Meet Me in Hawaii by Georgia Toffolo (novels for beginners txt) 📕

laptop screen, trying to focus on it, instead of the constant replay underway in his head, but it continued regardless. He’d been reliving it every waking moment since. The beach, the moonlight and her. If he closed his eyes – his lashes lowered – he could still feel her. Her soft, pliable mouth beneath his, the taste of her so sweet, and that little whimper which had quivered through her as she’d leaned into him.

His body reacted instantly and he shot his eyes open. He had to get a handle on this.

She’d run. At the end of the day, she’d run. It didn’t matter that she’d kissed him back, that for a few seconds it had been perfect, she had ultimately chosen to end it. And whatever her reasons were, he should be grateful to her for seeing sense when he hadn’t been able to. He didn’t want to jeopardize the success of this trip, especially when it could only ever be a bit of fun, a temporary lift to his otherwise monotonous and controlled existence.

Life was how he liked it, orderly and straightforward, so long as he didn’t dwell too much on his frustrations with his father.

All he had to do was keep his relationship with Malie professional and platonic. He had five lessons to get through and a few weeks on the island, nothing in the grand scheme of things for him, but plenty for the kids who’d make memories that would last a lifetime.

Now he smiled, his hand massaging the knot at the base of his skull as he glanced at his watch. It was four o’clock in the afternoon, Malie would be coming to the end of her second group session now. He thought of the kids in that group: Jonny, Louis, Sky and Tara. They were a great bunch, but Tara was the one that really caught his attention. Her visible scarring from a house fire had made her withdraw into herself and he hoped, really hoped, that this trip would bring the ten-year-old girl out of her shell again. Not to mention help her parents, who’d lost sight of their marriage long ago.

Only a handful of kids had their parents come along on the trip and Tara was one of them. He hoped they would use the time Tara was busy to enjoy some holiday time of their own and that they would soon realize that giving her some space was just as important as loving her.

If they only saw their daughter happy and enjoying life again, they would hopefully relax their tight hold over her and learn to relax with one another too. And if anyone could see Tara happy again, he had faith Malie would. Her easy smile that lit up her entire face, her bright green eyes that danced with humour, fun, joy… even though he knew deep down she carried her own scars.

And maybe that’s another reason he felt so drawn to her, maybe he wanted to help her too. To understand why, when she missed home like she did, she still chose to live in Hawaii. Her parents had owned a surf school, the perfect place for her to do what she does now, and yet she did so thousands of miles away.

But then he hadn’t missed the past tense either, they’d owned a surf school, which suggested they didn’t anymore. And surely they must miss their daughter. Having lost their son, to have their only child living miles away… he shook his head. He had so many questions, so many scenarios playing out in his mind as he sought to understand her better, even though he knew it wouldn’t help him to keep his distance. To keep it professional.

He shoved back from the desk and stood. It was no good sitting here and getting nothing done. If he hurried, he could catch the end of the lesson and see how the kids were getting on.

And if the opportunity arose, he would apologize for overstepping the line last night.

He headed outside feeling the pressure ease between his shoulder blades already. It was only a short stroll along the beach to get to the surf school, the fresh air would do him good too.

Fresh air.

Chat to the kids.

Apologize to Malie.

Safe and simple.

The beach was busy, but he could spot his crew almost immediately. They all wore the same bright pink rash vests, Malie’s sporting the word INSTRUCTOR in bold white print. He smiled, the gesture lifting him inside and out. She was in the sea, the water up to her waist as she held onto the board with ten-year-old Louis lying on it. He was small for his age, malnutrition leaving him way behind his peers, but what he lacked in size, he made up for in noise and laughter.

Behind them fifteen-year-old Jonny was already standing, his hands whooping in the air, and fourteen-year-old Sky was paddling as she shouted up to him, their smiles painting a thousand happy words.

But where was Tara?

He frowned and scanned the other boards, those playing in the shallow surf, the shoreline – and then he saw her. She was sitting in the sand, hunched over as she tickled Nalu at her feet, her board lying untouched beside her. He felt the weight of disappointment in the pit of his stomach but shook it off. No one could expect her to make a turnaround in just a couple of hours.

He walked up to the surf school and saw Kalani hosing down a row of surfboards.

‘Aloha,’ he called out.

Kalani looked up and grinned. ‘Mr Masters! It’s good to see you.’

‘It’s Todd, please.’

‘Sorry, Todd.’

‘How long have they been in the sea?’ He nodded towards the water just as Louis let out a small whoop and launched himself up on his board. Didn’t matter that Malie still had hold of it, the boy was in his element.

‘Most of their lesson. It’s a bit unorthodox, but she finds it works better that way with kids; they’re always so impatient