Grace Li stood up, ready to leave. Around her, some colleagues were sitting together playing Werewolf, debating fiercely, "I'm telling you, it's definitely Jake! He's been acting so sketchy all night." "No way, I think it's Sarah. She's been way too quiet." Others were playing Truth or Dare, bursting into laughter every now and then, "Yo, you gotta do the chicken dance right here, right now!" Everyone was immersed in the fun and lively atmosphere of the games.
Three minutes after Grace Li left, Aiden Thompson stood up, ready to head out as well. Scarlett Harris spotted him getting up and immediately followed him, asking, "Aiden, you heading back to the hotel?"
Aiden Thompson nodded, responding, "Yeah, I'm beat."
"Mind if I join you?"
Aiden Thompson raised his phone and said, "Not really convenient. I've got a video call with my girlfriend later. You know, couple stuff."
Scarlett Harris's face slightly changed, but she quickly forced a smile, "Well, I don't want to be the third wheel. Forget about it."
As soon as Aiden Thompson left, his phone buzzed again—it was a message from Grace Li.
Grace Li: Yo, they got chocolate, vanilla, mango, coconut, and strawberry flavors of ice cream. What do you want?
Aiden Thompson: Coconut, for sure.
Grace Li: Got it.
When Aiden Thompson arrived at the ice cream shop, Grace Li had already bought an ice cream, holding it in one hand. Aiden Thompson walked up to her, and she handed him one.
Aiden Thompson took the ice cream and, seeing her vanilla flavor, asked, "You sure you can eat that? You know, with your health stuff."
Grace Li understood what he meant. She smiled and replied, "Yeah, I'm good." Then she took a lick of the ice cream and asked, "So, where are we headed?"
Aiden Thompson pointed toward the beach, saying, "Let's take a stroll by the sea. Get some fresh air."
"Okay, sounds good."
Aiden Thompson reached for her hand, but Grace Li instinctively glanced around and reminded him, "Yo, there might be colleagues around. We don't want any drama."
Aiden Thompson let go, and they walked toward the quieter part of the beach. This stretch of beach stretched for several kilometers. The liveliest area was where they had the bonfire party. The further east they walked, the quieter it became, and the dimmer the lights got. In the distance, the lights of New York's iconic buildings twinkled in the night sky, outlining the unique city skyline. Occasionally, street performers could be seen on the beach, doing tricks that drew a small crowd.
They strolled along the beach, eating their ice cream. The sea breeze blew Grace Li's hair and dress. After they walked far from the bustling area and finished their ice cream, Aiden Thompson took her hand again.
As the night went on, the temperature dropped. Grace Li's hands felt a bit cold. Aiden Thompson asked, "You cold, babe?"
"Not too bad. But brr, it's definitely getting chilly." Grace Li looked at his T-shirt and said, "Even if I were freezing, you couldn't exactly give me your shirt out here. We're in public, ya know."
"But I can warm you up, no problem."
"How you gonna do that?"
Aiden Thompson stopped and pulled her into his arms. Grace Li leaned against him, surrounded by his body heat. Aiden Thompson rubbed her exposed arms to warm her up and said, "Your arms are icy. Maybe we should head back to the hotel."
Grace Li wrapped her arms around him and said, "Let's stay a little longer. I'm loving this moment with you."
Aiden Thompson stroked her hair and said, "All right, just a bit longer."
Grace Li leaned quietly in Aiden Thompson's arms. He shielded her from the sea breeze. With her eyes closed, she could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the beach.
This area was very dark, and hardly anyone came here. They hugged each other for a long time.
Suddenly, Grace Li asked, "Aiden, you ever wonder what I'd look like in a bikini?"
Aiden Thompson looked down at her and replied, "Just for me to see? Sign me up."
Grace Li chuckled and moved a little away from him, saying, "So you're really curious, huh?"
Aiden Thompson tucked the hair the sea breeze had blown onto her face behind her ear and said, "I'd want to see you in anything, or nothing at all. You're beautiful, no matter what."
Well, another high-EQ answer. He always seemed to know how to make his partner feel secure.
Grace Li thought that maybe even if she told him about her deep-seated inferiority complex, he would say something comforting.
So, what was she still worrying about?
Grace Li said, "I've never worn a swimsuit in my life, not even a conservative one."
"Then don't. You don't gotta force yourself. In America, we're all about body positivity, doing what makes you comfortable."
"Do you know why?" Grace Li looked into his eyes. In the dim light, she could only see a vague outline.
Aiden Thompson always felt she had something important to tell him. He listened patiently, asking, "Why's that, babe?"
"Because I'm scared." Grace Li lowered her head slightly as she said this.
Aiden Thompson stroked her head and said, "It's okay to be scared. But you don't have to be, not with me."
"And the reason I'm scared is that I'm terrified of being laughed at."
"Grace, no one's gonna laugh at you. You're amazing, and anyone who does is just jealous."
"Let me finish." Grace Li interrupted him. It took her a lot of courage to tell him this. She wanted him to know. Whatever happened after that, she just didn't like deceiving people.
"When I was eleven, I experienced a fire at my grandma's place. I have a scar on my back."
Aiden Thompson put his hand on her back, asking, "Here?"
Grace Li flinched like a frightened bird and took a small step back, saying, "Don't touch."
"Does it still hurt?"
Grace Li shook her head, "No, it doesn't hurt anymore."
Aiden Thompson stepped forward, "Since it doesn't hurt, why can't I touch? In a relationship, we're all about being open and vulnerable with each other."
Grace Li still kept her head down and said, "It's ugly. I've always been self-conscious about it."
So, the previous doubts were finally cleared up. That day in New Jersey, he couldn't resist touching her. At first, everything seemed fine, and she seemed to accept his actions. But when he touched her waist, she pushed him away instinctively.
Later, he thought maybe he was too hasty. After all, they had only been in a relationship for a little over two months.
But now, he finally understood.
Aiden Thompson pulled her back into his arms and placed his hand on her back, saying, "Grace, when I hear that you went through a fire as a child, I feel for you. I'm glad you survived. But that scar you mentioned, it's just a part of your story. It doesn't define you."
Aiden Thompson's hand moved to the zipper of her dress on her back. As he started to pull the zipper down a bit, Grace Li instinctively tried to break free from his embrace, but Aiden Thompson's grip was strong, and she was held in his arms.
The zipper slid smoothly down, and the cold sea breeze blew in.
Grace Li buried her face in his chest, her hands nervously gripping the clothes around his waist, saying, "Aiden, don't... I'm so embarrassed."
"Grace, this is a knot in your heart. You need to face it, and I'm here to support you. In America, we believe in embracing our flaws and moving forward."
When Aiden Thompson's palm covered the scar, Grace Li tensed up. She was too afraid to look at Aiden Thompson's reaction. Was he disgusted? Or indifferent?
His palm gently moved over the uneven skin, as if exploring the extent of the scar, without any hint of impropriety. Then, he gently pulled the zipper back up.
Aiden Thompson said, "This scar means nothing to our relationship. I would never think any less of you because of it. In fact, it makes me feel for you even more. And I don't want this tiny imperfection to be the source of your lack of confidence. Grace, you're amazing, truly outstanding. You're perfect just the way you are."
Grace Li felt a lump in her throat. At that moment, a warm feeling spread through her heart. Her nervousness gradually eased.
It was like walking alone in the dark and suddenly someone with a light reached out to help her. Or like the sun breaking through the clouds after a storm.
Before, it was always her telling him, "You're amazing," to encourage him and boost his confidence.
Now, it was his turn to encourage her.
Grace Li looked up at him and said, "Aiden, thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me."
Aiden Thompson gently caressed her face and kissed her between the eyebrows, asking, "So from now on..."
"From now on what?"
"Can I touch you? I mean, whenever you're comfortable, of course. I want you to feel safe and loved with me."
Grace Li blushed and said, "I'm sharing a room with Olivia tonight. But... yeah, from now on, I want that too."
Aiden Thompson chuckled and said, "Not talking about tonight. I'm talking about in the long run. Building a relationship where we're completely comfortable with each other." He leaned close to her ear and said, "I mean in the future, whenever the moment is right."
"Oh, gotcha."
Aiden Thompson took her hand again and said, "The wind is getting stronger. Let's go back to the hotel. We can continue this conversation later, in a warmer, cozier place."
"Okay, let's go."
The two-day, one-night trip came to an end, and everyone returned to their regular work routine.