Page 76 of One Night in Hawaii

“It means I have to go back and face the music,” she said, sighing. “Archer will have to go back. We both love it here, but we have homes and responsibilities in NYC. I do a lot of charity work. I can’t just leave them hanging. I have to replace myself. As much as I wish we could both pick up and leave, we can’t.”

“What about your engagement?” I asked. “Do you have to marry Matthew?”

“Oh no.” She shook her head. “He might try and push it, but knowing what I know now, there is no way in hell I’m marrying that asshole.”

“I don’t want to say I feel sorry for you guys, but I kind of do,” I said.

Penelope gave me a wry smile. “Don’t feel sorry for us, Shiloh. We may have our problems, but we also have the means to deal with them. There are people out there who have it much worse than we do.”

I nodded, understanding what she meant. We continued walking until we reached the water. The sun was beating down on us, and I could feel the heat radiating off the sand. The water was cool and refreshing, and I felt rejuvenated as I swam. Penelope and I chatted about everything and anything, from our childhood to our dreams for the future.

As we swam, I tried not to dwell on the fact Archer would have to leave soon. He had obligations back in New York. I didn’t have a right to tell him to leave all of that behind. I believed him when he said he wanted to make a go of a relationship with me. I just wasn’t sure what that looked like. There were so many things that could go wrong when you were thousands of miles apart. Not to mention, his parents were never going to stop trying to get him to marry the right woman.

I looked toward the beach and saw Ryder and Archer talking. I wanted to be selfish and keep him with me forever.

But I knew that wasn’t realistic. I had to accept that our time together was limited and make the most of it while we had it. I swam back to shore and joined the guys on the beach. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the waves roll in and out. All of us seemed to be lost in our own thoughts.

31

ARCHER

Isat shotgun as Shiloh drove the rental car through the busy streets of Honolulu. The traffic was relentless, with tourists and locals alike bustling about, but we were determined to make our way to the Pearl Harbor site. It was a place I had always heard about but never had the opportunity to visit, and being so close, I knew it was a chance I shouldn’t pass up. Shiloh agreed I needed to see the historical place.

I reached over and put my hand on her thigh. “Thank you for doing all of this for me.”

“All of what?” she asked with a smile.

“Being my tour guide,” I said, grinning. “Are you sure you don’t have to work?”

“I’m sure. This is fun. I love getting to see all of this through your eyes. It’s like getting to see it all for the first time.”

“You’re going to stay with me tonight, right?” I asked her.

I rented the beach house for another week. Her boat was nice, but it was very tight quarters. I missed being able to step into a shower and fully stand. Her shower was meant for people her size. The showerhead hit me about chest level.

“I will,” she said. “Like I’m going to pass up the chance to stay in your fancy mansion.”

“Good, if that’s what it takes to entice you, so be it.”

As we navigated through the traffic, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. I was so happy to be with her. When I was with her, I could forget all about life in New York. I could pretend there was nothing to worry about except planning our next adventure.

Shiloh’s upbeat energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and she kept up a lively conversation to distract us from the traffic. As we neared the site, I could see the signs pointing in the direction of the memorial. The anticipation grew. I wasn’t going to pretend I was a history buff, but of course I knew about Pearl Harbor.

We parked the car and made our way toward the entrance. The air seemed to hold a certain gravity, as if the very atmosphere remembered the events of that fateful day. As we stepped onto the grounds, the echoes of history enveloped us. I wasn’t surprised by the number of old men wearing various military hats and uniforms roaming the place.

Shiloh took my hand and gently squeezed. “What do you think?”

The memorial itself stood solemnly over the sunken remains of the USS Arizona. It was a haunting reminder of the lives lost and the sacrifices made during the attack. The sheer scale of the tragedy hit me hard, and I felt a deep sense of humility and respect for those who had endured such hardship.

“I think every student that is going through American history should visit here,” I said. “You can read about it, but you don’t really get it until you see it.”

Shiloh and I moved through the exhibits, absorbing the historical information and personal stories of the people who had lived through the attack. The displays and artifacts offered a glimpse into the past, bridging the gap between the present and that tragic day.

As we stood at the edge of the memorial, gazing down at the submerged battleship, a profound silence settled over us. Everyone visiting the site was very quiet. I could feel the weight of history pressing down on my shoulders. It was a moment of reflection.

We left the site and sat in the car for a few minutes. “That was really cool,” I said. “Thanks for braving the traffic and taking me.”

“Of course.”

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