Page 65 of Hawaii Can Suck It

“Radiant. Spectacular. Visionary.”

“Please stop—”

“No, wait! Magnificent. Extraordinary. Phenomenal.”

I yank the phone down, genuine concern flooding my system. “Blink twice if you need help.”

Instead, he skips away, high-fives a resort worker, and—oh God—hugs a palm tree.

A PALM TREE.

I catch up to him as he’s thanking the tree for providing shade and asking permission to climb it.

“Um, Reece, how about we go back to the room?”

His grin widens. “Can’t a guy appreciate life? And you? And—OH MY GOD, IS THAT A SEASHELL?”

He sprints toward the beach, leaving me standing there.So this is how it feels when your boss has a psychotic break live on camera.

I chase after him, and maybe, just maybe, his giddiness isn’t completely unwarranted. This beach is absurdly gorgeous, like it’s showing off.Okay, nature, we see you—you’re breathtaking.

The waves are rolling in like they rehearsed all night, the golden sand is soft and warm like a freshly baked croissant, and the sun is casting everything in that obnoxiously romantic glow that makes people book vacations they can’t afford.

And right in the middle of it all… an art class?

Rows of wooden easels stand proudly on the shore. Each holds a pristine, blank canvas waiting to be blessed—or brutally assaulted—by creativity. Low stools dot the setup, tiny wooden palettes stacked neatly on tables covered in old paint splatters.

“I hope you’re good at painting, Morales.”

“I’m okay.” I shrug, watching other resort guests settle onto their stools.

“That’s Cam code for ‘I’m amazing,’” he tells his viewers.

“I promise you, it’s not,” I say, throwing my hands up in surrender. “I swear. Stop hyping me up. I’ll be lucky to create an inkblot test for serial killers. People are going to be disappointed.”

“Impossible.” He grins. “Everything you do is spectacular.”

Our gazes lock, and for a second, my heart forgets its rhythm. This sinfully attractive menace is staring at me with an intensity that makes my toes curl. I grab his face, squishing his cheeks together until he resembles a very handsome fish.

“Reece. Listen carefully. Did Kai give you something? Something in a drink? Maybe a mysterious powder? A tea infused with illegal substances?”

“Cam, Cam, Cam.” He leans in, forehead nearly touching mine.

My breath catches.

His voice drops, serious for the first time all morning.

“I’m just… really, really happy to be here with you.”

And then, like a true psychopath, he boops my nose.

“See, guys? This woman is literally the most honest, nicest, most gifted person I know. And I’ve been a complete, unforgivable asshole. So here is my first sorry of the day.”

“I accept your apology. Now let’s go get some breakfast.”

“Oh, it’s not that easy. I have toearnyour forgiveness.”

I don’t like the way he saysearn. There’s too much mischief in him. Like a kid who recently found theDon’t Push Mebutton that blows up the world but can’t resist.

---