Chapter Thirteen

At the end of the day, my boss had no choice but to allow me to go to Hawaii. With Scott, and this time accompanied by his friends, I found incredible fun in their company, and to my surprise, they welcomed me warmly, making me feel as though we were creating memories for our friendship. It seemed that our group was more than just a typical bond between friends; it held certain advantages for both of us.

"Danni, hey! Let's go swimming. Don't shy away from the sun. We're here to have fun!" called out Scott, swimming in the open sea with his other friends.

"Oh, maybe later, Scott. I'm a bit burnt already; sorry," I explained as he looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to join them while I was still on the yacht. "Well, it's up to you," Scott responded with a hint of disappointment. "Alright, I promise I'll join you later," I assured him.

In the shade of the deck, I watched him with satisfaction as Scott joyfully swam alongside his friends. I felt a sense of relief when his other friend joined me. I appreciated the presence of a woman, as it put my mind at ease that I wouldn't be subjected to constant teasing from Scott and his buddies.

"Would you mind if I joined you, Danni?" Scott's friend asked, breaking the silence.

I responded politely, "No, not at all." She smiled and engaged in conversation, saying, "This is fun, isn't it? It's rare to see our friend take a break from work and enjoy himself like this. I'm glad you convinced him to come." I responded candidly, "Actually, it was Scott who invited me to come to Hawaii. I've never been here before."

Curiosity sparked in her eyes as she questioned, "Really? How long have you been living in America? Are you Mexican or Spanish? Although, from the way you look, I would guess you're Asian. Apologies for the way I enunciate it, though" She carefully observed me through her sunglasses, seeming eager to uncover my true identity.

"I'm Asian, and I've been living in the States for six years now, although I don't travel much. Typically, I spend most of my time in Los Angeles or just around the vicinity of my workplace," I clarified, our gaze fixed on the guys who were fully engaged in their swimming activities.

After a brief moment of silence, she questioned, "So, did you and Scott meet at work?"

"No. We crossed paths at our friends' weddings, not once, but twice already," I reacted, attempting to mask my genuine sentiments with a coerced smile. Surprisingly, her smile grew wider as she clamored, "Really? And despite those encounters, you haven't developed any feelings for him? I mean, do you already have feelings for my friend?" At that moment, I realized she must have already noticed my affection for Scott. Yet, her revelation sparked a hint of expectancy within me, as I pondered the possibility that he too might be capable of loving me if I were to confess my true emotions.

I suddenly realized as she confessed that Scott had never introduced a girlfriend to them all these years since his last relationship ended. "She walked away from him without any explanation. She just left him behind, leaving him heartbroken and betrayed. It shattered his trust in others and made it incredibly difficult for him to open up again. But then you entered his life, and you brought him back to us, to the person he used to be."