Kali swam back to shore after enjoying a swim in the warm ocean water. Ember had invited them to a day at one of their family's favourite resorts in the city. She had also invited Giovanna to join them, and Kali spent most of her time ignoring the girl's presence. Ember wanted to mend some bridges, but Kali knew it was better to keep those bridges broken. Although Giovanna was on her best behaviour, Kali didn't doubt that she had something up her sleeve.

"Samuel," He peeked at her as she stood over him. "I am going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?"

"June is already getting us some drinks."

Samuel pointed at the bar, and Kali spotted her sister talking to one of the bartenders.

"Hey. You are ordering drinks?" She asked when she met June at the bar.

"Yes." June thanked the bartender as he placed a tray of drinks down. "I got mango for you."

"Thanks." She picked the drink June indicated and took a long, savoury drag. "Come on, let's go give the others their drinks."

June stopped her from leaving. "Wait. I wanted to ask you a question? It's a little weird."

"Go for it."

"Why are you and Samuel so skittish with each other?" June asked, not beating around the bush.

"What do you mean?" Kali curiously asked, wringing her wet hair.

"Shouldn't you guys still be in the honeymoon phase? Unable to get enough of each other?"

"June!"

"What? I am not saying it's wrong to want to keep things private. I am simply surprised that, outside the wedding, I haven't seen you guys kiss once. I didn't think you'd be shy about it."

"It has nothing to do with being shy. We don't want to. That's all there is to it." She glanced towards the beach. "Enough judgement I get from some people when we show any form of intimacy. I don't need to push the boundaries. We can love each other without advertising it to people."

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"Please tell me there is another reason outside of Giovanna. She might not like you now, but she'll grow into it."

Kali had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. "I don't want to stir the pot more than necessary."

"Don't do that to yourself. You are so lucky to have the relationship you have with your husband. It's like marrying your best friend. He dotes on you, worries about you and listens to you. I have seen you guys joke around, and you look so happy. Are you telling me you would rather focus on his sister than those things?"

"What difference does it make if we kiss in private or public, June? It doesn't diminish anything. Does it?"

"I guess not. I just remember how you were when you were home. You were never too shy to kiss your boyfriends when they came around the house. Even at the party, when you were so happy he brought me to the apartment, you simply kissed him on the cheek. It feels out of character for you to be so reserved."

Kali chuckled. "I was sixteen. I grew up. Evidently, you need to do the same."

"Maybe." She picked up her drink and took a long drag from the straw. "Your husband is coming over."

Kali looked over her shoulder, and Samuel winked at her as he walked to the bar. June waved her drink towards him before excusing herself and strutting back to the beach to join the rest of the family.

"Everything okay?" Samuel asked, walking over to the counter and propping himself against it. When she didn't answer, he became worried, looking her over carefully. "Kali?"

"Guess what?" Kali asked instead.

"What?"

She stalked towards him, her eyes not wavering from his face. She placed her hands on the counter, between his open arms. He looked at her as her hand went up, her finger brushing the hair falling down the front of his face back.

"My sister is proud of our relationship. She thinks you are a great representation of a good husband."

"What can I say? I try."

"Mhm." When her fingers slipped past his ear and began trailing along his jaw, he cocked an eyebrow at her. "She claims that she finds us incredibly shy, though."

"Shy?"

"Mhm. June is quite surprised that we never kiss each other when our families are around." Her fingers pinched his chin, and their eyes met. "Not even a little kiss."

"Such a tragedy."

"Right?" She lifted her hand from the counter. She touched his side, then moved her hand up his shoulder, her fingers feather-light as they slid across his skin. "It makes me feel like we are not putting on the total act."

She leaned closer, her face turned up so their lips were close together. Samuel didn't flinch or budge. He was used to her antics. Instead, he looked down at her, his hands still braced on the wooden counter, his breath fanning her face.

"Kali," He softly warned. "Don't you dare."

"Why?" She teased, her gaze fleeting between his lips and his eyes. "Scared?"

"Terrified." He dryly replied, and she grinned, stepping back.

"Buzzkill."

Kali laughed and walked away, trudging through the sand, enjoying the feel of the sand on her feet and the wind in her hair. She didn't see Samuel follow closely behind her as she moved closer and closer to the water. He remained behind her, waiting for his moment, without her knowledge. Before she reached the water, she heard him call out.

"Kali!"

She turned in time for him to swoop down, catching her around the waist and pulling her off her feet. She screamed, laughing and demanding he put her down as he ran towards the beach. He marched forward, sludging through the water, watching her feet kick into the air. She held on to the waistband of his shorts, chortling as she tried to get herself off.

Without a second thought, he held the back of her legs, dumping her off his shoulders and into the water. She spotted him immediately and began hurdling towards him.

"What did you call me?"

She growled, using her hand to sweep a wave of water towards him. He deflected, grabbing her around the waist again and throwing her back into the water, arms flaying before she dropped in. Even from below the surface, she could hear the rich rumble of his laughter.

She stood again, this time, to a flood of water sweeping in her face. Samuel was still in a fit of laughter. "What did you call me."

"Buzzkill." She yelled back as she held her hand in front of her, leaning away to avoid the barrage of water he splashed at her.

"Say it again."

She cackled, spitting out some of the water that got in her mouth. "Buzzkill."

Her cheeks hurt from laughing, and thankfully he stopped before she doubled over with a stomach cramp from laughing too hard. She wiped her eyes, and Samuel cupped some water in his hand, pouring it over her head. It earned him a hard shove, which landed him in the water as he tripped and lost his balance.

As she reached to help him, she glanced behind him to notice a new party of three arriving. Flora stood behind Daniel and Christine, and although she had only met her once, she recognized her right away. And Flora did too.

"Flora." She coughed, getting Samuel to his feet with her smile frozen on. "Flora is here."

"What?"

He looked over his shoulder and spotted her immediately. Ember noticed them and turned to see Flora, alongside Christine and Daniel, as they moved to some empty lounge chairs close to the bar. Giovanna, who spent most of her time watching them, didn't miss the moment, and Kali didn't miss the smug smile on her face when she looked at her.

"This is not good," Kali whispered.

"It's fine." Samuel contradicted, taking her hand and pulling her along as he walked out of the water. "Whatever you do, please don't fight with her. Avoid her at all costs."

"And if it doesn't work?"

"Be kind." He pleaded, whispering so only she could hear. "She is suffering a lot because of me. She is not herself."

"Alright. Fine, I'll be with my sister." She promised, letting go of his hand and walking to join an oblivious June on her lounger.

Unfortunately, she couldn't keep her first promise because less than thirty minutes later, June asked for another round of drinks, and Peter did the same. Looking over at Samuel, she shrugged and left for the bar.

While she waited for her order to be brought over, Flora slipped into a seat beside her. "It's nice to see you again."

Kali snorted. "I highly doubt that, but I'll pretend you are telling the truth."

"I guess you know who I am now. Explains why you never came back to the store."

"That should not be a surprise to you. You must have known Samuel would recognize the brand the second he spotted the bags. I can almost say you wanted that to happen."

"Maybe." Flora shrugged, staring at Kali through the rim of her glass as she sipped her drink. "I was honestly surprised when you didn't recognize me. It was painstakingly obvious that Samuel never told you about me, even after marrying you."

"You are his past, not mine."

"I wasn't his past when the two of you met."

"You are right about that, but I am sure you aren't coming to me for an apology."

"The both of you owe me nothing. You especially owe me nothing. I was and am no one to you."

"But Samuel owes you something, right? He was someone to you, and he betrayed you."

Flora looked away, not answering the question. Kali found herself envying and pitying the woman standing in front of her. While she got Richard, Flora got the love of a man like Samuel. A man who loved earnestly. A man who didn't deserve the hatred she felt, but Flora had no idea that he didn't. To her, he was dishonest and a cheat. Kali couldn't tell the truth to her. It was not her place, and it would give birth to more problems than solutions. But maybe she could try and hide it beneath the surface of her words.

"Samuel loves you," Kali stated, straight-faced, noting the shock that overcame Flora. "I don't pretend to not know that you were and are someone important to him. The pain he has caused you tears him to pieces because he cares. If he didn't he would rip your heart out like you are begging for him to do, and he wouldn't think twice about it. But he cares, and I think that should be enough for you to give him a break."

"I have done nothing to him."

"You are here now for nothing more than to stir conflict. You know Samuel can see us, and you probably also realize that he wouldn't want to come over here and make a scene." Kali didn't even look. She knew he would be watching. Flora knew it too. "You want to make things hard on him because you are hurt, and he doesn't deserve that."

"But I do?"

"No. I don't know you. Frankly, I don't care to know you because of who you are. It's easy to try and solve your problems by finding someone to blame. Blame him if it helps. Blame me if that's what you prefer, but stop trying to hurt him and yourself. It doesn't help him, and it doesn't help you."

She nodded and took the drinks she ordered along with her as she left Flora where she sat.