Page 65 of Finish Line

“We’re going on a helicopter tour,” I say.

Her face lights up, and she claps her hands. “Cool.”

The plan with the company is for them to drop us off in a field near the base of one of the smaller mountains. We’ll have a short, easy hike up, and at the top, we’ll eat lunch.

She grabs my arm and buries her face against my chest when we first take off.

The pilot takes us around the island. We spot a couple of picturesque waterfalls. We circle the Diamond Head Caldera and the one at Koko Head, the pilot pointing out the military bunker at the latter.

The whole time, Shelby takes pictures to remember our adventure.

When the helicopter descends, she scrunches up when she sees we aren’t back at the airport.

Once the helicopter is on the ground, I unbuckle her belt and take her hand, helping her onto the grassy hill. I nod my thanks to the pilot, and we head away, ducking low as I take us out from under the rotors and toward the base of the mountain.

Once clear, I turn and wave, and we watch it take off.

She looks around. “What are we doing?”

“Hiking.”

“Okaaaay.” She keeps her hand in mine and follows along.

I love how much she trusts me.

The path up the mountain is clear.

She stops a couple of times to take more pictures. “I can’t wait to print some of these. I’m going to have some amazing photos of our time here.”

I squeeze her hand. “I’m glad you invited us down for Cam’s birthday.”

“I was scared at first, but I’m glad, too,” she says.

“Have you heard from Hannah?” I ask, knowing this might be a sore subject.

Shelby nods. “She sent me a picture the other day of her milking a cow. I couldn’t stop laughing.” She pulls out her phone and shows me. “Her face says it all.”

I take her phone and laugh when I see Hannah sitting on a stool beside a cow, face scrunched up as she reaches her hand toward its udder.

“She hasn’t tried to call or text me, which I’m relieved by.” I kick a rock. “After how she treated you, her plans for me, and part she played in helping Roger hypnotize us, I’m still not sure I can forgive her.”

“I think she’s trying to distance herself from you.” Shelby frowns. “I never told her to stop being friends with you.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t do that. That’s not the kind of person you are. But at that time, I don’t think Hannah knew how to be friends with me.” I squeeze her hand again so she knows I mean what I say.

“You know…” Shelby begins. “You can call her, if you want. Because of what she did, she might be hesitant to call you.”

“I’m fine with not talking to her. I’m still working through what she almost cost me.”

We walk, holding hands, letting the silence and nature surround us.

“We’re almost there.” My voice breaks as the top of the hill comes into sight.

We crest the top and find a picnic basket and a blanket.

Shelby turns to me in surprise. “Is that for us?”

“Yes.” I rub my hand along the back of my neck, hoping this lives up to her expectations.

---