Chapter 23: Surfing Lessons & Waterfall

Ryan and Madison strolled beneath the swaying palms of Waikiki, their fingers intertwined as the morning sun climbed higher over Honolulu. The air already carried the warmth of the day, scented with salt, tropical flowers, and the faint sweetness of coconut from one of the nearby shops.

Madison’s wraparound skirt fluttered around her legs in the ocean breeze. She glanced at Ryan, smiling at the easy rhythm they’d fallen into since arriving in Hawaii. There was something wonderfully unreal about it all—the blue sky stretching endlessly overhead, the distant shimmer of the Pacific, and the knowledge that they were here together, newly married, with nowhere they needed to be.

“I still can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” she said.

“Doing what?”

“Being married. Being in Hawaii. Waking up every morning and realizing I get to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Ryan squeezed her hand. “That’s my favorite part.”

They reached Island Vintage Coffee, where their breakfast was already waiting. Ryan had ordered two Original Açaí Bowls, each piled high with strawberries, blueberries, banana, granola, and Big Island honey. He’d added peanut butter to both, insisting it made them even better. Two iced Island Lattes completed the order, their espresso blended with hints of macadamia and coconut. They found a table outside and settled beneath the shade.

Madison took a bite and closed her eyes. “Oh, wow.”

Ryan laughed. “Good?”

“The peanut butter was absolutely the right decision.”

“I knew it.”

She smiled at him over the edge of her spoon, and for a moment Ryan simply watched her. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed from the heat, her hair moving gently in the breeze, and there was an unmistakable happiness in her expression. He reached across the table and brushed a tiny smear of purple from the corner of her mouth.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“You were staring.”

“I know.”

She laughed softly. “You’re going to have to get used to me noticing.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to looking at you.”

The words caught her off guard. Her smile softened.

After breakfast, they continued toward the beach. The morning had transformed Waikiki into a brilliant ribbon of activity. Surfers waited beyond the break, balancing on their boards as they watched for the right wave. Families played along the shoreline. Music drifted from open-air shops, mixing with the steady rhythm of the ocean.

Madison stopped for a moment and simply looked. “I don’t think pictures can capture this.”

“They can’t.”

She slipped her hand into his again. “I’m glad we’re here.”

“So am I.”

The sand was already warm beneath their feet when they claimed a spot near the water. Madison spread out their towels while Ryan dug the sunscreen from the beach bag. She peeled off her skirt and shirt, revealing the yellow bikini.

“Lie down,” Ryan said, squeezing a generous amount of lotion into his palm. “I want to make sure you’re completely covered.”

Madison stretched out on her stomach, and Ryan straddled her thighs. His hands moved slowly, spreading the sunscreen across her shoulders and down her back. He worked the lotion into her skin with firm strokes, his thumbs pressing along her spine.

“Mmm, that feels nice,” Madison murmured, her voice already breathy.

Ryan’s hands slid lower, cupping the globes of her ass. He worked the sunscreen into the side of each cheek slipping under the edge of her bikini. Madison arched slightly, pushing back against his touch.

“Ryan,” she whispered. “People can see.”

“I know.” His voice was low. “That’s what makes it fun.”

He finished her back and legs, then handed her the bottle. “Your turn.”

Madison sat up and squeezed lotion into her hands. She rubbed it across Ryan’s chest, her fingers tracing the lines of his muscles. When she reached the waistband of his swim trunks, she hesitated, then slipped her hand inside just far enough to coat the skin below his hip bones.

“Tease,” Ryan growled.