Chapter 21

Twenty-One

Finally! Your faithful principal finally had a few moments to herself, and I got all the wonderful pictures from our holiday festival uploaded. Tag yourselves! And another thank you to Mr. Bell and Mr. Winters for the performances and standout decor.

NOLAN

Only for Merry would I awaken at dawn on the morning of the twenty-seventh and take the earliest possible bus to North Shore to maximize our time together. I’d said my goodbyes to my folks the night before, not that they seemed to have noticed. Like my Thanksgiving week trip, the bus was a crowded mix of locals and tourists. But after two months on the island, I didn’t fit in with either group, though for different reasons now.

The morning was nippy, so I wore the hoodie I’d stolen from Merry advertising a surfing company. I’d learned leather and the ocean didn’t exactly mix, so I had switched to a nylon bag I’d found in Cara’s hall closet. My designer sandals had given up the ghost a week ago, and I’d replaced them with the strappy kind everyone wore everywhere on the island, including to fancy brunches. My skin was still New York-pale thanks to a sunscreen habit, but my fluffy hair hadn’t seen a stylist since my arrival, and the waistband of my shorts said I’d enjoyed being in vacation mode and not worrying about being at my ideal size for auditions.

No one was going to mistake me for an actual surfer, but judging by the number of times I was asked for directions, I at least looked more like I knew my way around these days. I watched the ocean on the drive north as much as I could because the December waves truly were as epic as advertised. Perhaps my newfound appreciation for the ocean was Merry rubbing off on me in more than the fun sense.

And there was Merry waiting for the bus, lounging against his car, looking every inch the blond surf god of my dreams. All mine. He smiled as he caught sight of me, wide and easy, like my mere presence was enough to make his day.

“Nice hoodie. Get in.” He opened the passenger door for me. “Turns out I have one more present for you.”

He plopped a bag from his parents’ surf shop in my lap. I opened it to reveal one of those lightweight wetsuits Merry and the boys had worn last time I’d been up here. It was thick enough to provide more warmth than swim trunks but nowhere near a scuba suit.

“It’s a wetsuit.” I frowned at him. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I think standing up on a surfboard is still beyond my skillset.”

“Agreed.” Chuckling, he leaned over to give me a fast peck on the cheek. “This is so your poor, easily chilled body can enjoy boogie boarding. And it will also protect your knees from the sand. The boys and I are going to teach you. In fact, it was mainly their idea.”

“No fair.” I groaned. “You know I can’t say no to them.”

“Yep.” He grinned at me. “You’re a big softie.”

“Guilty as charged.” I set the bag behind us, next to Barney and near a clipboard with papers from the surf lessons Merry did. “Are you going to make me sign a waiver?”

“You’re not gonna drown. Promise.” Merry gave me one last kiss before starting the car and heading farther north. “We’ll stick to shallow water.”

“And do I get to watch you actually surf?” I was more willing to attempt this new sport if it meant seeing Merry wet, sandy, and preferably shirtless.

“That would be the plan.” He winked at me.

“And I get brunch?” My stomach rumbled, reminding me what time I’d had to leave Cara’s neighborhood.

“Yes, Nolan, you get a last meal.” He rolled his eyes at me. “Mom packed a picnic for everyone.”

Brightening at the prospect of food, I enjoyed the short drive to a different beach than I’d been to before. This one had more trees and a long, meandering path to the shoreline. Barney followed along, including when we stopped for me to squeeze into the wetsuit at the public restrooms at the trailhead.

Merry’s whole family was already on the beach, set up with low chairs, a beach umbrella, a couple of coolers, and Grandpa looking like he was taking up residence right there. I was sure he had a first name, and I would have happily used it, but he’d told me to call him Grandpa because “everyone does.”

“Looking good, Nolan.” White hair swept back off his forehead, Grandpa gave me a regal nod.

“Thanks.”

“Nolan!” Merry’s mom graced me with a huge hug. She wore a tie-dye print rash guard over faded denim shorts. “Did Merry tell you about our present to you both yet?”

“Not yet.” Merry also gave his mom a tight hug and ruffled her hair. My mother would likely commit a mortal sin if one of us touched her hair. “I figured that would be his reward for trying the boogie board.”

“What present?” I nudged Merry. “Maybe I’ll be more likely to get on the board if you tell me now.”

“Dad, Mom, and Grandpa are taking the kids to a special show at the Polynesian Cultural Center tonight, leaving us on our own for dinner, and Mom made reservations for you and me at the resort. She wants us to have a date night.”

“I love this idea.” I nodded enthusiastically until I caught sight of Ryder wiping out spectacularly on the very thing Merry wanted me to try. “Assuming I live until then.”

“You’ll live.” He dragged me closer to the water and the boys. Merry’s dad had one of the squatty body boards, which he handed to me. Merry pointed at the water. “Watch the others. Do they look miserable?”

“Well, no.” Up and down the beach, people of all ages were trying the boogie boards, dashing out into the surf and hugging the board close to ride it back to shore. “It does look fun.”

“You’ll see.” After a few more demonstrations from the boys, Merry attached the board’s strap to my wrist. “Your turn.”

Grabbing Ryder’s board, Merry waded out with me, and all went well until I launched myself at the board and ended up with a mouthful of saltwater.

“Aack! The water is salty!”

“You’re not supposed to drink it.” Merry chuckled and made me try it again. And again. And then, the most miraculous thing happened in a season of miraculous things, I actually caught a tiny wave and rode my board in the correct way.

“I did it.” I celebrated by hefting myself out of the water, ready to try again. “I really did it.”

“You did.” Merry pulled me close for a loud kiss on the cheek. We frolicked in the water awhile longer before Merry’s mother summoned us to a feast of mangoes, papayas, nuts, her famous banana bread, and tasty turkey wraps.

A dollop of mayo escaped my wrap, and Merry passed me a napkin.

“Oh. Wait.” I looked down at the wetsuit. I had it, Merry’s hoodie, some pajamas for decency, and a couple of T-shirts and shorts in my bag. Funny how two months ago, I’d planned my every outfit down to the shoes. Maybe Merry’s casual ways were eroding my well-honed style. “I didn’t pack any date-night clothes.”

“Oh dear, you’ll have to shop in Haleiwa. The utter sacrifice.” Merry adopted a dramatic tone that was possibly an imitation of me, but I laughed anyway. He might be influencing my fashion taste these days, but he also knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t turn down a chance to shop.

After food, we played awhile longer in the ocean, and I got to watch Merry swim out with his father on the big boards and ride an impressive wave back, like something out of a movie.

“That was hot.” I teased him when he made it back to me.

“If you think that’s hot, just wait for later.” He gave me a pointed look. “Ready to shop? Better get you the right attire for the resort.”

We went into the small tourist town, which had the most adorable collection of small shops. Every few blocks held a Hawaiian shaved-ice stand, which meant I was already quite happy even before we discovered a menswear shop with what I considered upscale resort wear. Not suit level formal and more prints than most business wear, but high-quality shirts, shorts, and slacks in a small building facing a courtyard with other shops and eateries.

I thumbed through the bulging after-Christmas clearance rack, humming softly to myself.

“Your boyfriend is adorable,” the dark-haired saleswoman said to Merry, and I braced for his rebuttal, but instead, Merry chuckled fondly.

“He really is.”

I had a feeling I lit up brighter than the tree at Rockefeller Center. And maybe it was only for another few days, but I had a boyfriend. One who was happy to claim me in public and offered good suggestions on what prints might suit me. Most dates would have been beyond bored, but Merry joined in my hunt for the best bargains.

“You should try one on too.” I nudged him after I had my picks down to a pinkish-purple button-down with a tapestry pattern and a more whimsical light-blue one with a sea turtle print.

“You suggest matching shirts and date night is off.” He gave me a stern look.

“Never.” I shook my head even if I had been thinking exactly that.

“How about this?” Merry pulled a light-blue cotton sweater off the sales table. It featured a subtle texture and ultra-softa Pima cotton blended with some sort of silk and linen, managing to look as dressy as any button-down shirt in the store.

“Very you. I can’t wait to see it on you, but I already love it.”

“And it’s sixty percent off,” the saleswoman added helpfully.

“You know my mother is going to insist on pictures if we show up in new clothes.” Merry gave a good-natured groan.

“I’m okay with that.” My pulse sped up as my chest struggled to accommodate my heavy heart. I wanted all the pictures. “We need more pictures of us.”

“Here, let me help with that. Give me your phone.” The saleswoman held out her hand for my phone, which I handed over even as Merry sighed. She had us pose, holding up our purchases. “Smile!”

“How’s that?” she asked as she passed the phone back.

“Perfect.” Long after we’d paid and were on our way to Merry’s parents’ house, I stared at the photo. We looked so happy. So right together. Why couldn’t this last?