Skylar and her mom embark on a holiday trip to Hawaii, where Skylar meets Hayden, a charming tour guide. As they explore the island, Skylar and Hayden's connection deepens, leading to secret beach rendezvous and heartfelt conversations. However, upon returning home, Skylar finds herself entangled in a complicated web of emotions involving her schoolmates Reign and Jessie. Navigating new relationships and old friendships, Skylar must confront her feelings and decide where her heart truly lies.
Book 2
Skylar sat by the porch chair. She was glad that it was semester break; it had been much needed. She had been relieved to be at home. They were going on holiday to the beach today—in Hawaii.
“Skylar, have you packed everything?” her mom asked.
“Yes, mom. I am waiting for you.”
“Okay, okay, I am coming too. I know what you’re implying, that if we miss the flight, it’s all on me,” her mom replied, laughing.
“That’s what you always do to me.”
When her mom was done packing, she came out with the bags and they drove to the airport. They had a good thirty minutes of spare time. They went to the café to get some food before departure. Skylar just ate to fill up the void that she didn’t want to address as of yet.
They boarded the plane, and she was excited to see Hawaii. This was the first trip they had ever taken with her mom. Since she had gotten a scholarship, they could afford this once-in-a-lifetime luxury that they hadn’t been able to before.
And to make it better, her mom had known a friend who got them cheap yet conventional seats. She didn’t care what seat she sat in as long as she got in and arrived in Hawaii. She looked out the window and saw the clouds.
Soon, they arrived, and she could see the beautiful island. Wow, it was really beautiful. They took their bags and went out to the tour bus they were with. She was so excited. They stowed their bags away and got seated.
They made their way to the resort so that they could all check in and get settled in. When they finally got to their rooms, Skylar squealed. They had gotten conjoining rooms, and she was so excited about the humongous bathtub that looked like a jacuzzi.
She went to her mother’s room and she found her doing the same thing as her, admiring her room and view and being in shock.
“Skylar, this is amazing. What should we do first?”
“Let’s get changed and go to the beach. I heard there is a pink beach!”
“Great idea. We should take a lot of pictures, so bring the camera.”
“On it, Mom.”
Skylar went back to her room and rummaged through her suitcase and bingo, she found what she was looking for.
She put on her white bathing suit. She wanted it to contrast with the colors of the sea.
She took the camera out of the bag and put it around her neck and wore flip-flops. She made sure to put on some sunscreen and grab a towel to lie on.
She dashed back to her mom’s room and found that she was also done, which meant that she was also excited to go and explore.
“Let’s go. The next bus is leaving in five minutes,” her mom urged her on.
Skylar scurried out with her, and when they got to the tour bus, she couldn’t help but notice the tour guide. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
“Don’t even think about it, young lady,” her mother dragged her in the bus and made her sit by the window seat.
“What, mom? I was just being polite. Just like how you taught me to be all the time.”
“Really, Skylar? That was a whole different polite and your eyes became googly. I thought they were going to pop out. And wipe that drool from your face.”
Skylar burst out laughing. “Mom…stop.”
Skylar stopped when she saw that the tour guide was now looking at her. She quickly looked away, knowing that her mom would be watching her every move.
They set off, and she looked out the window. She snapped at everything since her mother was also urging her to take pictures of the things she liked, which ended up being everything.
They finally got to the beach and Skylar got out of the bus. They were given a speech, which she barely heard because she wanted to go to the beach. When they were given their time to come back and dismissed, she ran toward the beach.
“Wait up, Skylar. I’m not as young as you.”
“Okay.”
Her mom caught up. They walked to the water and they kept on running away from the waves as they had never been to the beach.
“Get in, Skylar.”
Skylar laughed. She cupped some water and splashed some of it on her mom.
“You are so on,” her mom called back, scooping some water and throwing it in her direction.
Skylar squealed. She took out the camera and took some more pictures of the beach and of her mom.
“Hand over the camera. I can take some pics of you.”
Skylar gave her mom the camera and then she posed for it.
“Work it.”
Skylar burst out laughing at her mom’s words.
“Do you two want a picture together?”
Skylar looked over, and she saw it was the tour guide.
“Yes, please,” her mom replied.
Her mom handed over the camera to the tour guide and he snapped a couple of pictures before returning the camera to Skylar.
Her hands brushed against his and she tried not to show how it affected her, but she could feel her cheeks warming and she could already feel her mom silently making fun of her.
They thanked him, and he smiled and walked away.
“Don’t start, Mom.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
They went and laid their towels on the beach, and then they lay down and soaked in the peaceful air and waves.
Yet, Skylar couldn’t forget the pair of eyes that she had left behind and that still haunted her, no matter how she tried to forget about them.