Page 92 of One Night in Hawaii

I was going to have to rethink my proposal plan. I wasn’t sure I could count on Mother Nature cooperating with my plans. I needed to plan an indoor option. Or I was just going to give up on the idea of the perfect proposal. It was better to just do it and have it done than to keep waiting for the right moment.

“We better go,” Shiloh said, glancing at her watch after a while. “The rain has stopped and Ryder and Penelope are expecting us for their barbecue.”

“Let’s go,” I replied, grabbing my keys from the table. I loved spending time with Penelope and Ryder, and seeing my sister so happy with him warmed my heart. I was glad she was able to see how important happiness was. Money didn’t matter when you had love.

We arrived at Ryder’s place, the smell of barbecue filling the air as we approached. Penelope greeted us with a warm smile, and I could see the love and happiness radiating from her. I was grateful that she had found someone like Ryder, who brought out the best in her and made her truly happy.

“I’m so glad you guys are here.” Penelope hugged each of us.

“I didn’t get the impression our attendance was optional,” I joked.

“Stop,” my sister groaned. “You know you want to be here. You missed me.”

“I’m glad you’re back. We’ll have to talk about what happened.”

“Later,” she said. “I’m so not talking about any of that stuff tonight. We’re celebrating. Ryder has a big announcement.”

“Do you know what it is?” Shiloh asked.

“Nope.” Penelope shook her head. “He won’t tell me. He said he wants to say it when everyone is together.”

Part of me wondered if Ryder was going to propose. I would be a little irked if he beat me to the punch, but if it made my sister happy, I was cool with it. That’s what mattered the most. I wanted her happy. She had only gotten back last night. I still didn’t know what happened in New York, but I assumed things were settled since she was back.

As the evening unfolded, we laughed, shared stories, and enjoyed each other’s company. Ryder was in his element, grilling delicious food, and his charisma filled the air with a contagious energy. Penelope was the perfect hostess, keeping everyone happy with cold drinks and plenty of snacks.

Just as we were all settling down to eat, Ryder stood up with a glint of excitement in his eyes. “Hey, everyone,” he announced, drawing our attention. “I have something I want to share with all of you.”

Curiosity piqued, we turned our full attention to him, eager to hear what he had to say. He was stealing my thunder a little bit. If he managed to pull off the perfect proposal, I was going to be pissed. I seemed to be destined to an average proposal. I was going to roll over in bed and have to ask her. Not exactly romantic.

“I’ve been working on something for a while now,” he began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “And I’m excited to share that I’ve secured the funding to buy a surf shop.”

Gasps of surprise and excitement filled the air, and I exchanged a knowing look with Shiloh. We had seen how passionate Ryder was about surfing. Shiloh started clapping.

“That’s not all,” Ryder continued, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I’m going to start a surf school too. I want to teach others how to surf and share the joy of riding the waves.”

Cheers erupted around the table, and I couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride for Ryder. To see him pursuing his dream and turning it into a reality was truly inspiring. Penelope beamed with pride, wrapping her arms around Ryder, and I could see the love and admiration in her eyes. They were a perfect match. Penelope gave him one hell of a celebratory kiss. Shiloh walked over and gave him a heartfelt hug.

I wasn’t the least bit jealous of their friendship. I knew I had nothing to worry about. There was zero chance Ryder would cheat on Penelope and I knew Shiloh would never cheat on me.

“That’s incredible, Ryder,” I said, unable to contain my excitement. “I knew you could do it!”

He grinned at me, clearly thrilled to share this moment with his closest friends and family. “Now I have something to offer,” he said with a knowing smile. “Beyond the thing we talked about. I thought I would sweeten the pot.”

I laughed. “You definitely did that. Good job. I think Penelope will be a good asset to your business as well.”

“I hope so,” he said. “I’m going to need all the free help I can get.”

As the night went on, we celebrated Ryder’s success, toasting to his bright future and the surf school that was sure to bring joy and adventure to so many. It was a night filled with love, laughter, and dreams realized. Penelope seemed absolutely crazy about Ryder. Watching the two of them together gave me a great deal of satisfaction. He was trying. I loved that he was trying to do everything he could to make her happy.

“Hey everyone!” Penelope shouted and raised her hand in the air. “I have another announcement.”

“If she announces she’s pregnant, I’m going to be displeased,” I murmured.

“Stop,” Shiloh said, laughing, and swatted my arm.

“I’m throwing a party next week to celebrate Ryder’s big news! It’s a beach party with a bonfire. All you have to do is show up. I’ll make sure everyone has plenty to drink!”

There was a round of cheers with everyone clapping. Free booze tended to have that effect. We stuck around a while longer, but as usual, I had a sudden desire to get Shiloh home alone. I pulled her into my arms and gave her a chaste kiss. “Feel like you want to get out of here?” I asked.

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