IF LAAVANYA HAD to pick her least favourite way to die, it would be to get hit by a truck while being jobless. The latter was her current state and the way she crossed the road five minutes ago to reach the cafe across the road—her fear didn't seem too hard to come true.

The blazing sun atop made her skin itchy with trickling sweat beads rolling down her forehead. Despite the hot weather, she sprinted into the cafe and relaxed at the cool air that brushed her face. She stood in the queue leading her to the cashier. She flipped her greasy black hair tied into a lazy braid. She checked her watch and her impatience began to take roots in her body movements. As the old lady took her sweet time to browse through the menu, Laavanya fiddled with her dress.

Finally, the old lady chose her drink of choice and the line moved. Laavanya ordered her extra sweet latte and three muffins and checked her watch again. She had twenty minutes to pack and leave for the port or she would miss her boat. Both of her hands were full but her eyes fell on a woman sitting in one of the tables. She had her laptop open and was typing something viciously. Her eyes weren't leaving the screen and for a moment, Laavanya got lost in watching her. It was like looking at her own past self. A sudden wave of nausea and stomachache rolled in her gut. She shook her head and headed towards the exit. As she struggled to open the door to exit the cafe, a man did it for her. She gave him a glance and thanked him as she stepped out. She was about to cross the road but she paused. Brown hair, blue eyes, a scar on the edge of his thick eyebrows—she knew him.

"Ryker?" She asked as she turned around.

He looked up his shoulders before turning around and giving her a full glance. "Lavender?"

She dropped her shoulders and rolled her eyes. "Haha, very funny. We aren't kids anymore. Stop acting like one." She shook her head. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Bayhost Island with your family?" She didn't have to do the basic niceties like oh my god, it's so great to see you or how are you? Neither of them were big fans of each other, they didn't have to pretend.

"I am busy, can't go."

"Huh, of course. Well, see you in a few years. Goodbye."

She didn't spare him another glance and turned around. As she was about to put her feet forward, she was pulled back with a huge force right when her nose almost brushed against a speeding truck. Her back rested against his chest. She didn't need to look at him to know it was Ryker. His breath was evident on her neck but the sound of her own raging heartbeat and the disappointment of her spilled coffee rose a gush of panic throughout her body. Her vision faded with water pooling in her eyes.

"Breathe, Laavanya," He whispered in her ear. She let go of her breath and closed her eyes. "Breathe," he repeated and she allowed the moment of weakness to rest her head back against his shoulder. She breathed in the crook of his neck. "It's okay. You're here. You're fine." She opened her eyes and found him staring at her. His blue eyes were fixated on her—carefully watching her. A car honked as it drove down the road, making both of them flinch. Laavanya stood upright and stepped away from him, not meeting his eyes.

"I...umm, thanks for..." She tried to finish her words but she failed.

"Let me buy you your latte," he offered but knowing Ryker, she knew he was being nice and saved her out of reflex and nothing more. She always knew he never liked her. And she wasn't a naive girl who was just looking at the signs, he had said it himself. Stay away from me, Laavanya. I have better things to do. Seven years later and it still stung.

"Uh, no thanks. I am getting late for my boat to Bayfort." Saying this, she hustled down the road to reach her apartment. She climbed up the staircase to her trashy studio apartment and fumbled with the keys to find Cameron sitting on the bed, looking into his phone.

"Babe, you have to leave in ten minutes. Where have you been?" He jumped out of her bed and grabbed her bag of muffins. "I think I have my answer." He kept it on the table and turned back to her. He extended his hands to squeeze her slender shoulders and looked at her with his dreamy hazel eyes, "I know you don't like messing up your organising system but you are getting late so I took the liberty of packing some of your favourite summer fits and a...hot bikini which I didn't know you had in your closet. Can you wear that when we have a beach day?"

Laavanya wanted to scoff at him for doing it for her. It wasn't just about her system but she didn't like the fact that he had gone through her closet. But she didn't want to leave him with a fight. She simply gulped down her words and pressed her body to him, forcing a smile. "God, what would I do without you?" She did not mean it.

"Probably get hit by a truck." His laugh rumbled in his chest.

She pulled apart with a frown on her face. "Don't joke about that!"

"Right. I am sorry! I didn't mean to upset you." He kissed her forehead. "Four weeks without you already feels like hell." He groaned. "I hope the project keeps me occupied every day of the week. Promise you will send me pictures?"

"Yeah, okay. I will miss you too." She partly lied.

She will miss him--his soft smile and hair but one of the reasons why she was aching for this summer trip with Julie and her big family was to stay away from Cameron. She liked him, she liked to be around him, she liked what he could do with his tongue but for the last couple of months, things have been dry. Cameron has become too sweet, too clingy and she hates to admit that these were the same reasons why she caught feelings for him. Maybe this break from him is what she needs to appreciate him in my life.

Yes. She will miss him. She hopes she does.

"Until then, what if I gave you something to..." Cameron's hand descended down to the hem of her skirt, "...remember?" Before his hand could reach anywhere, her phone buzzed with a specific ringtone set for only one person. He whined at the same time Laavanya released a breath of relief. "Julie..." they said in unison.

Laavanya reached for her phone and attended the call. She placed the phone on her dressing table and began dissecting her braid as Julie appeared on the screen. "How excited are you, Laav?" She cheered. Julie, Laavanya's best friend, looked around from the screen. "Wait, you still haven't left, have you?"

"I just need to comb my hair. Cam will drop me at the port. I won't miss the boat, I promise."

"I come bearing good news. Dad said Miranda The Boat is at your port and Ryker is using that private ship to come here. Dad insisted on you using that instead of the normal ship. Miranda is a lot more big and comfortable. And it won't leave until you both are there."

"Ryker?" Laavanya narrowed her eyes and tucked her hair with some daisy flowers. "I met him just some time ago. He said he wasn't coming."

Julie shrugged. "Maybe he changed his mind. You know how he is."

The funny thing is, she doesn't. She has been going to Julie's family owned private island ever since she was sixteen and knows her cousins and family a lot more than she knows her own but Ryker has always been a mystery. Ever since she first met him until today, he has always kept his distance. Eventually, he stopped spending summer with his family. He barely showed up at any of their events. He had a habit of being a ghost. Even Julie didn't know much about him. His absence never bothered Laavanya.

"Alright, well. I am leaving for the port. See you on the flip side, Jules."

***

"I am going to miss you," Cameron said before kissing her lips. "Are you sure you don't need my help loading your luggage?"

"You have a meeting with your boss. You're being considered to be the head of the department. You deserve that and I don't want this to get in the middle of that. Take care and don't burn yourself out, okay?" Cameron nodded and kissed her again. "Bye."

He whispered it back to her and she hugged him one last time before pulling her bag and making her way through the port. The salt air was thick in the atmosphere along with the noise of the chatty and excited families and couples boarding the ships. Her eyes wandered around in search of Miranda and she found her floating on the other end of the port. Despite the grand boat, her eyes caught a man making his way to her. He gave her one of his smug smiles.

"Ryle, was it?" Laavanya bit her lip, forcing her laughter to stay inside.

"Haha, very funny. Grow up."

"Weren't you busy, like, an hour ago? What changed?"

"I forgot how fun it is to get on your nerves so I decided to join in. You know, just for nostalgia."

She folded her arms over her chest. "There's no way I am the reason you'd come—in your words—to the hellhole of that island."

"Fair," he loosened his shoulders. "My client's mother fell sick and that was the only important meeting I had to attend t—" Ryker watched her intently. His eyes lined up to her shoulders. "Do you need help with that handbag?"

"Oh, yes please. My arm hurts."

"Ask nicely."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"If so then no, thank you. I can handle it on my own."

She began walking towards the boat with an acute sense that he was watching her. In the next moment, Ryker caught up to her and silently took the bag from her arms. Laavanya didn't protest but a muscle in her jaw twitched.

She held her smile inside.

Hello, loves! It's so crazy to start updating books again.

I have always been a plotter when it comes to writing books but for a while, I've been on a writing block. I struggled to write my books so I have decided to update this book as I write. I am trying my hands on being a pantser again! Wish me luck.

What do you think of the chapter? I know I am writing this book in December but are you excited for a summer vibe book?