“I should get my things,” Sailor said.
“Need some help?”
Sailor nodded toward a figure walking their way. “Only to keep my dad company.”
“With pleasure.” Maileah gave Sailor a quick kiss before he left and waved to Adrian, who paused to say hello to people as he made his way toward her.
Maileah felt the warmth on her skin as the sun climbed higher in the sky, turning the ocean into a dazzling expanse of crystal-blue swells, curling waves, and frothy white water. She brought out her phone and adjusted its camera settings, poised to capture the action. All around her, the air buzzed with excitement. Energy seemed to build with each crash of a wave.
She scanned the scene, captured some video, and took photos before Adrian arrived. He greeted her warmly.
“Looks like it’s going to be quite a show today,” he remarked, assessing the ocean. “The waves are building to impressive heights.”
Maileah detected a note of concern in his tone. “Sailor thought they looked fine.”
Adrian laughed. “Of course, he would. He was always a daredevil.”
Apprehension rose within her. “Are these intense?”
“Only for Crown Island, not for Sailor.” Adrian smiled with reassurance. “Don’t worry. He’s a pro. You’ll get some good shots.”
Tamping down her concern, Maileah turned her attention to taking more photos of the gathering crowd, the expectant faces of the spectators, and the magnificent shoreline. She would use these for the social media campaign and promotions for the Majestic and local tourism.
She paused, turning to Adrian. “Are you ready to perform tonight?”
“More than ever.” A look of gratitude filled his eyes. “I appreciate what you’ve done for me. I’m still in awe; I never thought I’d have so many people reaching out to me and enjoying my music. I can hardly believe how much music they’ve bought and downloaded.”
His appreciation warmed her heart. “Enjoy it; you’ve more than earned it. You’re going to have a wonderful evening.”
Sailor’s voice cut through the building chatter and laughter on the beach. “Hey there, beautiful.”
Maileah turned to see him jogging toward her, his wetsuit already half on. Her heart did a little flip at the sight of him, sun-kissed and radiant with energy. She took a few shots of him.
He greeted his father, then said to her, “I couldn’t go out there without another kiss for luck.”
Maileah felt herself blush as she touched his lips. Their kiss was brief but tender, leaving her slightly breathless.
“Good luck out there,” she whispered, her hand lingering on his neck. “Show those waves who’s boss.”
“You got it, Maisie.” With a wink, Sailor turned to join the other surfers.
Adrian chuckled. “Maisie?”
“One of my many nicknames.” She didn’t mind that anymore, even from Junie.
The crowd reached a fever pitch, and the new mayor, Isabelle Reyes, stepped up to welcome everyone to the event. “It’s going to be an amazing day here on Crown Island. Let the surfers begin,” she finished with a flourish.
Cheers and applause rang out, and the event was officially underway.
As they watched, the younger surfers took to the water first to compete.
The crowd cheered as the initial group of competitors carved their way across the face of the waves. Maileah was genuinely impressed by their skill and bravery. Only one ortwo wiped out, quickly resurfacing with determined grins on their faces.
While they watched, the woman with the children approached, her dark, silky hair gleaming in the sunlight. “Hi, I’m Kiana. I heard you’re with Sailor, so I wanted to welcome you to ourohana, our family. We have a canopy set up, so please join us.”
Maileah greeted her warmly and accepted. She and Adrian were happy to have some shade on the beach. They ducked under the canopy and sat in lightweight, foldable chairs. Kiana welcomed them with icy bottles of water.
After thanking her, Maileah was curious to know more about her. “Sailor told me you travel with your family and run a business online. I must say, I’m impressed. How do you manage it all?”
