Rex left the next morning for a business retreat. I could see all the men now. Slurring into martini glasses and ogling the waitresses with short skirts. They would drink at a humans only bar, of course.

My husband would be back by Christmas Eve. I had three days to enjoy the house and my freedom with Daniel by my side.

"What shall we do first, babe?" Daniel asked. He was slouched over with his elbows propped on top of the counter.

I took some juice out of the fridge and thought for a moment. "We should go to the beach," I said. I poured myself a glass of orange juice and took a sip. "I need the sun."

"And I need the waves."

He put the juice back in the fridge for me and kissed my cheek. "I'm gonna get my board ready. Get your bikini on."

I blushed. I did not know what he was talking about.

"Bikini? What bikini?"

"The one you practically lived in the summer you got me," he said over his shoulder.

I shook my head. "I won't look the same in it."

He shouted from the garage, "Shut ya mouth! You're a ten!"

***

It was slightly overcast and the crowd at the beach was smaller than usual. Daniel set down his surfboard, my chair, umbrella, beach bag and cooler once he found a good spot. There were other Synthetics around, but most of them attended to their owners. I loved watching Daniel surf and play in the waves. I could put on my own sunscreen.

I was leafing through a magazine when he returned.

"You're dripping on me," I scolded.

He shook his wet hair and made more of a mess. I slapped him with my magazine. In one swift movement he ripped the magazine out of my hand and swung me onto his shoulder.

"Let me go!" 

He laughed and smacked my bum as he ran to the waves. Even though my head was bobbing up and down I did not miss the looks on people's faces. For once, I did not care.

He thrust me into the ocean. I blew bubbles out underneath the water because I was laughing so hard. When I surfaced he was in front of me with a huge grin on his face.

"Remember this, Cindy?"

He held me in his arms as the waves hit our shoulders.

"This is what living feels like," he said into my ear.

I asked him to hold me tighter as the sun finally began breaking through the clouds. I closed my eyes, welcoming it. 

I heard a quick thud and Daniel plummeted into the water. 

💙💙🎸💙💙

uh oh, Dandroid down

tysm 4 reading
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