Page 15 of Paradise

“Okay,” Gary says once we have all of them. “Let’s find the car we’re supposed to take to the hotel.”

Levi has taken the hint, so we all make our way through the airport quietly. I take Logan’s carry on and lug it over my shoulder, then hold her hand as we trail behind our parents, who are following the signs hanging above us to direct everyone toward the exit.

The Hawaiian nighttime air hits me as we walk through the sliding glass doors to where arrivals leave, and I take a deep breath in to savor the freshness.

There’s a young man with tanned skin holding a sign that saysBriarnext to a shiny, black SUV, and we head for him, each one of us anxious to sit down. Gary greets him, and he instructs us all to get inside the vehicle while he heads to the back to put our bags in. Logan, Levi, and I buckle into the third row of seats while my mom and Gary take the middle, and then Logan’s head is dropping to my shoulder.

I rub her head, running my fingers through her hair. “Go to sleep. I’ll wake you up when we get to the hotel.”

She nods, nuzzling her head against me as she throws her legs over my lap.

When the driver finally returns, he tells us that it’s about an hour drive to the hotel, and to enjoy the sights along the way. Levi sits up straight in his seat, turning to the window to watch Hawaii pass us by when the car starts moving. I stay awake too, even when Logan has fallen asleep on top of me, watching out my window as well.

I’ve been to a lot of places—my mom takes us somewhere every summer and most Christmases, but I’ve never been here. Sure, I’ve been to similar locations, beach spots, but nothing similar in culture. Even with it being dark, I can see that Hawaii might just be one of the most beautiful places we’ve been to so far.

After an hour and a half because of traffic, we pull into the hotel.

I brush my fingers along Logan’s cheek, kissing her on top of the head. “We’re here.”

She moans, her eyes cracking open to look at me before she sits up and yawns. The driver helps one of the bellboys from the hotel start to pull our bags from the trunk while we climb out, and Gary heads inside to check into the rooms. By the time he returns with our keys, our bags are on carts again and my mom has tipped the driver so he can leave.

Bellboys follow each of us to our rooms. My mom and Gary head to the penthouse honeymoon suite, while Logan, Levi, and I all have adjoining rooms on the fifteenth floor.

“Hayden can just have my room when he gets here. I’ll stay with you,” Logan says, her head on my shoulder while I slip the key in the door for my room and push the door open. Levi waves us goodbye, promising to bother us soon so we can head to the beach. Logan curses at him, and he laughs as his door closes behind him. The bellboy drags our bags inside, then I slip a bill into his palm before he leaves us too.

The room is a wash of cream and browns, the far wall covered with dark wooden doors that slide open to a huge balcony. I head for those first, unlocking them and pushing them open as far as they’ll go to get some fresh, island air into our room. The view is insane; we’re right on the edge of the beach, and when Logan comes up behind me, she squeals a little from excitement.

“This is awesome,” she breathes, walking to the edge of the balcony and running her hands along the metal railing while she stares out at the ocean.

I join her, kissing her on the head as I wrap my arms around her.

Her lungs fill with air, then deflate as she breathes out slowly. I can hear the ocean hitting the shore as the waves crack and fall, as well as the low hum of crickets in the distance. We just stand there for a minute, staring, savoring the feel of the refreshing breeze and calming sounds of Hawaii.

After a while, Logan looks up at me and smiles, her eyes creasing at the edges. “I’m really happy I’m here with you.”

I meet her gaze. “Me, too.”

Getting lost in her honey eyes, I slide my hands underneath her hair at the nape of her neck, threading my fingers into the thick strands before I kiss her. She fists the back of my shirt, pulling my body flush with hers as we fall headfirst into the kiss, and when her tongue slips into my mouth, I moan.

I pull back, focusing on her face again. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she whispers, closing her eyes and smiling.

I flex my fingers, sliding them from her hair down her back until I’m gripping her waist. “Promise me we’ll be like this always.”

She opens her eyes, staring up at me. “I promise, Carson.”

I kiss her once more, then pull back again. “Promise me you’ll love me forever.”

She kisses me, then speaks against my lips. “I promise I will love you forever.”

I smash my lips to hers, pulling her against my body tighter and squeezing her waist. My chest inflates and my stomach fills with something that feels a lot like butterflies, and when she moans into my mouth, my heart pounds.

Pulling back, I smile. “If you want to get some sleep, you probably should now. Levi will come knocking soon.”

She nods, her eyes clear when she looks up at me. “Will you lay with me?”

I release my grip on her body to grab her hands. “Always, baby.”

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