Page 36 of Match Made in the Maldives

I mosey over to the board. On one paper, someone scribbledMonday 3pm-ish basketball @ the court, another readsbuilding a ginormous sandcastle today at the main beach. Each of the notes represented a kid looking for someone to hang out with. Something tugs at my insides because I know firsthand how activities with friends, with other kids, matter.

“You look like your wheels are turning.” Lou holds her computer to her chest like a shield, but she stands close enough for our arms to touch.

“Yeah, I…You remember how I always had a standing invitation to go to your place? If it weren’t for school clubs and Aaron to hang out with, I’d be a different man. I might have an idea for something to work on.”

“Really?”

“Did I hear my name?” Aaron appears on my other side, a book in his hand, and I withdraw from Lou.

“Finn thinks he’s figured out his next big business venture.”

“Work, work, work with you two.”

“Aaron.” Lou frowns at him. “This is good. Finn needed inspiration, and he found it. Plus, no California.”

“Oooh, you’re right.” He pats me on the back. “Sorry. Tell me more.”

“Not sure what it’ll look like yet.” My hand on my jaw, I stroke the scruff of my beard as I turn the idea over in my head. What’s most important at this stage isn’t what I create—it’s why. “I want to help kids who feel alone. Maybe they don’t have siblings or things aren’t good at home or school, but they’d like to find their people.”

“A social network?” Lou asks.

“No. More activity-focused. Kind of like this board.”

“But out in the real world?”

“Mm. Safety’d be number one, obviously. That’ll be tricky. But if I can figure out a plan, I could create something I would have liked at that age.”

“That’s brilliant,” Lou says while smiling up at me. “If anyone can make it work, it’s you, Finn.”

I’m in that mood again, the same one I had when I first thought up my previous app. Fired up. With thoughts of that San Jose job already dissipating, I’m ready to dive into research and brainstorming and assembling a strong team. This past month, I’d lost sleep looking for a new direction for myself, but all I had to do was travel halfway around the world to figure it out.

“I need to go write some things down.” I kiss Lou on the cheek, and the second my lips hit her skin, I realize my mistake. When I pull back, her eyes are wide. My friendship with Lou has never veered into kiss-each-other-on-the-cheek territory. So I turn to Aaron and kiss him too, with Lou laughing as I run out the door.

Chapter Thirteen

Luna

Going at the lowest speed, as the Jet Ski instructor advised, I marvel at the uninhabited island in front of us. My parents thought an adventurous activity like this would be nice for our next-to-last day here. Has it been almost a week? I watch Finn dismount his Jet Ski and situate it in the sand as though he does this all the time. I keep catching myself watching him, wanting to know what he’s doing, and wondering if he’s thinking of me. The way our eyes always catch, I think the answer is yes.

The resort uses this uninhabited island for tours. Something about the Maldives makes me feel like I’m at the end of the world and in the most secluded place on the planet.

The ride here filled me with a sense of adventure—fresh air in my lungs and sprinkles of sea water splashing my arms while we sped along. But the second I step off the Jet Ski and onto the island, a sharp pain travels up the outside of my leg, causing me to collapse to the ground. Finn appears by my side in an instant, holding my elbow.

“What’s wrong?”

“My ankle.”

He scoops me up like I’m filled with feathers.

“Here,” Aaron says. Finn carries me to a log and sets me down with caution. My brother touches my leg, foot, and ankle bone, applying delicate pressure before asking me to flex, point, and roll my limb around. His hands grip me again, and a pang of discomfort causes me to jump.

“Not broken. Sprained, though.” Aaron places my foot on the ground with tender care. “You always had the grace of an elephant.”

“Your bedside manner sucks,” I reply.

“Could amputate to be on the safe side.”

“She’s injured,” Cass says, observing from a few feet away. “You’re supposed to be nice to her.”

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