Page 25 of See You Next Month

Isabella shook her head. “You’re not having second thoughts about this, are you? Do I need to give you my winning smile?”

Kelsey chuckled and leaned into Isabella. “No, I’m not having second thoughts. It’s just hard to believe.” She smiled at Isabella and narrowed her gaze. “Now let me see that winning smile.”

Isabella gave Kelsey her cheesiest grin, but then it settled into a genuine smile.

“Yep, you’ve still got it,” Kelsey said with a grin.

8

Ashort time later they got off the ferry and were met by one of the island’s outfitters.

“Kelsey and Isabella?” a woman asked, walking up to them with a smile.

“That’s us,” Isabella said.

“I’m Sylvie,” she said. “I’ll be taking you to the trailhead.”

They followed her to a Jeep with the doors off. Once they were settled inside, she put the Jeep in gear and off they went.

“I have your snorkeling equipment,” Sylvie said. “You brought your lunch from Coral Bay, right?”

“Yep,” Kelsey said. “We have that and a few other things here.”

“Great. Spend as much time as you’d like on Honeymoon Beach. I’m going to give you my number. If you text me when you start the hike back, I’ll be waiting for you when you get to the trailhead. From there you can decide what you want to do next.”

“Carmen mentioned something about biking around the island and then we’re going to a bar,” Isabella explained.

“You’re not going to just any bar.” Sylvie grinned. “You’re going to Peaches. The owners are friends of mine and you won’t find a better place on all the islands.”

Kelsey turned around from the front seat and exchanged a look with Isabella.

“Maybe we’ll skip the bikes and go to Peaches after the beach,” Isabella said with a chuckle.

“You’re my kind of people.” Sylvie laughed.

It was a quick ride to the trailhead and Sylvie helped them to manage their gear. The snorkeling equipment was in a backpack that Kelsey slipped her arms into.

“Let me have our lunch bag. I can sling it over my shoulder, too,” Kelsey said.

“Wait,” Sylvie said. “I think it will fit in the backpack.”

Kelsey stood still while Sylvie opened the backpack and pushed the lunch bag inside. “Just right,” Sylvie said. “Is it too heavy?”

“Not at all,” Kelsey said.

“I’ll wear it on the way back,” Isabella said. She put their bag with the other items over her shoulder. “Are you ready?”

“Text me when you leave the beach and I’ll be waiting for you,” Sylvie reminded them with a smile.

“Let’s go,” Kelsey said as she started down the trail.

It took them about twenty minutes to make the hike over the trail. There were a few rocky places here and there, but it was mostly easy going.

“Oh my God, Kelsey!” Isabella exclaimed. “Look at this!”

The path opened up to a white sandy beach that met the most beautiful bluish-green water Kelsey had ever seen.

“Look at those leaning palm trees!” Kelsey looked around, amazed. “It’s like a postcard, but better.”

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