Dustin, still grinning from ear to ear, grabbed Ricky's hand and led him away from the bustling beach crowd. "Let's find a quieter spot, away from all the noise," he suggested, his voice smooth and reassuring. Ricky reluctantly followed, his mind buzzing with frustration and confusion.
As they reached a secluded area shaded by palm trees, Dustin plopped down on the sand and motioned for Ricky to join him. "So, Nikki, tell me, what do you think of the beach? Pretty amazing, huh?" Dustin said, flashing Ricky a lopsided grin.
Ricky sighed inwardly, trying to muster up some semblance of annoyance. "It's... fine," he mumbled, still feeling the lingering effects of Max's meddling. Despite his best efforts, he found himself unable to summon the usual sharp retorts or witty comebacks.
Dustin leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Okay, okay, get ready for this one," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation. "Why did the seagull fly over the sea?"
Ricky rolled his eyes, already anticipating another lame joke. "I don't know, why?"
"Because if it flew over the bay, it would be a bagel!" Dustin burst into laughter, clutching his stomach as if he'd just told the funniest joke in the world.
To Ricky's dismay, he found himself giggling along with Dustin, despite his best efforts to maintain his composure. "That's... actually kind of funny," he admitted, shaking his head in disbelief.
As they continued chatting, Ricky couldn't help but notice how Dustin's sun-kissed skin seemed to glow in the dappled sunlight, or how his laughter seemed to fill the air with warmth and joy. Despite his initial annoyance, Ricky couldn't deny that there was something undeniably charming about the boy sitting beside him.
With each passing moment, Ricky felt himself becoming more and more entranced by Dustin's easygoing demeanor and infectious laughter. His thoughts grew hazy, his movements becoming more delicate and graceful with each passing second.
Before he knew it, Ricky found himself giggling uncontrollably at Dustin's latest joke, his cheeks flushed with a rosy hue. As he glanced up at Dustin through long lashes, he felt a flutter of butterflies in his stomach.