"Hey, there's sand in your pants and then there's sand in your pants," Thomas said as he carefully followed behind Krem. It was nice not to be rushed, to just take their time with this, to smell the salt of the ocean and feel the warm wind brushing through his hair.

Once they were on the sand, he unlaced his boots and took off his socks. He took some time to roll the bottoms of his jeans up and wiggled his toes in the sand. "Warm night."