Chapter Ten Expect the Unexpected
Chapter Ten
Expect the Unexpected
Hayes
Why can’t she just be normal?
That is the question that lingers in my brain long after my encounter with Francesca. But I don’t have time to dwell on my uncle’s odd new assistant. I have friends to entertain.
That first evening, I take Olivia and Malachi out to see the sights. The sleepy tourist town of Kona is certainly not known for its nightlife, but it’s the best shot for finding beach bars open past nine. We drink mai tais and dine on poke bowls at an ocean-side bistro.
We spend the following day at the neighborhood beach club. It’s a short golf cart ride down to the water. Malachi and I took the bikes so there was room for Olivia to ride down with Francesca and Charles.
Olivia suns herself in a barely there bikini, and Malachi and I spend most of the afternoon surfing.
Francesca seems attentive to my uncle, which is good to see. I honestly wasn’t sure. They spent the morning playing a very relaxed game of pickleball, then they competed head-to-head in something called Wordle, and now they’re doing a crossword puzzle while she sips a mai tai.
“Should we get some lunch?” I ask.
Olivia pops one earbud out. “Did you say something?”
“Lunch?”
She nods.
“I’m in,” Malachi says.
“Charles?”
He exchanges a look with Francesca and frowns. “You should join them. I’m going to nap right here.” He pats the lounge chair and leans back, placing a large straw hat over his head.
Francesca hesitates, but I nod my approval. “You’re more than welcome.”
“I’ll bring you back something,” she says to Charles, who only waves her off.
He does seem quite tired, and I’ve got to say, this is probably a lot of activity for him.
Though I do think it’s good for him. The man has worked long hours for decades, ensuring the family trust funds are performing above market expectations. He deserves some R & R.
It’s a short walk to the beach bar, and after Olivia dresses in a long flowing white dress, we set off.
I follow Malachi and Francesca, walking barefoot along the shoreline with Olivia at my side. The waves roll in lazily, licking at the sand before retreating. It’s perfect and beautiful here, but something feels off between Olivia and me.
Inviting her on this trip was a bit impulsive—which isn’t like me. I guess I wanted to see if there was more beneath her perfect exterior. We’d been dating for a few weeks, but the more I got to know Olivia, the more doubts I had.
“Pretty incredible out here, huh?” I say, motioning to the water. The sunlight glints off the waves, casting everything in a golden glow.
She follows my gaze, squinting behind her shades. “Yeah, totally. I mean, the light is amazing. Imagine how good a photo would look here. Do you think the lighting would hit me right if we faced that way?” She gestured toward the setting sun.
I stop walking and stare at her, half expecting her to be joking. She isn’t.
I nod slowly.
“Good, because I was hoping to do a little photo shoot. If you’re up for being my photographer later?” She pouts slightly, tugging her sunglasses off and hooking them in the neckline of her bikini top. It feels like a practiced move—calling attention to her breasts in order to get what she wants.
“Uh, I guess so.”
“What? I’m just saying, it’s good content. Not everyone gets to be here, you know.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Olivia seems to have a way of making me feel like I need to loosen up, to stop overthinking everything and just be cool. More laid-back. More like her.
After that we walk in silence for a few minutes.
Malachi and Francesca seemed to be deep in conversation ahead of us.
Malachi lets out a deep laugh at something she says, and they’re both nodding and chuckling now.
Francesca’s beachwear leaves a lot to be desired—instead of Olivia’s matching bikini and cover-up, fashionable sun hat and shades, Francesca is wearing a simple one-piece black suit and an oversize T-shirt, which she manages to pull off, honestly.
Realizing that Olivia is still talking, I try to focus.
“And when we get back, I hope you’re ready for a night of the most ridiculous people you’ll ever meet,” she said. “The gallery crowd is so over the top.”
I glance over, realizing she’s head down as she walks, scrolling on her phone. “Gallery?”
She looks up. “My friend Gianna is having this exhibit thing when we get home. It’s all, like, made out of recycled trash. Very trendy.”
“Sounds interesting,” I say, stepping over a sand castle that some kid has abandoned. “What’s the theme?”
She waves a hand dismissively. “I don’t know. Something about consumerism? Honestly, I don’t even get half of what she does, but it makes for good Instagram content.”
I pause, shielding my eyes from the sun. “Do you like her art?”
Olivia shrugs, still glued to her phone. “I mean, it’s fine. Not really my thing, but she’s my friend, so I have to go, right?”
“Right,” I murmur, feeling a flicker of discomfort. “So, what is your thing?”
She looks up, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Like, what are you passionate about? What gets you excited?”
The question slips out before I can stop it. But it’s been on my mind more lately—this need to understand what drives the people around me.
Maybe it’s because I’ve seen what it looks like when someone goes all in on something—
Frankie comes to mind, uninvited. Again.
Maybe we should’ve had this conversation earlier, but everything between Olivia and me has always been surface level. Until now, I hadn’t noticed how thin that surface really was.
She tilts her head, as though the question itself is strange. “Well, I guess I like . . . nice dinners? Traveling. Fashion, obviously.” She gestures to her dress with a self-satisfied smile. “And, you know, just enjoying life. Why stress about deep stuff when you can have fun?”
Her words land like a dull thud, but I mask my disappointment with a smile. Most of my past relationships were built on banter, convenience, and knowing when to leave well enough alone. This—whatever this is—feels different. And I’m not sure what to do with that.
“Fair enough. Do you ever want to do something bigger? Like—” I hesitate, realizing how earnest I sound. “Like make an impact somehow?”
“People are too serious about everything these days. Like, oh, let’s save the turtles or whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “Not that I’m against turtles, obviously, but does it really matter in the long run? We’re all just specks in the universe.”
I frown, caught off guard. “Got it.”
She laughs, light and carefree, like I’d just told a joke. “Hayes, not everyone’s wired like you. I’m just here to enjoy life while it lasts. No offense, but worrying about everything sounds exhausting.”
Her words hit me like a rogue wave, cold and unexpected. I never suggested she worry about everything—only that she maybe look up from her phone once in a while—care less about taking selfies and more about being there for other people.
For the first time since we started seeing each other, I’m not sure if I like what I see beneath her polished surface.
I shove my hands in my pockets, staring out at the horizon. “I guess we see things differently.”
She shrugs, oblivious to the shift in my mood. “Guess so. But hey, that’s what makes life interesting, right?”
I don’t answer. For now, I need to do what I do best—put on a mask of indifference and deal with it internally.
I’ll probably give myself an ulcer by thirty, but whatever.