"What about that one?" Erica asked, pointing to a puffy cloud in the sky. "I think it looks like a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes with a dollop of butter on top."
The cries of children frolicking in the water drew my gaze. It was late afternoon and less than a dozen people shared the beach with us. After exploring many of the sights along the Road to Hana, we had arrived at Wai'anapanapa State Park, where we had spent the last few hours sitting on the black sand beach of Pa'iloa Bay, talking.
I shifted on the beach towels that lay on top of the wicker mat Erica had insisted on buying at a gift shop, shielding the sun from my eyes.
"An orchid," I said with a snicker.
"Why do you think every cloud resembles some type of flower?"
"Why do you think every cloud looks like something to eat?"
"I have a newfound appreciation for food," she said pushing her bangs out of her eyes.
I turned onto my side and splayed one hand across her bare stomach, tickling my fingers across her sun-kissed ribs. "You'd look good with a few more pounds."
"Tell that to my mom," she said with a self-deprecating snort.
My hand stilled below her breasts. "Fuck your mom."
"As much as she might enjoy that, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't."
"Please never say anything like that again."
"Sorry," she said with a giggle. "You know my mom has always had a crush on you."
"That is not something I needed to hear." I shook my head with disgust, but a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
"In fact, she told me if she were twenty years younger, she'd give me a run for my money. And then proceeded to tell me how well you've managed your money."
I flopped onto my back with a disgusted sigh. "That's fucked up."
She smoothed a hand over my stubbly chin, forcing me to look at her. "Hey, I was teasing you."
"I know. But I can't stand how women are obsessed with what's in my bank account."
"Not all women are obsessed with money," she said. "I'm not."
"That's because you've always had it."
"So, you think I'm a spoiled princess?"
"I used to." She smacked me in the chest, an indignant pout pulling at her lips. "Not anymore. But you can't possibly understand what it's like to go without, because you've never had to."
"True. I've been all over the world and seen a lot of things. I know that the majority of people don't live like me. I can't change what I have. All I can change is what I do with it."
"What do you mean?"
She shrugged and watched a boat in the distance push its way through the choppy water. A soft breeze lifted her damp hair, and she tucked it behind her ears before responding. "I want to help people. And with more than their fashion choices."
"That's great. You'll figure it out," I said.
"I'm not so sure. I'm not like you. Even as a nineteen-year-old, you knew exactly what you wanted. I'm twenty-three and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up."
"You're young. You've experienced more of the world than most people will in their entire lifetime."
"I must sound like an ungrateful piece of shit."
"That's not what I meant," I said, tugging her closer. "You can use all of those experiences to figure it out. And I know that you will."
She still seemed uncertain, so I leaned over to seal my words with a soft kiss.
When the sun started to set, and other people were packing up to leave, we crossed the beach with its imposing black cliffs and lava arches to explore the legendary freshwater caves.
"Have you heard of the legend of Popo'alaea?" I asked.
Water trickled down her face and I pulled her against my body, wrapping my arms around her waist. She smiled her appreciation, since she was shivering in the cool, freshwater pool. An image of our bodies joined together reflected off the crystal-clear water. My darker skin blended into Erica's, making it impossible to see the exact point where one of us ended and the other began.
"No, I haven't," she murmured as she ran her hands over my shoulders and down my back.
"She was a young princess who was married off to a chief named Ka'akea. He was a cruel man, who decided to kill her in a fit of jealous rage."
"Geez." Goose bumps broke out over her skin.
"She was able to escape with her attendant and hid in these very caves. The chief and his men searched high and low until the village people reported seeing ghosts at night, looking for food. While searching one day, the chief spied their reflections in the clear water and killed them both."
"Are you trying to freak me out?" she muttered.
I chuckled and pulled her closer. "Now every spring, which was when the murders took place, the pools glow red to signify the blood of the innocent princess and her friend."
"That is horrible. Do the pools really glow red in the spring?"
"Yep. But it's actually because of tiny shrimp who feed on the algae that only grow during that time of year."
"Wow. Where did you hear that?"
"I read about it this morning, when you were with Damian."
"Thanks for sharing that little tidbit of information that is sure to give me nightmares," she said in a sarcastic tone.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you. Tonight." The last word slipped out as an afterthought, but stunned us both silent.
She pushed out of my arms and turned away, focusing on the brightly colored stones that shimmered under the water. With one simple word, I had managed to sum up my intentions.
"Erica, what's wrong?" I asked, even though I knew the answer.
"Nothing."
I wrapped my arms around her waist and she stiffened. I wanted to tell her that it was all going to be okay. That I would never leave her or hurt her, but that wasn't the truth. "I'm sorry. If this is too much, we can go back."
"No, I get it," she choked out, even though I knew she didn't. She felt something for me. And while I might have felt something for her beyond the physical, I had no intention of acting on it.
"Do you?" I asked, spinning her around to face me.
"Yeah. This is temporary."
"I wish I could give you more."
She nodded and broke eye contact, staring down at our feet. I wanted to fill every tiny crevice of hope she had allowed to form in her heart. But I couldn't. "Erica, look at me."
"It's okay," she said, trying to feign cheerfulness.
"Do you want to stay the night at Travaasa?"
She thought about it for less than ten seconds and I swore my heart stopped beating. I wasn't even close to being done with her. But I would respect whatever decision she made. When she nodded, I dragged in a deep, relieved breath.
I cupped her face and kissed her until she was clutching and clinging to me. "Have you ever had sex on a beach?" I asked.
"Besides the cocktail, no. Are we going to have sex on the beach?"
"Nope. It's totally overrated. Sand gets everywhere."