looking around to get your bearings, to see where he’d ended up taking you. 

“Thought you could use this,” he suddenly commented from behind you, making you whirl to look at him. “You seemed really stressed lately. Thought a trip to the beach might be good,” he offered with a shrug and a half smile. “Come on,” he said as he thrust his head towards the sandy beach, birds sounding overhead as you walked down the grade, the sand hitting your feet and making you feel more than relaxed. That, coupled with the slowly setting sun, setting off orange and gray hues over the sand and water. The lightest of breezes washed up with the shore, the smell of salty water hitting your nose and making you involuntarily relax.

The two of you found a spot and he spread out a blanket and tossed some things down, one of the things being a picnic basket. 

“You brought food?” you questioned as you settled onto the blanket. 

“You haven’t really eaten in the last few days,” he remarked. “Thought you could have a nice day of pampering...Or what I can offer as far as pampering goes.”

“Well thank you, Hayden, that’s really sweet,” you commented, a smile touching your face. 

“Nothing really. Just threw some food in a basket,” he said before pulling out the food and showing you what all he’d brought. It was an impressive spread that you started to immediately pick at, not realizing how hungry you really were. 

“Oh my god. I haven’t eaten more than a candy bar in three days,” you realized, a satisfied noise coming from your mouth as you savored the sandwich. 

Hayden couldn’t help but chuckle at you, the sound warming your heart more than it should. 

The two of you sat and ate and caught up on work and other happenings, seeing as you hadn’t really seen much of each other recently. Soon after you had caught up, you couldn’t help but be pulled to the water, wanting badly to put your aching and tired feet in there to feel the coolness of the water. Once you go there, you reveled in the feeling of the water lapping around your feet, the wind gently pushing your hair around your face, the sand squishing between your toes. It all felt so peaceful and wonderful. 

After a few moments, Hayden joined you, but as soon as he got there, you looked over and smirked at him before pulling off your shirt and shorts, throwing them behind you and running into the water laughing. 

“Come on!” you urged from chest deep in the water. “It’s fine!”

“You’re insane,” he called back, a delighted grin on his face. “This water is freezing!”

“Just jump in! The sooner you get it over with, the better!”

“No. I’m fine here, you know, ankle deep,” he assured with a thumbs up and a wink.

You rolled your eyes and slowly made your way back up to him. “You’re a big baby you know that?” you teased as you pretended to bend down and put your hands in the water. You waited until he was gazing at the waves to splash him. “It’s just a little water,” you said innocently.

His face turned from peaceful to coy as he eyed you. 

“Just a little water?” he echoed. “Okay, fine,” he said as he grabbed your hand and pulled you into the water, knee deep, before lifting you in his arms. 

“No! No! Hayden! It was a joke! I’m sorry!” you said, begging him to not toss you in. Truth be told, you could get used to this. The feeling of his bare chest against your body, his strong arms holding you...It was something you’d fantasized about a dozen times. 

“See? An apology, that’s all I wanted,” he said, a gentle smile on his face before he lifted and threw you into the water anyway. 

When you emerged, he was in stitches, but your face told a different story, forcing his laughter to stop.

“Y/N,” he warned, holding out a hand and trying to retreat to land. “Y/N, come on. I was just playing!” 

“Too bad!” you shouted before laughing and lunging at him, effectively knocking both of you in the water. 

Once you broke through the surface of the water, the two of you were sitting down, laughing at each other, then going right back to splashing, wrestling, and chasing. 

When nightfall made the water too cool and a little too dangerous to be in, you retreated to the beach, pulling on your clothes but still shivering. 

“Here,” he offered, handing you his hoodie. 

“Oh, no, I’m okay,” you assured with a shake of your head while holding your hand up. 

“It’s not a request,” he said. “You’re cold. I’m not using it. Take it.”

You rolled your eyes as you took the oversized hoodie and wrapped it around your arms. “Man, you’re pushy.” 

“Most people say ‘thank you’ when someone saves them from pneumonia,” he remarked with a silly face that made you smile like a fool at him. 

“Ah, I really needed this,” you said with a content sigh. “I needed to just...get away.”

He nodded. “I’m glad. I was hoping to help you and ease some of your stress.”

“Thank you, so much for doing this,” you said again as you laid back on the blanket that covered the cool sand, just staring up at the sky, letting his hoodie keep you warm and cozy. 

“You deserved it,” he mentioned quietly as he leaned back beside you, resting on his elbows. 

You closed your eyes, nearly getting lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves, the cool breeze, the comfort of the sand beneath you. Your thoughts drifted into mindless nothingness. Just as you thought you were about to fall asleep, a sensation hit your lips, nearly startling you. 

It was warm, but cool, flesh, soft and supple. You instantly responded by pushing back on the sensation, the feeling of electricity washing through you. When you opened your eyes, Hayden’s golden hair was the first and only thing you saw. The kiss lasted much less time than you wanted. As quickly as he had put his lips on yours, he was withdrawing them, propping himself on one elbow, gazing at you.

You were speechless as you stared at him.

“Go on a date with me,” he softly commanded as gazed at you, adoration in his eyes. 

“What?” you stammered. “But I thought you said before--”

“Forget what I said before. I want to date you,” he said, dismissing his rejection.

“Oh--I--Okay,” you finally managed to say. 

“Great,” he said with a beaming smile that melted your insides.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Hayden Christensen:

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History Repeats:

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[ronexmark]

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[alabamabeaches]

Turquoise Place Condos, Orange Beach Real Estate Sales, Beach Condos 

This Turquoise Place condo in Orange Beach has a large balcony overlooking the gulf has a hot tub and a gas grill. This gated condo includes four levels of structured parking, including reserved space for each unit, elegant lobby with panoramic view of the pool and Gulf, seasonal poolside restaurant and grill, spa services by appointment, on-site association management ...

Visit: Turquoise Place Condos & Vacation Rentals 

[americanbeaches]

Gulf Shores AL Condos For Sale and Vacation Rentals at San Carlos

San Carlos Condominiums, Gulf Shores Alabama

Price: $560,000. Address: 365 East Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, AL 36542. Details: 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath Gulf-front Property  w/ approx. 1,400 sq. ft.

San Carlos Real Estate Sales

Gulf Shores beachfront condominium home for sale at San Carlos.  This spacious gulf-front condo has spectacular views from the 18th floor overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Conveniently located within walking distance to local events held at the Hangout and restaurants. This 3/3 unit is loaded with amenities. Enjoy the beautiful zero entry Gulf Front pool, or workout in the fitness center. Over 1400 square feet with a spacious balcony to relax and enjoy sunsets after a fun day on the beach. This condominium is loaded with amenities and has on-site management to take care of your immediate needs.

Visit: San Carlos Condos For Sale – View: Gulf Shores Condos For Sale – Visit: San Carlos Vacation Rentals

Alabama’s Gulf Coast

 Gulf Shores is a popular vacation destination on the Alabama Gulf Coast, just west of Orange Beach & Perdido Key. Gulf Shores is surrounded by back-bays and rivers, offering a variety of outdoor activities. Gulf State Park is ideal for enjoying the white-sand beaches, fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking.

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Other Resort Properties:

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Long Beach Resort Vacation Rental, Panama City Beach Condo

Panama City Beach FL Vacation Rental, Long Beach Condominium Aver. Rate $102/night | 38 Reviews, 4.9/5. Location: 10511 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach FL…

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Orange Beach Condominiums Turquoise Place, Perdido Place, Summerchase, Summer House, Phoenix III-IX-X-on the Bay, Bella Luna, Tradewinds, Tidewater, Bayshore Towers Condos in Orange Beach AL…

Crystal Shores Condo For Sale in Gulf Shores AL

Gulf Shores Alabama Beach Real Estate Gulf Shores AL 36542 Price: $417,850. Location: 921 West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, AL 36542. Info: 2 BR, 2…

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[floridasbeaches]

Destin Florida Condo For Sale at Shoreline Towers

Destin Condominium, Shoreline Towers

List Price: $449,900. Address: 900 Gulf Shore Drive, Destin, FL 32541 Details: 2 BR, 2 BA Beach Property with approx. 1,430 sq. ft.

Destin Florida Real Estate Sales

Destin condo for sale at Shoreline Towers with beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico and the white-sand beach. This resort home is completely furnished and ready to occupy or rent; features include tile counter-tops, stainless steel appliances, HVAC system replaced in '18, both remodeled BA's with tile surrounds and granite counter-tops and more. The community amenities include 500' of beachfront, a large clubhouse with a fitness facility, onsite management, owners' lounge with a fully equipped kitchen, large heated pool, outdoors grills and more!

Visit: Destin Condos For Sale -- View: Destin Vacation Rentals

Destin Florida

Destin is a coastal community on the Florida Emerald Coast located on a peninsula separating the Gulf of Mexico from Choctawhatchee Bay and has subtropical weather. The peninsula was originally a barrier island. Hurricanes and sea level changes gradually connected it to the mainland; however, in the 1940s it technically became an island again with the completion of the Choctawhatchee-West Bay Canal. There are many Destin real estate opportunities for those looking to own a piece of paradise - there are homes for sale from beachfront houses to back-water homes on deep water to weekend cottages. Source: Realtor.com

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Other Resort Properties:

Long Beach Vacation Rental Condo, Panama City Beach FL

Panama City Beach Vacation Rental, Long Beach Condominiums   Rates From: $102/night | 38 Reviews, 4.9/5. Address: 10511 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407. Info:…

Orange Beach Condos For Sale and Vacation Rental Homes

Turquoise Place, Broadmoor, Four Seasons & The Enclave Condominiums in Orange Beach Orange Beach Alabama 36561 Find the ideal Orange Beach condo and start enjoying…

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Beach Club, Royal Palms, Westwind & Crystal Tower Condominiums in Gulf Shores Gulf Shores AL 36542 Find the perfect Gulf Shores condo at this popular…

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Turquoise Place, Broadmoor, Four Seasons & The Enclave Condominiums in Orange Beach Orange Beach Alabama 36561   Find the ideal Orange Beach condo and start…

Shoreline Towers Condominium in Destin Florida

Via: Destin Florida Condo For Sale at Shoreline Towers

[telltheworld-phff]

Chapter 46, part I: My best friend’s wedding

Carol did have to thank Princess Sofia for the little push she had given her a couple weeks ago. She decided to be bold and to give Harry the chance he’s been patiently waiting for. She was more loving towards him, not that she wasn’t before, but she was loving in a way enough to show him, because she was still afraid of speaking about it, that they did go to a next level.

When they thought luck was finally getting on their side, their schedule became so packed and full that they barely had the chance to see each other. Harry had to go with his grandmother to a long visit up north, Carol’s work was going amazingly and she was hosting workshops and training programs. She started easy, with all the BBC employees in London. She had to adjust her hours because of the amount of shifts they had and it came out as a huge success. They were starting to create a magazine and everyone was contributing with ideas and photographs and contact information to some people they wanted to interview. That’s why her boss said they should expand to other countries.

And that’s when she thought she’d go mad.

And that’s when her already full schedule became even fuller.

Because she had barely spent any time at home.

Because she was receiving lots of angry texts from her sister, because she had missed all the fittings to her dress.

Because she had promised her mom, she’d be in Brazil for at least two weeks to help her with the last errands for the wedding.

She was frustrated because obviously she had too much on her plate, and that’s when she opened her e-mail and dreaded opening the message that said “Planned Trips”. With a sigh, she opened it and saw all those places she’d be able to visit, but at the same time she just wanted her home. She just wanted an opportunity to breathe.

Her schedule for the next two months was something like this:

April

2-6 Copenhagen, Denmark

10-12 Cologne, Germany

25-27 Paris, France

May

4-9 Warsaw, Poland

14-19 Stockholm, Sweden

23-27 Johannesburg, South Africa

It’s not like she didn’t like traveling (she still hadn’t left London to go anywhere), or that she didn’t like her job and to be traveling with something she had created. It was just...

It all was happening so fast, and even though she was spending a lot of time in her office, sometimes she still pinched herself to see if it wasn’t a dream that she was about to wake up from.

She loved everything that had happened in her life.

What she wasn’t comfortable with was the pace things were happening.

Just when she had settled down to the idea of living abroad, dating and prince, getting a master degree and finally totally catch up with her workplace and tasks, people started to add things to her ever growing piles of things she had to give attention to.

She closed the e-mail and took a breath. Freak out right now wouldn’t help her go anywhere.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds when a colleague knocked on her door and asked if she was ready to the conference call.

She wasn’t. But she lied and went anyway.

x

She had just arrived in London from Germany, letf her suitcase at home and went for something to dinner.

“Hey babe.” she said when he picked up his phone. She was at a Sainsbury’s buying her dinner. “How are you?”

He smiled when he heard the endearment.

“I’m better now. And you?”

“Tired. Bit stressed.” she said while getting a bottle of orange juice. “But tomorrow I’m working from home, so I have time to pack. I can’t believe the wedding is next Saturday.” she said after paying and walking back to her place. “My mom must be so disappointed because I couldn’t get there earlier.”

“I know! Seems like it was yesterday.” he said leaving the car in front of his cottage. He too was working all day at St. James. “And I already told you, Carol. Your mom understands that you didn’t go earlier because of your job. Your very good paying job.”

“It seems that you want to date me for my money, Harry. Do you? Do you want to date me because of my money?”

“You know I want to date you besides your money… Already told you that.”

They both laughed and she took a moment to appreciate his laugh.

“Is your dress ready?” This had become an inside joke because he knew she hadn’t been to any fittings.

“It is. But I don’t know if it’ll fit… might’ve lost a few pounds these days. Let’s not mention that to Hailey. She’s been complaining about the fact that my mom lives in another country and all the fittings went smoothly. I live in the same city and was always busy and never found time to go to a single one...” Carol laughed at that while walking towards her flat.

“Oh boy...” Harry said loosening his tie. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

“Yeah… I mean. I’m not the bride. No one will be looking at me.”

“I will...” he answered.

“Well… you’re my date. You’re obliged to.” they both laughed while she opened her flat’s door.

“I miss you.” Harry said and she could actually feel how much he meant it.

“Me too...” she answered biting her lip.

“Can’t wait for this trip. Your work is stealing you way too much from me.” he said and actually pouted at that.

She laughed because she knew he was pouting. But she didn’t comment on his statement, just like he knew she wouldn’t.

“So I heard you and Sofia have been texting each other.” Harry said after a comfortable silence between them.

“We are!” Carol sounded excited. “She’s such a sweet person, and she’s giving me some advice. We are going to have lunch together when I’m in Stockholm next month.”

“I knew you’d like her. Carl Philip scored big when he married her.” Harry went to the kitchen to heat something for him to eat. “She’s someone you can trust. You know, in my circle you have to be careful with what you say or do. It’s sad that we can’t just make a friend at a park or bar, that we have to constantly watch our behavior. So I think it’s important for you to have someone you can trust on. She’ll help you a lot.”

“He did. Didn’t he?” Carol smiled. “But it’s weird that I’m developing a friendship with a princess.”

“You’re developing a relationship with a prince… Thought you’d be used by now.” Harry said and Carol went silent once again. “She’s the first of many, though.” They both laughed at that.

“Who knows?”.

X

She had checked her e-mail account twice while waiting to board the plane. She was still working, even though she had promised herself she wouldn’t. The plan was: get up early, go for a stroll at the park, go back home to pack and start working by 9. Then, she’d take her full lunch hour so she could get a manicure and then go back and work until 4:30. Then, it was vacation time for she had taken a few days off, on holidays. But obviously she woke up early and decided to check her e-mail. What was going to be just checking became full working and when she realized it was already mid-afternoon and she hadn’t done anything.

She answered to the last e-mail and started leisurely browsing.That’s when she saw the news:

“The Marshal of the Realm is delighted to announce that HRH Crown Princess Victoria gave birth to a son on April 10, 2018 at 5:48pm.

Both mother and child are in good health.”

She couldn’t help but be thrilled. Her Royal watching-heart was happy for the family and Swedish christenings were the most fun ones to watch.

She sent a text to Sofia, congratulating on her newborn nephew.

She felt her phone vibrating, but they were calling all passengers to board, so she didn’t see who was texting until she had found her seat. She had got two messages.

H: Safe trip, babe. See you in Brazil.

S: Thank you, Carol. He’s so cute. Also… a little secret: his name is Arthur. Xoxo

She took her time to answer to both of them, and then texted her mom saying she was on her way home.

The flight was uneventful but long and tiring. She arrived at Sao Paulo and had a connection to the other flight.

Her mom had decided to get married in Fernando de Noronha, one of Brazil’s postcard and one of the most wonderful places on earth. But since it was an island and also a natural reserve, getting there was difficult and even bureaucratic.

When she finally arrived in Noronha, several hours later, her mom and Flavio were waiting for her.

She received the most calming and comforting hug from her mom. That lasted forever and they both teared up.

In Portuguese there’s a word that means “I miss you”, and it’s called “Saudade”. In that moment both mother and daughter, that had never been this long apart were witnessing and feeling that saudade was painful and bittersweet.

After the compliments, they boarded the rental car and went to the hotel.

Carol was so tired and jet-lagged that she only wanted a shower and a bed to nap. She didn’t even wanted to go sightseeing just now. She needed rest and probably food. Brazilian food.

After she had her check-in and went to her bedroom, she found a giant bouquet of pink roses on her bed. She knew who had sent that before she got the card. And even in her state, she appreciated his gesture.

“When you get this bouquet, it’ll mean that we are only a couple hours apart. Hang in there, my love. I am on my way. -H.”

She smiled and smelled the flowers. She asked the reception for a vase and put them on water.

She took a shower and tried to wait for him awake. But her tiredness took the best of her and she fell asleep.

X

When Harry arrived at the hotel, he first asked for Maria and Flavio. He wanted to congratulate them and thank them for the invitation he didn’t think he’d get.

The hotel manager that was waiting for him on the reception told they were at the beach. And for him to get there he would have to simple walk towards the end of the lobby. Harry was impressed by the beauty of this north eastern Brazilian island.

He soon found Maria that just forgot he was a prince and embraced him like he was his son. She asked him a few things she had learned. She was fussing over him like a caring a protective mother and he had forgotten how this felt like.

Flavio also greeted him like part of the family and he even spotted Hailey on a jet-ski, playing with some unknown person.

“Where is she?” he asked as soon it was polite enough to change the subject.

“She’s taking a nap.” Flavio answered.

“I think you could also enjoy a nap.” Maria said. “Room 202.” she blinked at him.

He politely excused himself and went to the room. He asked his P.O’s to just leave him be for a couple of hours. The island was secure, the hotel was only booked with wedding guests and to be honest he didn’t give a damn about being spotted.

He only wanted to be with her.

With the woman that had turned his world upside town with just a smile.

The woman that would soon be, officially, his girlfriend.

He knocked on the door and no one answered. He tried to see if it was locked. It wasn’t.

As quietly as he could, he entered the bedroom and saw her sleeping peacefully on the bed.

He couldn’t help but smile.

He took of his shoes and shirt and laid beside her on the bed. He caressed her face and she smiled. He gently pulled her body towards his and his heart felt content when he noticed that even sleeping, her body recognized his. Because she snuggled on him without even noticing.

In that moment Harry knew for sure that he had made something right along the way. That the wait was worth it. Because Carol had said, without saying a single word, that she was his. In the  most sincere way.

IT’S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE Y’ALL!!!!

I know it’s a short chapter and that you deserve more. I know. But I thought it was best for me to post this, and then work on the rest of it than to post it all God knows when.

Happy Holidays and thank you so much for reading my story and for sticking with me during the laptop break. It still isn’t fixed, but let’s not focus on it. Shall we?

The next chapter will probably come on the new year, but I’ll do my best to post it sooner.

As always, let me know your thoughts on this chapter and suggestions to the other ones.

[usbeaches]

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