Sulani Main Island
Cameron Family Vacation

The golden sun stretched lazily over the horizon, waves lapping rhythmically against the shore, the faint scent of salt and coconut drifting on the breeze. It was paradise—at least, it was supposed to be.

Keira sighed, shifting in her lounge chair, her gaze locked onto Chris as he floated idly in the shallow turquoise waters, arms stretched out like he was trying to absorb whatever solace the ocean had to offer.

“Poor Chris. So handsome—just like his father. Smart, witty, a good kid. But no luck with the ladies. Girls flock to him, and I know he’s never short on offers. He’s living every young man’s dream—but, of course, ironically, that would be too easy. And easy isn’t what he wants. He wants a real relationship, but somehow, he can’t seem to find a girlfriend who’s truly worth his efforts. Twice now, a girl has done him dirty. I never expected it from Indie, but Noelle!? She’s my best friend’s daughter! Of course, Janelle is all like, ‘They’re adults now—but you best believe I’m gonna have a talk with that girl!’” She scoffed, shaking her head. “So what? I love Janelle, I do, but am I supposed to be grateful now? She raised that girl. Yelling at her for breaking my baby’s heart is the least she can do.”

Connor, lounging beside her, barely spared a glance at their son’s dramatic sprawled-out sulking session in the water.

“Janelle and Laurent didn’t do anything wrong, our kids are responsible for their own choices. Chris is fine. He’ll be okay. Part of life.”

Keira shot him a sharp look.

“Look at him, Con-Bear. LOOK. AT. HIM.”

Connor finally turned his gaze toward his son—then snorted.

“I AM looking. Looks like a spoiled teen floating on the balmy turquoise ocean near the exotic beach his parents brought him and his bestie to for a little Band-Aid Poor Chrissie-Pooh Getaway.”

He gestured toward the postcard-perfect scene.

“And that was after we spent an arm, leg, and second through twelfth born on that damn tattoo removal because our son is an idiot.”

Keira groaned, rubbing her temples.

“Good grief, Connor. We were young and dumb once. It’s how they learn. Was painful enough for Chris, the whole situation with Indie and then that tattoo removal. And now Noelle.”

Connor raised an eyebrow.

“Not as painful as for me, having to pay for it, then listen to him whine about his self-imposed ouchie! Well, you’d think he’d learn. Did he though? I’d go with NOPE! One long-distance relationship broke his heart, and he liked it so much that he went and did it again. Bravo. Hopefully this or the next five times will teach him.”

Keira let out an exaggerated urghhh, yanking her sunhat over her face in mock exasperation.

Connor chuckled before stretching lazily and finally noticing Craig—Chris’s longtime best friend—standing near the shoreline, eyes locked onto a group of newly arrived girls settling their towels onto the sand.

Connor narrowed his eyes.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Babysitting two nineteen-year-old toddlers here—the borrowed one is hornier than a rabbit at a Viagra factory, the homemade one floating in existential misery like an Addams family reject.”

With a sharp inhale, he stood, marched over, and grabbed Craig by the shoulder before he could launch himself into another episode of Sulani’s Bachelor: Local Edition.

“Hey, Romeo, fold up those peacock tail feathers, put the testosterone-fueled charm on ice, and try being a decent human before I superglue your breeches to your backside. I didn’t invite you on this family vacation just so you could scatter Douglas DNA across every willing beachgoer in your preferred age bracket! Go check on your emotionally wrecked best friend before he writes another tragic mental sonnet about his crash-landed love life. His mother and I are sick to death of watching him mope while you play the field. Be a good friend, kid!”

Craig blinked, then frowned.

“Connor, look—I AM being a good friend here. Chris told me to eff off twice now. He wants his peace, so I’m giving him space.”

Connor gave him a flat stare.

“Listen, kid—I am NOT Connor to you. Second, of course Chris doesn’t want anyone. He’s pouting and moping. Do better.”

Craig let out a long-suffering exhale, rolling his eyes dramatically.

“Fiiiiiiiine. If it makes you happy, Mr. C.”

Connor groaned.

“Mr. C? Jesus Christ, I thought that was outdated. Should be.”

Craig grinned.

“It is. But so are your ideas, so I thought I’d match it.”

Before Connor could swat at him, Craig laughed and sprinted toward the water, kicking up waves with every reckless step. The once-serene ocean rippled violently in his wake, sending choppy currents straight toward Chris. One moment, Chris was floating in tranquil bliss—the next, Craig’s disturbance knocked him off balance, his body sinking awkwardly as he sputtered in frustration.

Connor sighed, shaking his head.

Back at the lounge chairs, Connor stretched, then leaned down toward Keira, pressing a soft kiss to her temple before plopping down in the chair beside her. She hummed in approval but didn’t open her eyes, simply basking in the warmth of the morning sun.

Keira peeked out from under her sunhat.

“Did you just bully Craig into fixing Chris?”

Connor smirked.

“Nah. I just made him do his job. We are paying for him to grace us with his presence here—might as well do something productive for it.”

She chuckled, reclining deeper into the sunlight.

And somewhere out in the ocean, Craig dove under the water, emerging right next to Chris, who groaned loudly, already regretting his existence

The Next Morning

The morning light spilled through the bungalow’s open windows, bathing the teak floors in a soft golden hue. Outside, the tide rolled lazily against the shore, waves brushing the sand in a rhythmic lull—peaceful, unbothered.

Inside, however, chaos lingered.

Connor and Keira sat at the breakfast table, sipping coffee as two half-dead teenagers stumbled in like they’d barely survived the night.

Chris and Craig looked destroyed.

Connor, unfazed, lifted his mug.

“Well, well, look who’s alive. Barely. Must have been some night out.”

Craig grunted in response, shoving his hands through his messy hair. Chris, eyes squinted against the morning light, remained silent.

Keira smirked.

“And who’s gonna spill the tea? Come on, gentlemen, Connor and I want details—not some vague ‘it was good.’ Give me more.”

Chris, still half-asleep, muttered, “He hooked up with two girls at once.”

Craig shot him a lethal glare.

“No. I hooked up with one—or tried to—but when she turned out to be a tease, I went with her friend, who was a lot more… accommodating.”

Keira groaned dramatically, rubbing her temples like she had a secondhand hangover just from listening.

“I walked right into that one. Craig, I swear, if you ever have a daughter, I hope she makes you suffer. Deeply. Profoundly. In ways you cannot yet comprehend.”

Connor chuckled, shaking his head.

“Baby, boys their age are assholes. Ask about their clubbing and dating escapades at your own risk.”

Keira exhaled, shaking her head.

“I wish we would have had a girl.”

Craig smirked, leaning back.

“Well, if she would have been as hot as you, this might be a very different conversation then.”

Chris groaned.

Connor, mid-sip of his coffee, set his mug down deliberately, fixing Craig with a silent warning glance, fingers drumming against the table.

Craig only grinned wider.

“Oh my God, Craig, stop! That’s my mom, you idiot. And I don’t want to imagine me being a girl and you… blech! Yuck! Nasty!”

Keira flicked a grape at Craig’s forehead.

“Learn when silence is golden.”

Craig, completely unfazed, shrugged, piling food onto his plate like none of this was remotely abnormal.

“Hey, it was a compliment! And FYI, I may be an asshole, but your son is a dumbass. He’s in love again!”

Keira nearly choked on her coffee.

“Oh, Christ Almighty! Not again! Chris, tell me Craig is joking.”

Craig shrugged. Chris groaned, rubbing his face.

“I am not in love! Just met someone very… interesting. She’s different. Special.”

Keira sighed, already skeptical.

“Oh God, here we go again…”

Connor folded his arms.

“Alright, Romeo, spill it. Her name, what does she do, age—let’s go!”

Chris hesitated, then straightened up, a flicker of excitement cutting through his exhaustion.

“Okay. Her name is Cadie, short for Cadence. Same age as me. Best part, she’s from Oasis Springs—no more than two hours away from San Sequoia.”

Keira lifted an eyebrow.

“So far, so good. Continue.”

Chris nodded, eyes lighting up.

“She’s studying medicine at Foxbury too. Crazy, right? Four semesters on the same campus, same major, and somehow we never crossed paths before. Guess she likes to attend the early classes while I am always on the afternoon schedule because of party boy here. But with how much we have in common—I would have definitely noticed her. We’ll definitely will synch up our class schedule for the next semester, sorry Craig, you’re gonna have to party on your own from now on. She’s great to talk to. Bet studying with her is gonna be awesome!”

Craig snorted.

“I bet you wanna study her anatomy in detail. But I can confirm what he said. He noticed her immediately—unfortunately, all he did was strike out, so they just… talked. Guess she better be a great conversationalist, cos loverboy here wasn’t going anywhere with his moves.”

Chris shot him a glare but kept going.

“That’s because I wasn’t trying. She’s brilliant. I mean, I was at that seminar last semester when Dr. Moore spoke about regenerative medicine. Turns out, that was her mom. And Cadie—she’s already deep into that field, following the family tradition. Mother, father, brother—all doctors. Family tradition kinda thing, just like us, Dad. Cool, huh?”

Connor, stirring his coffee idly, suddenly paused. His brow furrowed.

“Yeah, uber-cool. Wait, did you say Moore… Not Dr. Olivia Moore?”

Chris grinned, catching the interest.

“Yes! Her mom is Dr. Olivia Moore.”

Keira narrowed her eyes at Connor.

“You know her?”

Connor exhaled, sitting back.

“Know of her. She’s a powerhouse in genetic medicine—leading research on rare diseases and regenerative treatments. I’ve read her work. She’s not just important, she’s shaping the future of medical science. When I was in San Myshuno at that conference with Chris for his tattoo removal, she was one of the speakers.”

Chris leaned forward, energized.

“Exactly! And Cadie is following in her footsteps. She’s laser-focused on biomedical research, genetic therapy, clinical trials—stuff I don’t even fully understand, but she does. She was telling me about a study on regenerative treatments, and it sounded insane.”

Craig leaned back.

“Sounds riveting. Worth mentioning, she was also not interested in Chris’ flirting…”

Chris scowled.

“I wasn’t flirting! We were talking! Having a good time.”

Craig smirked.

“No, I was having a good time with two girls. You were striking out left and right.”

Keira sipped her coffee, thoroughly amused.

“I like her already.”

Connor chuckled.

“Me too. So, how about we meet her? I’d like to form my own opinion—and I’m sure your mother would too. Is she here alone or with family?”

Chris blinked.

“Meet her? Umm… I guess. She’s here for the week, with her friend, but they arrived a couple of days before us.”

Connor leaned forward.

“Good. Then set something up. You have her number, right? If she’s as different as you claim, let’s make sure she’s different enough to handle you.”

Craig grinned.

“Oh man, you’re screwed. Did you say friend? Assume it means female friend? She hot?”

Chris groaned.

The Next Few Days

Chris had expected this trip to be fun. He hadn’t expected Cadie Moore to be the reason for it.

From the moment they met, there was something about her—an easy confidence, a quiet charm. He liked that she wasn’t fazed by him, that she didn’t bat her lashes and play into the flirtation like most girls did. It made him want to earn her attention.

And he did.

Over the next few days, Cadence, her best friend Sloane Ellingsworth, Chris, and Craig spent nearly every waking moment together—exploring the island, soaking in the sun, trying new food, and finding excuses to be close.

Cadence and Sloane had both grown up in Oasis Springs, and it showed in the way they embraced the heat, thrived in the adventure, and handled every situation with effortless confidence.

But while Cadence was warm and quietly magnetic, Sloane was pure chaos—the kind that made people watch her, follow her, get caught up in her energy before they even realized it.

Craig, naturally, was already hooked.

“She is like a female version of Craig,” Chris leaned against the railing, watching as Sloane plucked Craig’s sunglasses straight off his face, twirling them between her fingers with a smirk.

Craig arched a brow, unamused but entertained. “You’re gonna give those back, or do I need to fight you for them?”

Sloane shrugged, slipping them onto her own face. “Oh, you can try. But you’d lose—I fight dirty.”

Craig’s grin deepened, slow and confident. “Dirty, huh? Just how I like my girls best.”

Sloane tilted her chin, eyes flashing behind the stolen lenses. “Then you’re going to love me.”

Chris rolled his eyes, reaching for his drink. “Here we go again. Watch Loverboy work his magic.”

Cadence only laughed, nudging him playfully. “Oh, you’d think so, but Sloane likes Craig. And she always gets what she wants. He doesn’t have a choice. This is happening.”

Later that afternoon, Chris taught Cadence how to ride a jet ski, a task that quickly turned into more than just a simple lesson.

The ocean sparkled under the afternoon sun, waves rolling in rhythmic pulses against the jet skis as they skimmed over the water.

Sloane and Craig were ahead, whipping through the surf like they had zero regard for safety, shrieking with laughter. Craig barely held on as Sloane yanked the throttle, cutting a sharp turn that had them nearly tipping before she straightened out with a victorious cheer.

“Keep up, Moore!” she taunted over the roar of the engine. “You too, Cameron! What kinda wimpy crap are you two doing? Laaaame!”

Cadence laughed—but her grip on the handlebars was far more cautious, her confidence flickering. She was somewhere between daring and uncertain, balancing the thrill of the race with her wariness of the unfamiliar power beneath her.

Chris, seated behind her, chuckled against her shoulder. “Relax, Cadence. You’re gripping that thing like Louboutin’s off a sale rack.”

She exhaled, adjusting slightly. “What would YOU know about Louboutin’s?”

“I got a mom and two aunts who are all about fashion. I know my designers—and I know how to drive jet skis. Look ahead, not at me. And quit fighting it. Lean with the turn.”

Before she could respond, Sloane zigzagged ahead, kicking up a spray that splashed over them. The moment Cadence tried to avoid it, she overcorrected, the jet ski pitching sharply. Instinct took over—she grabbed onto Chris instead of steering, her gasp catching in her throat.

Chris reacted fast—one hand gripping hers, the other steadying the throttle as he corrected the angle before they could tip.

“Breathe,” he murmured near her ear, his voice cutting through the roar of the waves. “It’s all about control. When you hit higher speeds, let the lean do the work—don’t force it.”

His mouth was close enough that she felt the warmth of his breath against her skin, the rumble of his voice sinking in deeper than just the mechanics of steering.

She nodded, swallowing hard. But as the jet ski evened out, she realized—she was leaning into him.

Her back was pressed against his chest, the heat of the sun nothing compared to the warmth of him behind her.

She didn’t move.

And neither did he.

Chris was very aware of how good she felt against him—the way her hair smelled faintly of salt and sunscreen, the way her grip had tightened around his wrist instead of the handlebars.

She turned her head slightly, just enough for their faces to hover inches apart, the sound of the ocean fading beneath the hum between them.

One shift, one tiny movement—and he could kiss her.

Then—

A sudden spray of saltwater crashed over them, shattering the moment.

Sloane’s wild laughter rang out over the waves.

“Aww, did I just interrupt something?” she teased, completely unremorseful.

Craig grinned, twisting the throttle on his jet ski to pull up beside them. “Save that shit for when the sun goes down. Your parents are watching us like a soap opera, bro.”

Chris and Cadence snapped their heads toward the beach, and—sure enough—Connor and Keira stood near the shore, clearly watching, now waving.

Cadence blinked. Chris sighed. Then, reluctantly, they both lifted a hand, giving the most awkward wave in history.

Silence.

Then Cadence snorted, breaking first—Chris followed suit, laughter spilling out as they doubled over, seawater dripping from their faces.

The BBQ

The sun had nearly set, casting its last golden hues over the beach as the group settled into the rhythm of the evening—jet skis abandoned, food grilling, music playing, laughter carrying over the salty breeze.

Near the firepit, Craig and Sloane had turned a casual playlist into their own personal dance floor, moving in sync with an intensity that bordered on reckless.

They were practically dirty dancing—Sloane was all legs, hips, and unapologetic confidence, and Craig, Craig was absolutely on board, gripping her waist like he was steering the entire situation toward dangerous territory. He was living his best life.

From the outdoor grill station, Connor glanced up, raising an eyebrow at the display.

Keira, chewing a bite of cut vegetables Connor had left from prepping the grill, smirked. “Should we hose them down or applaud how fast your son’s best friend works? A girl ready to do whatever, whenever with him in under forty-eight hours? Impressive.”

Connor shook his head, flipping a steak. “Not my son’s best friend—our son’s best friend. If I gotta claim Craig, so do you. And I’m not interrupting that. He’s nineteen—his problems are his own, or his parents’. I’m just the credit card here.” He shrugged. “Besides, Massimo was saying the other day that he took Carolina’s last name when they married—since there are barely any Douglas’ left. Maybe Craig will have accidentally fixed that problem for him by the time we get back.”

Keira giggled but quickly nudged him mid-bite, suddenly serious as she pointed toward Chris and Cadence with a carrot slice—who had just been dancing themselves, something far less wild than Craig and Sloane, but still… close. VERY close.

Only now—Cadence had led Chris a few feet away, hand in hand, toward the shoreline, the glow of the fire barely brushing the edges of their figures as she turned to face him.

Keira’s eyes widened. She shoved the last bite of food in her mouth, chewing fast. “Oh. Oh. Look. Connor—look at your son.”

Connor, BBQ tongs in hand, turned just in time to see Chris and Cadence lock eyes before she kissed him.

And it wasn’t playful or hesitant—it was decisive.

Her fingers curled lightly into his hair, pulling his face down to hers, like she had finally decided there was nothing stopping her from doing this.

And the way Chris responded—wrapping his arms around her, pulling her closer yet, which hardly seemed possible—left his parents gaping.

Keira choked slightly, coughing once before recovering. “Okay. Wow. Guess this is happening.”

Connor, for once, had nothing to say—his gaze fixed on them, brows furrowing as if watching something unfold he hadn’t seen before.

“Wow. I am not sure how I feel about it. Thinking I like it. Well, maybe. Knowing his luck—and ours by proxy—there’s gotta be some big fat whammy lurking in the darkness. This feels too good to be true.”

Keira nodded slowly. “Yeah. I’m kinda loving this moment—so cute, our little boy getting himself some luvins from a really cute girl I approve of—but like you, I am just bracing for the big, fat ‘BUT’ to drop down on all of us.”

Then—the scent hit.

Keira sniffed the air, eyes suddenly widening.

“Something smells burned… Oh, shit—Con-Bear! The food!”

Connor swore, spinning toward the grill, yanking open the lid—only to find absolute carnage.

Charred. Smoking. Dead on arrival.

Keira groaned, horrified. “Nooooo! The steaks!”

Connor sighed, shaking his head. “Yeah, guess I found your big, fat BUT. It’s on my damn grill. “Goddamn it. Those were fucking Kobe A5+ Wagyu steaks. Six of them!”

Craig, fully unbothered, snatched a beer, barely glancing at the devastation before shifting his gaze toward Chris and Cadence.

“Well, at least someone’s eating good tonight,” he quipped, sipping casually. “Your son’s getting himself all sorts of tastes over there. Guess we can’t say the same for us. And damn I am hungry!”

Connor, exhaling deeply, ran a hand down his face before turning toward the group, completely resigned.

“Hey, listen up everybody… who wants to see how that cool restaurant we had lunch at looks at dinner time? We’re moving this party off-site for the evening. My treat.”

Silence.

Then laughter erupted, and just like that, the night moved forward.

Coupled Up

The restaurant was buzzing—soft ukulele music hummed in the background, the smell of fresh seafood and grilled pineapple mixing with the salt-kissed breeze. The group settled into a booth under the open-air patio, cocktails already sweating against the glass.

Chris sat beside Cadence, close but not too close—though anyone paying attention could see how they kept leaning into each other, how every comment somehow turned into an excuse to talk just a little longer, a little softer.

Across the table, Sloane had Craig fully occupied.

Not that she was playing along the way Craig was used to. No, Sloane was making him work for it—teasing, challenging, effortlessly flipping his usual tactics on him.

“How do you even keep up with your own nonsense?” Sloane mused, sipping her Mai Tai, watching Craig like she found him entertaining but mildly ridiculous.

Craig smirked, lounging back. “I don’t overthink things. Life is short. That’s how.”

“Uh-huh,” Sloane hummed, unconvinced. “Sounds like something a nine-year-old would say. Good to know you aim high.”

Craig actually hesitated, looking her over before replying.

“Oh, I am aiming high here, girl. You have no idea what all I am aiming for like never before,” he admitted, and for once, he wasn’t trying to be smooth—he meant it.

Keira nearly choked on her drink.

“Oh my god, is he serious?” She whispered to Connor.

Connor raised his eyebrows. “I think he’s sweating.”

“I think that girl finally did it. Tamed our Romeo.” She giggled, making Connor chuckle.

Craig was definitely sweating.

Cadence smirked at Sloane, nudging her under the table, a silent you’re totally breaking him down.

Chris caught the look.

“You two have some kind of secret code already?”

Cadence glanced at him, eyes bright. “Of course we do.”

And then, for no reason at all, Chris reached out and tucked a loose curl behind her ear.

Keira watched the whole thing unfold like it was her favorite reality show.

“Oh, we’re absolutely witnessing two new couples forming right in front of us,” she whispered to Connor. “And I am so here for it. I love it. And finally a girl that is not super-far away. Cos I tell you what, I am all for our son having romance in his life, even long term, but if that chick tries to make our baby move away from us, we’re gonna rumble. Yeah, that’s right, I am gonna be that type of mom.”

Connor took a sip of his whiskey, amused. “Starting to think we should have had another kid.”

Morning After

Chris was humming.

Keira traded glances with Connor as she buttered her toast. This wasn’t normal. Chris did not hum. Especially not after having gone through two bad breakups in a short amount of time.

He popped in between their chairs, looping one arm around each of them, pressing a kiss to both their cheeks.

“Top of the morning to you, awesomest parents in the world!” he declared. “More coffee?”

Connor wiped his cheek, grinning. “What’s with you?”

Keira narrowed her eyes. “Are you on drugs or just still drunk from last night?”

Chris whistled, pouring his coffee before snatching up two slices of toast.

“Nope, no intoxication whatsoever, sweet mother of mine! The sun just rose for me again. Proverbially speaking—before you start, I know the sun hasn’t stopped shining here.”

Keira shot Connor a puzzled look, her brows knitting together. “Ah. Great. Cool. Could you go wake up Craig?”

Chris took a bite of toast, chewing slowly.

“No, can’t do. On account of the fact that he isn’t here.”

Connor set his coffee down with a sharp clink.

“What do you mean he isn’t here? It’s barely seven-thirty. Since when does Craig get up before noon on his own? And where the hell is he?”

Chris shrugged. “Who knows. All I know is he climbed out the window last night after texting back and forth with Sloane.”

Keira looked horrified. “You didn’t stop him?!”

Chris snorted. “Nope. I was tired, and that constant buzzing was getting on my nerves. Slept like a baby once he was gone.”

Keira groaned. “Chris! His parents will kill us if we bring him back from this vacation and let him knock up some girl he just met.”

Chris took another bite, chewing thoughtfully.

“Mom, chill. That won’t happen.”

Keira folded her arms. “How do you know?”

Chris swallowed, exhaled, then deadpan:

“Because first of all, Craig’s not a moron. Neither am I, in case that comes up next. Secondly, I saw him grab a few handfuls of condoms, then grab the entire package instead. He’s got it covered. Literally. Big package too, so he might not be back for a while.”

Keira gasped, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Oh, dear lord!”

Connor, barely holding back laughter, muttered, “Does he know he doesn’t have to use them all up before he can stop?”

The whole room erupted.

Chris nearly spat out his toast. Keira threw a napkin at Connor, but she was laughing too hard to aim properly and it sailed past him in some tragic arch.

Connor leaned back, shaking his head. “One way or another, this vacation is going to be memorable.”

As the laughter settled, Chris took another bite, then gestured vaguely with his toast.

“No, but seriously,” he said, more thoughtful now, “I’ve never seen Craig so invested in a girl before. Guys, I think he really likes Sloane.”

Connor raised an eyebrow, sipping his coffee. “Which is why he climbed out the window instead of using the door?”

“Maybe,” Chris said. “But I mean it. He’s trying. Not just his usual crap—he actually seems to care what Sloane thinks. I think he’s feeling this long term. Good for him, I was starting to worry about him. I mean, fine line between having fun and being a male hoe.”

Keira leaned forward, expression knowing. “Speaking of, so, what’s going on there with you and Cadence?”

Chris smirked. “Pleading the fifth.”

Connor sighed. “Chris—”

“No, no, I get it,” Chris said, holding up his hands. “You’re gonna warn me again about getting too invested, about how ‘love makes blind decisions’ and all that.”

Keira nodded. “Because every time you fall, you fall hard. And sometimes that hasn’t worked out well for you.”

Chris bit his toast, nodding slowly, then looked straight at them.

“Too late,” he said. “I didn’t mean to, but man—Cadence just hits different. She is… perfect. We have the same goals, dreams. She wants to work in the area and—Dad, refresh my memory—which is the largest, most state-of-the-art medical center in the area between San Sequoia and Oasis Springs?”

Connor sighed, already seeing where this was going. “The one I run.”

Chris grinned, satisfied.

“Sooo… I’m telling you—she and I are meant to be. I know what you are worried about and you definitely have a point, but I am telling you, I’d be crazy NOT to pursue her. She might well be ‘The One’.”

Keira groaned, dragging her hands down her face. “Oh dear God, here we go. Well, if this is happening, then we need to actually sit down and meet Cadence. A proper introduction. No distractions, no fire hazards, no… Craig scaling windows.”

Connor leaned back, sipping his coffee thoughtfully. “Agreed. I’d like to get to know the girl my son is apparently ‘meant to be’ with.’ Just so Keke and I know what we are dealing with this time.”

Chris snorted, shoving another bite of toast into his mouth. “Alright, alright, I’ll set it up. Just—don’t scare her off, okay? She’s not used to this level of interrogation. You’ll love her. You’ll see. This is a one in a million type of serendipidous meeting.”

Keira arched a brow. “Oh, please. Jeeze Chris. Look, if she’s meant to be, she’ll survive us. If you really want this long term with her, which still doesn’t roll off my tongue after you met her a couple days ago, but assuming this has real substance, it’s best she gets a taste of what the Camerons are all about. You know we are not the typical family.”

Connor grinned. “Let’s just hope Craig survives Sloane first.”

Introductions

The group lounged under the beach cabana, drinks sweating against the table, the late afternoon sun sinking lazily behind the swaying palms.

Connor and Keira had finally met Cadence, and while their parental suspicion was still in full force, even they had to admit—she was very likable. Smart. Different. Even up close and personal, not just from a distance.

Connor took a sip of his drink, leaning back in his seat, giving Cadence an easy nod.

“Well, since we’re getting to know each other, guess I should introduce myself properly. Dr. Connor Cameron—Chief Medical Officer at Sequoia Medical Center, though I still practice when I can. Been in medicine all my life, graduated high school at 16 and started college right after that, which is why they call me a genius, though it felt pretty dumb to me at the time, yet, here we are. But I come from a—let’s say—very different background. My parents, Chase and Hailey Cameron, have been in the music industry forever—dad founded the grunge rock band ‘2Dark2C’ back in college and it became legend, if you’re into that scene. My dad’s best friend and bandmate, Colton Hargrave, also happens to be my father-in-law. Married his daughter, Keira, this beauty here next to me, who—if she ever corrects me—runs her own art gallery in San Sequoia, not just ‘does art.’”

Keira snorted, shaking her head. “Damn right.”

Connor chuckled. “We have one son, that lovely specimen of humanity over there. And I’ve got younger twin sisters—one’s a lawyer in Del Sol Valley, married to an actor. The other performs as well, singer-songwriter, and married the guy who actually owns the medical center I work at—a wealthy heir type from Brindleton Bay. So yeah, it’s a mix of worlds, but somehow, it works.”

He shifted slightly, nodding toward Cadence with interest.

“Now, enough about Chris’ background. Tell us more about you, your family.”

Cadence smiled, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. “Okay. Let’s see. I was born Cadence Elise Moore in Oasis Springs to Drs. Daniel and Olivia Moore. I have one older brother, Weston, who —shockingly—also is in medicine. He’s a cardiothoracic surgeon. I am about to enter my fifth semester at Foxbury, studying medicine, surprise, surprise.”

Connor’s brow furrowed. “Hang on, so your mom really is Dr. Moore? Dr. Olivia Moore? I thought Chris was hallucinating when he mentioned it before. I didn’t even know she had kids, as much as she must work for all that research.”

“Yup, she’s my mom and she managed two kids, even though yes, she did and still does work literally all the time. She trailblazed certain aspects of genetic medicine, leading research in rare diseases and regenerative treatments. She’s based at Oasis Springs Medical, but she does a lot of work with global trial teams.”

“Wow!” Connor let out, impressed.

Cadence nodded. “Yeah. It’s a lot to live up to, big shoes to fill, but I’m trying.”

Chris grinned, nudging her playfully. “She’s being modest—she already knows way more about this field than most students at Foxbury. Hate to admit it, but myself included.”

Cadence laughed. “It helps that my grandparents were doctors, too. My grandfather was a neurologist, and my grandmother was a pediatrician. My dad, though—he’s… kind of different.”

Connor raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

Cadence hesitated, then exhaled. “He’s – how am I gonna put this? He’s kinda gone off-grid. From one day to the next he decided he wanted to go and save the environment and people and animals, but hands on. Then he left. Just like that. That was back when I was still in high school, so needless to say, we’re… not super close. Either way, I want to help people too, but unlike my dad I don’t believe camping out in some jungle or whatever with no access to real facilities and medicine, nowhere to conduct proper research is gonna get me there. Growing up, I watched my mom make a real impact. I saw what medicine could do, not just as a practice, but as a force to change lives. I want to be part of that.”

Keira exhaled, visibly impressed.

Connor nodded, sitting back. “That’s a hell of an answer.”

Chris grinned, nudging her again. “Told you—she’s perfect.”

Keira groaned.

Connor sighed.

“Yup, she sure seems that way,” Keira muttered, already seeing where this was going.

Back Home

The San Sequoia midday sun shone bright, casting golden reflections off the Cameron family’s backyard pool, where Chris had been swimming. The cool water had been a welcome contrast to the lingering summer heat, a way to clear his head after a whirlwind trip to Sulani—a trip meant to help him move past the breakup with Noelle, but ended with him meeting someone he just couldn’t stop thinking about. Someone who luckily was at worst a couple hours drive away. Someone he would see again tomorrow.

The trip his parents had meant as a reprive from his sadness had worked. And then some.

Until the moment he heard her voice.

“Damn, dude. Lookin’ good in that pool. Did you get more buff, or does distance just make men look better?”

Chris surfaced, wiping water from his face as he turned toward Noelle Tallier, standing near the pool’s edge. His childhood friend, slash last girl to break his heart, very recently.

She was as striking as ever, the kind of woman who always looked like she belonged at an exclusive rooftop party, even while standing in his parents’ backyard.

Her long, tight curls framed her deep brown skin flawlessly, catching the sunlight in a way that made Chris wonder if she timed her arrival for maximum effect. The ruffled white crop top she wore accentuated her natural curves, the delicate fabric a contrast to the sharp confidence in her dark brown eyes—always bold, always challenging. Her distressed denim shorts revealed toned legs, and the decorative belt buckle was eye catching, so typically Noelle.

Chris swam toward the edge, pulling himself up in one smooth motion, water cascading down his toned frame, abs glistening under the midday sun.

Noelle’s eyes flicked over him, mouth twitching slightly.

“Hmm-hmm, yumm! Seriously. What happened to you? Are you doing secret bodybuilder training on campus? Getting ya some ‘roids?”

Chris reached for his towel, shaking off droplets.

“Still the same guy, Noelle.”

She folded her arms, watching as he ran the towel over his shoulders, then absently across his damp hair.

“Yeah? ‘Cause last time I checked, the guy I knew wasn’t acting all cold like this.”

Chris exhaled.

“Look—good to see you, but I wasn’t expecting you to stop by. Did you lose my phone number?”

Noelle let out a soft laugh, taking a step closer.

“Come on, don’t act like we’re strangers. Our parents are practically one big family. It’s a semester break. You really thought I wouldn’t swing by? Since when do we call ahead for an appointment?”

Chris forced a polite smile, then pulled her into a brief hug—controlled, distant, not lingering.

“Damn, even your hugs changed. What is this?”

She eyed him, like she was digging for something, trying to test the waters—but Chris wasn’t biting.

Not this time.

Noelle stepped back, watching him carefully as he tossed the towel onto a chair.

“You got weird, Chris. When did weird and distant become your thing?”

Chris sighed, dragging a hand through his hair.

“It’s not weird. You dumped me, remember? Did you really think I’d be doing cartwheels at the mere sight of you after that shit?”

Noelle snorted, rolling her lined eyes, the subtle shimmer of eyeshadow catching in the light.

“Oh my God, dumped you? We weren’t even official for most of it. We were just… vibing.”

Chris raised an eyebrow.

“That’s what you call sneaking around for months? Including me ending up in the kitchen with your parents one morning when they had seen us sneak into your room the night before? That is vibing?! Seriously? Wanna go ask your dad what he thinks that was?”

Noelle shrugged, unapologetic, adjusting the strap of her crop top with a casual confidence.

“My parents are conservative. Why do you think my sister moved to a different town first? So she can live her life without mom and dad constantly in it. Same here. And we had fun, didn’t we?”

Chris crossed his arms.

“Yeah, real fun. Until you decided long-distance wasn’t your thing and neither am I. You treated me like a toy, Noelle, fun to play with, occasionally, but then just cast aside. Maybe that’s what YOU want, but it is not what I want. You lived through the whole Indie mess with me before, thought that made clear to you what I want and don’t want.”

Noelle rolled her eyes, stepping closer, placing a hand on his arm—lingering, tracing slightly over damp skin.

“Chris, you knew I was going to San Myshuno. I told you straight up—I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but I was always gonna be open for you, no pressure. Just say the word. Then and now. I like you, and I like doing things with you. But I hate labels and being tied down. We’re nineteen, Chris. We can tie ourselves down to someone when we’re old. Now we are young, we can have fun, without rigid rules and ownership issues.”

Chris winced, her perfectly manicured nails too familiar, too easy to remember.

“Yeah. That was the part that made me wanna vomit. If I love someone, I want to have fun WITH them, not feel like they own me when I have to be considerate.”

Noelle laughed, but there was a flicker of frustration, her gold hoops swinging slightly with the movement.

“Oh, come on, it wasn’t that bad. You knew what I meant. We have history, Chris. No rules, no expectations, just us.”

She moved closer, hands tracing up his chest, slow, deliberate, teasing—until he grabbed her wrists and gently pulled them away.

Noelle blinked, caught off guard.

“Whoa. Seriously? You’re turning me down for real?”

Chris took a step back, steady.

“I met someone new. And for me, that means commitment.”

Noelle stilled.

For a second, nothing.

Then—realization. Then anger.

“You’re joking.”

Chris shook his head.

“Not joking.”

Noelle let out a sharp breath, crossing her arms.

“Wow. That took you all but a couple weeks. Glad to know I meant so much to you. Way to commit.”

Chris tossed the towel onto the chair, exhaling hard.

“You ended it.”

“Oh, did I? Well, in that case, by all means …” Noelle scoffed, eyes flashing with something deeper—anger, hurt, disbelief.

She took a step closer, the scent of her signature vanilla perfume drifting into the air as she did. It was familiar. Too familiar.

“Then why you actin’ all aloof and shit? Afraid the new girl won’t let you have fun? I don’t see her around. Is she not gonna let you have female friends?”

She tilted her head slightly, brows raised.

“And let me just guess—she white.”

Chris stiffened.

“Can we not do this?”

Noelle laughed, biting, shaking her head.

“Oh, we doing this. Watch me do this.”

She placed a hand on her hip, watching him.

“You went back to the cracker pussy. Playin’ wit yo own people. Got it.”

Chris cut her off before she finished.

“Quit it. You know me better. I know you do.”

Noelle’s brows lifted, mockingly.

“Ah yeah?” She shifted her weight, tone edged with challenge. “Lemme just ask—this new chick you supposedly met, what skin color she got? ‘Cause if it’s anything but white, I’ll drop down and give you a blowie right now.”

Chris held up a hand, voice low.

“Noelle. Stop.”

She stared at him, waiting.

He didn’t answer.

And just like that—she smirked.

“That’s what I thought.”

She crossed her arms, confident, like she just won something. Then—anger replaced confidence.

“You are just like everyone else, Christian Cameron. I thought you were different. Should’ve known better.”

Chris clenched his jaw, pulse tightening.

“Quit acting so high and mighty, Noelle! I moved on—because you dumped me!”

Noelle let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head.

“Chris, be for real. I ain’t comin’ back to San Sequoia, and yo ass ain’t never leavin’. So don’t act like you ever thought this had a future. We was just kickin’ it, and I was cool wit’ that. But then you started goin’ off on some lala-land happy trail, actin’ like we was exclusive. Had to check you real quick. You knew damn well I wasn’t on that.”

Her tone shifted—sharper now, cutting right to the point.

“Yo’ family here. Yo’ dad here. You stuck in this whitewashed Mayberry fantasy—let’s call it what it is. But me? I gotta get out, ‘cause this place suffocatin’ me. My parents tried to fit in, but nah—the truth stay the same. They ain’t never been nothin’ but ‘that black couple in the white fancy neighborhood.’”

Chris narrowed his eyes.

“Can we leave the race thing out of this? Nobody here thinks that. It’s in your head! This is San Sequoia, not South Africa, and our moms have been best friends since before we were even born.”

Noelle’s brows lifted, unimpressed.

“Oh, so now it’s just a race thing, huh? Maybe yo’ family different—cool. But most ain’t. It’s real, Chris. And lemme make one thing clear—you ain’t never had no plan for us. You just assumed I was gon’ change my mind, like I was gon’ accommodate you. Like I was gon’ pack up my toys, come runnin’ back, and be Dr. Christian Cameron’s black wife, spend my days herdin’ our statistic 2.2 biracial kids to match the damn quota.”

Chris exhaled sharply, frustration spiking.

“Maybe I liked those ideas! Maybe I wanted to know I’d get married one day—to someone I was actually exclusive with! I thought that someone could have been you, but clearly, that was almost like an insult to you. Well pardon me for really caring!”

Noelle scoffed.

“Oh, so what—you wanna own me? Own my pussy?”

Chris flinched—not because of the words, but because Noelle knew exactly how to cut him deep. He knew she knew very well he wasn’t like that.

“You know better,” he said, voice lower now, controlled. “It’s the principle. You dedicate yourself to someone just like they dedicate themselves to you. Goes without saying. It’s called love, Noelle. In my book, surpasses ‘fun’. Those can actually be combined. Shocker, huh?”

Noelle’s expression hardened.

“Yeah, I can see that. Yo was dedicated as fuck to me. Took you, what—two weeks?– to hook up wit some new chick. And yo already dedicated to someone new? Wow. I really missed out here, huh?”

Chris sighed.

“We were never what you pretended we were, Noelle. And that was the problem.”

Noelle’s jaw clenched, something sharp in her stare, but she didn’t push forward again.

“Fuck you, Chris!”

Instead, she stepped back.

Not slowly.

Not subtly.

Noelle turned sharp, storming toward the house, through the Cameron living room, straight into Connor and Keira—who clearly heard some of the commotion.

Keira raised a knowing brow, taking in Noelle’s tight shoulders, heated expression.

“Trouble in paradise?”

Noelle glared, exhaling sharply.

“Ask yo son! He a fuckin’ asshole!”

And just like that—she was gone.

Connor glanced at Keira, hands casually resting on his hips.

“Well. That was dramatic.”

Keira sighed, rubbing her temples.

“Third time’s the charm, right? ‘Cause I am so tired of drama.”

Right on cue, Chris walked in from the backyard, water dripping from his hair, a towel slung low around his waist, his dripping wet swim trunks in hand.

He let out a long exhale, dragging a hand down his face.

“So … Noelle is pissed. Really pissed at me. I kinda told her I met someone. She didn’t take that too well, despite all her ‘let’s keep things casual’ talk. Guess she wants to go out and ‘have fun’ with other guys, but when I move on, she flips her shit.”

Connor snorted, sipping his coffee.

“No shit, Sherlock! Your mother and I couldn’t help but notice she was a bit upset.”

Chris sighed, running a hand through his damp hair.

“I hate that she and I are at odds now. I’ve known her longer than anyone—Craig and I didn’t even meet till elementary school, but Noelle? We played together as babies. I wish we never…” He gestured vaguely, shaking his head. “Argh, I wish we could go back to before, but I am realizing now that really doesn’t work. Damn. The only thing keeping me from wanting to drown myself in that pool is that I’m seeing Cadence tomorrow.”

Then, hesitating—

“Then again, I’ll be meeting her mom and brother. The official ‘meet the family’ thing. Yikes. I can already hear it ‘you two literally just met some days ago, blah blah’. Argh. Wondering if I need to wear a suit or something. Maybe just a sports coat and jeans. I need to google that shit.”

Connor grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Oh, don’t worry, kid, we’ll be there too. Mommy can lay out some clothing for you.”

Chris froze, blinking slowly.

“I am so dead. Why did you accept? I think she invited you because you kept babbling into my phone call.”

Connor leaned back, grinning.

“Hell yeah we are going! Gotta make sure our son isn’t getting scammed. Betcha that’s why we were invited too—her mom wants to make sure I’m a real doctor and your mom’s art gallery is a real thing, so her daughter doesn’t end up dating some kid with deadbeat parents. These Oasis Springs girls ain’t cheap, son—I looked up the neighborhood your new flame is from, and that’s an exclusive club. Oh, the things we do for luuuv. Look at Craig—he jumped out a window for it! Granted, it was the ground floor, but still. Hey, should we take him and his parents and drop them off at Sloane’s home for an intro?”

Chris smirked. “You online-stalked my girl? Oh gawd. And nah, Dad, Craig doesn’t need your help meeting Sloane’s family, they actually met for lunch earlier today. Yup, my best friend is thinking about dating one girl exclusively. Her parents are apparently pretty rich, from what I heard Sloane’s an only child, so they’re particular about whom their daughter dates. Sound familiar?”

Keira sighed dramatically.

“Very familiar. One day, when you have a child of your own, you’ll understand. So, Craig already had his ‘meet the parents’ moment—sounds like it went well, or he’d be sitting here sobbing his little heart out. Meanwhile, we got you walking in here lookin’ like a drowned tragic hero.”

She softened slightly, looking at Chris with understanding.

“Look, baby—I love Noelle. I helped raise her. But she made her own bed, and now she has to lie in it. Her mom actually agrees with me—we had a lot of talks about both of Janelle’s girls running off, Zara to Del Sol Valley and Noelle San Myshuno. Janelle and Laurent want to be supportive, but they hate it. Zara is still in driving distance, but Noelle is a plane ride away. Being a parent is hard, Chris. So, if her own mom thinks she’s temporarily lost her marbles, you need to let it go. She’ll come to her senses. But you need to focus on what you can control, baby. Okay?”

Chris huffed, snatching a banana off the table.

“Well, excuse me for having actual depth.”

Keira arched a brow.

“Speaking of depth—you are dripping all over my floors! Go change, Chris. Hose off and put on dry clothes before we start seeing ducks move into the living room! We can talk then.”

Chris groaned. “Mom, I don’t care about wet spots on the floor, we are having a serious conversation here. About my future, about … love.”

Connor raised an eyebrow, eyeing his son’s towel.

“Uh-huh. Keep talkin’, Romeo—”

And just like that—he yanked the towel clean off.

Chris froze, eyes wide, banana still in hand, frantically trying to cover up with both hands and whatever dignity he had left.

“DAD!”

Connor grinned, twirling the towel like a victory flag, while Keira turned away, laughing so hard she was wheezing.

“Yeah, yeah, deep-thinking poet boy. Maybe hose off that chlorine stench and put on actual pants for credibility. You heard your mother. Quit ruining the floors!”

Chris gasped, eyes darting wildly for anything—anything—to cover himself.

He grabbed the nearest object—a dog bed Artemis had been using as a pillow.

Artemis, startled, jumped up, barking in complete outrage.

Echo, never one to miss an opportunity, appeared instantly, tail wagging, ready for chaos.

Chris, panicked, tried to adjust the dog bed for coverage, all while still holding his damp swim trunks in one hand and the banana in the other.

That’s when Echo noticed the swim trunks swinging slightly in his grip.

Her eyes locked in.

Her body tensed.

Chris did not realize his mistake until it was too late.

With absolute joy, Echo lunged, snatching the trunks in her jaws, shaking them like a prize-winning tug toy.

“ECHO, NO!”

Connor howled with laughter, nearly doubling over.

“Oh my God—she thinks you wanna PLAY!”

Chris yelped, spinning to grab the trunks back, dog bed half slipping, banana still somehow in his grasp.

Artemis, still offended that her bed had been stolen, lunged forward and grabbed one end, determined to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

Now—Chris was trapped in a three-way battle.

One dog pulling the bed, one dog thrashing his trunks, both absolutely thriving in his misery.

Keira collapsed onto the couch, barely breathing from laughter.

“Connor, call them off before the neighbors think we’re sacrificing him!”

Connor wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye.

“I would, if I could, but I can’t stop laughing!”

And then—Chris lost his grip on the swim trunks.

Echo, victorious, grabbed them fully and BOLTED for the backyard, tail high, off to bury them in the great outdoors.

Chris watched, horrified, stuck between chasing Echo or holding onto the last shred of coverage provided by Artemis’s half-stolen dog bed.

Artemis, still growling playfully, yanked harder, almost knocking Chris off balance.

Connor collapsed onto the floor, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

Keira was crying from laughter, fully gone.

Chris, utterly defeated, hugged the dog bed tighter, crab-walking toward the stairs, banana still miraculously in hand.

Artemis, determined, followed, still trying to reclaim her rightful property.

Connor called after him between wheezes.

“THIS—this is the part about being a parent that I LOVE!”

Chris groaned, muttering to himself, Artemis still tugging at the bed.

Echo, outside, happily digging a hole for the swim trunks, blissfully unaware of the disaster she had caused inside.

And with one final crab-scuttle, Chris disappeared up the stairs—but as the dog bed slipped from his grasp, Artemis seized her moment, scratching at it victoriously before plopping down with a satisfied huff, head cocked as she watched Connor and Keira cry from laughter on the floor.