It’s June 18th and they are both in L.A. at the same time, which feels serendipitous in a way that Annabeth doesn’t want to think about too much.
It’s been over a month since the French Open and in a few days until they both fly to London to compete at Wimbledon. Both of them are on the West coast to see the same physiotherapist for their separate ailments as full time athletes and only realised they would be in the same city when Percy mentioned it a week ago.
The lifetower they are both sitting in is fortunately deserted and facing out at the dark ocean. Annabeth rolls her neck until it cracks satisfyingly and next to her, with his feet stretched out and crossed at the ankles, laughs at her and cracks his knuckles in response.
“I can’t remember the last time I woke up not aching somewhere,” she says.
“Getting old sucks,” he agrees. “These sort of activities probably don’t help.”
She looks over at him. “Activities? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Sorry, is sexual intercourse better?”
“Activities it is, then.”
“I gotta say, i’ve never had sex in a lifeguard tower before.”
She rolls her head to look at him. “Neither have I. How’d you rate it?”
“Well it was no restaurant bathroom in Paris, but...”
Annabeth feels her face warm at the memory. “But…?” she prompts.
Percy laughs. “But it was pretty up there.”
She pulls the sleeves of her - well, Percy’s - hoodie over her hands and holds them to her face. They are sheltered from the wind but it’s still cool enough to warrant more than the single layer she had been wearing.
Thanks to his chivalry, Percy is left wearing a t-shirt and shorts. He looks impossibly soft under the moonlight and Annabeth can’t look at him for too long or she’ll be tempted to do something stupid like lean her head on his shoulder or kiss him. She is used to hanging around after sex, but they are usually in bed or pulling clothes back on and making an escape from whatever public place they were in. sitting next to him fully clothed - partially in his clothes - feels like a different type of intimacy than she has previously known with him.
All of this running around in secret is starting to get to her, perhaps.
“D’you feel ready for Wimbledon?” he asks after several quiet moments have passed between them.
“I do. More ready than I have previously.”
“You’re gonna win,” he says with confidence. “I know it.”
She side eyes him. “Well, don't jinx it, Jackson.”
“There’s no such thing as jinxes.”
“A pro athlete who doesn’t believe in bad luck? Who the hell are you?”
He laughs and Annabeth tries to ignore the way her own mouth ticks up at the corners as she watches it take over his face.
“One of a kind,” he says, though he manages to make it sound self-deprecating.
“Sure you are,” she says. “Ugh, for god’s sake.”
Annabeth shows him her phone, which is lit up with messages from Piper demanding she get home for an early night.
“Mom wants me home before curfew,” she says dryly.
Percy sighs and stands up, offering a hand to her. “C’mon then, Cinderella.”
She takes his hand and lets herself be hauled upright. They make their way down the ramp and then walk up the beach together with their shoes held in their hands. Their hotels are in opposite directions and her flight leaves early tomorrow so neither bother to invite the other over for the night.
They stand on the sidewalk, waiting for their taxis to arrive and brushing the sand off their clothes. As Annabeth’s Uber arrives, she reaches to pull the hoodie over her head but Percy stops her, grabbing her wrist.
She looks at him with a frown but something about his expression convinces her not to protest otherwise.
The corner of his mouth pulls up and he leans down to kiss her cheek. Before he can move away she grabs his chin and presses a kiss to his mouth. They hover together in a soft moment as Annabeth savours the taste of him for a moment too long and then her driver is pressing his horn. She drops back to flat feet and smiles at Percy.
“See you in London,” she tells him, walking backwards away from him.
She can see the pink of Percy’s cheeks under the soft streetlight he stands underneath and makes out his smile before he replies.
Annabeth sends him a smile before climbing into the back of the car and confirms her destination to her driver. As they pull away from the curb, she pulls the hoodie up to cover her mouth and nose and breathes in. Percy’s smell surrounds her and she realises she’s anticipating landing in London not just for the tournament but so that she can get her hands on Percy again.
For now though, the hoodie will keep her warm.
