Page 8 of Changing Tides

She leans in and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “The best,” she squeals.

“Me too.”

When we step onto the sandy shore and navigate the footpath, the distant sounds of drums and laughter are carried by the ocean breeze.

I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement as Amiya and I make our way toward the sounds.

We showered after the snorkeling excursion and took a long nap in the hammocks on our deck before dressing for tonight.

I skipped makeup, except for swiping on some lip gloss, and spritzed on a moisturizing mist. Then, I pulled my beach-wave hair into a long ponytail and slipped on a strapless, vibrantly colored maxi dress and sandals.

The Hawaiian luau is in full swing when we make it to the venue.

We take a few moments to mingle with the crowd and take in the enchanting music and festive dancers.

The tantalizing aroma of grilled food fills the air as we take a spot at a communal table.

We settle in and watch the fire dancers mesmerize the gathering.

That’s when I notice him.

My eyes meet Sebastian’s across the crowd, and he and his two friends make their way over to us.

He stops across the table and smiles.

“Hi. Sebastian, isn’t it?” I ask.

“Yes. It’s nice to see you again, Avie.”

We stare at one another for a long moment when a throat clears.

I look over at Amiya’s expectant face.

“Oh, this is my friend Amiya. Sebastian and I met while snorkeling this afternoon,” I explain.

She raises an eyebrow.

“And this is Parker and Anson,” Sebastian introduces.

“Mind if we join you?” Anson asks.

Amiya extends her arm to the empty seat across from us. “Not at all.”

The three of them sit down, and with the rhythmic beat of the drums in the background, we strike up a conversation.

“What brings you fellas to Oahu?” Amiya asks.

“Work,” Parker says.

“Work? I thought you guys were just catching some waves for a few days,” I say to Sebastian.

“That too. We work on a couple’s personal yacht in the summers, traveling from California to Hawaii. I am the captain, and these two are part of my crew.”

“You sail a yacht from California to Hawaii?” I say.

“Yep, every summer for the past four years. They’re originally from the east coast. We grew up with the grandson. Now, they have a home in Los Angeles and one here on the island where they like to bring friends and their kids on vacation.”

“How long does it take to sail from California?” Amiya asks.

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