Page 17 of One Night in Hawaii

ARCHER

Ilistened to Ryder intently as he gave me a brief rundown of what to do. The salty breeze filled the air as we stood on the sandy beach, the crashing waves a stark reminder of what I was getting myself into. This was my first time surfing, and I was both excited and nervous. But damn if I was going to walk away like some pussy afraid to get his hair wet.

“Alright, here’s what you need to do,” Ryder said, his tanned face beaming with enthusiasm. “Carry the surfboard into the water and straddle it, just like I showed you. Then, paddle out past the breakers to the lineup.”

I nodded, trying to remember all the tips he had given me. My heart pounded in my chest as I hoisted the surfboard under my arm and made my way toward the water’s edge. The warm touch of the ocean was a reminder of what I was about to do.

Surfing was not one of those things that appealed to me. I had actually seen the aftermath of a shark attack. I wasn’t interested in being the next guy that became shark bait. But I wasn’t going to back out. I didn’t back down from challenges—ever. I wasn’t going to start now.

“Are you excited?” Shiloh asked as she bobbed on her board a few feet away.

I gave her a look. “Thrilled.”

She laughed, clearly enjoying herself. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. Just let loose. You’re going to fall a few times, but it’s okay. You get up and you do it again.”

“Gee, you make it sound like a lot of fun.”

Once the water reached my waist, I placed the surfboard in front of me and straddled it as instructed. I could feel the powerful force of the water beneath me, and for a moment, I hesitated. Doubts crept into my mind, but I shook them off. This was my chance to ride the waves, and I wasn’t going to let fear hold me back. Shiloh was watching. I did have some pride.

“Go for it!” Ryder shouted from my other side. He was paddling out, just like he told me to do.

With determination, I began paddling, using my hands to push the surfboard forward. The water swirled around me, and I felt the board rise and fall with each passing wave. It was a balancing act, trying to maintain my position on the board while battling the ocean’s current, but I kept going. Nerves coiled in my belly. Shiloh made it sound totally natural to fall on my face, but that was not something I was accustomed to or wanted to experience. Falling was humiliating.

As I paddled further out, the sounds of the beach faded away, and I was surrounded by the vastness of the sea. It was both awe inspiring and humbling. This was the part about respecting the ocean that Ryder mentioned.

The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the water, and I felt a sense of freedom I had never experienced before. The Archer that stood at the altar waiting for Ashley never would have done something this crazy.

But after yesterday, jumping off the back of the yacht had opened a door I never thought I would walk through. It had been freeing. I had shed the shackles of my perfectly planned life. Yesterday was the first time I felt anything in a long time. I had been on automatic mode for so long, I forgot what it felt like to actually laugh and feel really good. Penelope often called me a cyborg. It was for good reason.

I glanced back at the shore, where a few of Ryder’s buddies stood, watching and cheering me on. Finally, I reached the lineup—a point just beyond the breakers where the waves were forming. I sat on the surfboard, my legs dangling in the water, waiting for the perfect wave. As I scanned the horizon, a swell started to build, and I felt a surge of excitement.

“Here it comes!” Ryder called out, pointing toward the approaching wave.

I turned my board toward the shore, preparing myself for the ride of a lifetime. I glanced over at Ryder to make sure I was doing it the right way. With a burst of adrenaline, I paddled hard, feeling the wave lift me up. I quickly pushed myself into a standing position, trying to remember all the techniques Ryder had taught me.

For a moment, it felt as though time stood still. I was gliding along the face of the wave, the water beneath me propelling me forward. The rush of the ocean surrounded me, and it was an exhilarating sensation unlike anything I had ever felt before.

My thrill was cut short. I felt myself falling forward. My arms flailed as I tried to regain balance, but it was too late. I hit the water hard, the impact knocking the breath out of me. I resurfaced, gasping for air. Waves crashed over me, dragging me under. The ocean that had seemed so inviting only moments before now felt like a dangerous force. I struggled, panicking as I tried to keep my head above water.

Suddenly, Ryder was beside me, reaching out one hand and helping me back up. “You okay?” he asked, concern etched on his face.

I nodded, still coughing up seawater. “Yeah,” I uttered with some embarrassment.

“You almost had it,” Shiloh said. “That was good. I have to say, I’m glad you didn’t make it all the way to shore. You would have embarrassed all of us.”

“The man’s a natural,” Ryder said. “Come on, we’ll catch the next one.”

I wasn’t going to quit after one failure. I followed Ryder back out and went through the same process again and again. I was pretty sure I ate more sand and swallowed more seawater than would be considered healthy.

“You got this!” Shiloh called out.

My arms were extended, helping me to balance with my knees bent. Adrenaline pumped through my veins the longer I stayed up. As the wave carried me toward the shore, I couldn’t help but let out a joyous whoop.

I was surfing! Me, someone who had never even set foot on a surfboard until today. It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment.

Throughout the rest of the day, I caught more waves, each ride better than the last. I fell a few times, swallowed by the churning water, but I always got back up and tried again.

Shiloh and Ryder’s friends surfed as well. They talked shit to me and I had no problem dishing it right back since it was all in good fun. It was the first time since college I could remember hanging out with guys and having a good time. They didn’t give a shit about who I was or what I had.

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