The weekend arrived faster than Awa had expected, and with it, the much-anticipated beach trip organized by Quinn Estates. The whole team was buzzing with excitement, and Awa could feel it too, though her reasons were a little more complicated. It wasn't just about enjoying the sun and surf—it was about seeing Forrest again. She told herself it was simply curiosity, her ever-growing need to figure out what was really going on between him, his werewolf tendencies, and her own strange powers. But deep down, there was more to it, something she wasn't ready to confront yet.
"Mom, where are we going again?" Beatrice asked from the back seat as Awa drove toward the Quinn Estate office building. Tina sat in the passenger seat, her hair pulled back into a playful ponytail, sunglasses perched on her head, looking more relaxed than Awa had seen her in days.
"We're going to the beach, sweetie," Awa replied with a smile, glancing in the rearview mirror at her daughter. "Aunt Tina's company is hosting a weekend trip for all their employees and their families."
Tina turned to smile at Beatrice. "We're going to have so much fun. Just wait till you see the water."
Beatrice's eyes lit up. "I can't wait to swim!"
As they pulled into the Quinn Estate parking lot, they saw the massive bus waiting outside, the other employees milling about, chatting and laughing. The excitement was infectious, and even Awa, who was usually more reserved about these things, found herself smiling more than usual.
They parked the car, grabbed their bags, and headed toward the bus. Awa noticed several familiar faces, including Keira and Mark, who waved from a distance. Tina led the way, holding Beatrice's hand while Awa followed behind, her eyes scanning the crowd. She couldn't help but wonder where Forrest was.
As they approached the bus, Tina turned to Awa with a playful smirk. "Are you excited for the beach, or are you just hoping to see hot guys half-naked?"
Awa rolled her eyes, but her cheeks betrayed her with a slight flush. "I'm here for the beach, obviously. But if some hot guys happens to be there… well, I guess I'll survive." But in her mind she was thinking of Forrest.
Tina laughed. "Sure, sure. Just try not to drool all over them, okay? You still got Stanley, remember?"
Awa didn't have time to reply as they boarded the bus, but her mind was already spinning with the idea of seeing Forrest in swimwear. She shook her head, trying to focus. It was just a beach trip—no need to get all flustered.
The bus was spacious and air-conditioned, perfect for the 2 hour-long ride to the coast. Beatrice immediately claimed a window seat near the middle of the bus, and Tina sat beside her, chatting animatedly with a few coworkers nearby.
Awa scanned the remaining seats, her eyes drifting toward the back where there were a few spots left. She began to walk down the aisle when, out of nowhere, Forrest appeared. He stepped onto the bus with that same calm, collected demeanor she had seen so many times before. The moment their eyes met, Awa felt a jolt of something—excitement? Curiosity? She wasn't sure, but she quickly looked away, trying to act nonchalant.
Forrest made his way down the aisle, his eyes scanning for an empty seat. To Awa's surprise, he stopped right next to her.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked, his voice low and polite.
Awa blinked, taken off guard for a moment. She glanced around—there were other seats he could have taken, but he'd chosen the one next to her. "Uh, sure," she said, moving her bag so he could sit down.
As he settled in beside her, Awa could feel the air between them shift. She kept her gaze forward, determined not to let him see how flustered she felt. It wasn't like she hadn't been near him before, but something about this—the close proximity, the anticipation of the day ahead—made her hyper-aware of every movement.
The ride was pleasant, with employees chatting and laughing around them, but Awa and Forrest sat in relative silence. Awa could feel his presence beside her, solid and warm, but she resisted the urge to look at him. Every now and then, Beatrice would peek over her seat to ask Awa a question, and Awa was grateful for the distraction.
"Mommy, how much longer until we get there?" Beatrice asked after a while, her face full of impatience.
"Not too much longer, sweetie. Be patient," Awa replied, smiling.
Forrest turned slightly toward Awa, catching her eye for a brief moment. "She seems excited."
"She's been talking about this trip nonstop," Awa said, feeling a bit more at ease now that they were making small talk. "She loves the water."
Forrest nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "It's a good day for it. The weather's perfect."
Awa couldn't argue with that. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and the temperature was just right for a day at the beach. She stole a quick glance at Forrest, wondering what was going through his mind. He seemed calm, as usual, but there was something in his eyes—she seemed more approachable somehow, especially in comparison to when he dropped her into the river..
The bus finally pulled into the beach parking lot, and everyone began to gather their things. As they stepped off the bus, the scent of the ocean hit Awa's senses, and she took a deep breath, feeling instantly relaxed. The sound of waves crashing in the distance, the warmth of the sun on her skin—it was exactly what she needed.
Beatrice ran ahead, her excitement evident in the way she practically bounced toward the shoreline. Tina followed closely behind, while Awa took her time, enjoying the view. Forrest walked beside her, his expression unreadable.
The group headed to a reserved area of the beach, where large tents and lounge chairs were already set up. The Quinn Estate team spared no expense when it came to employee perks, Awa noted. Everything looked luxurious, from the shaded canopies to the fancy coolers filled with drinks.
As they all started changing into their swimwear, the atmosphere became more relaxed. Laughter filled the air, and the employees were clearly in high spirits. Awa slipped into the beach changing area, quickly changing into the new bikini she had bought with Stanley's "help." She gave herself a quick look in the mirror—still looking good at 24, she thought with a small smile.
When she stepped out of the tent, she noticed a group of women nearby, giggling and whispering amongst themselves. Awa followed their gazes and immediately understood why.
Forrest had just emerged from the men's changing area, wearing nothing but a pair of black swim trunks. His physique was, in a word, perfect. Muscles rippled beneath his tanned skin, and every movement seemed effortless. The group of women openly catcalled him, making exaggerated swooning noises that made Awa snort with laughter.
"Careful, ladies," one of the women said with a wink. "Don't all faint at once."
Forrest, for his part, didn't seem fazed by the attention. He flashed the women a polite smile before grabbing a towel and heading toward the water. But as he passed Awa, something shifted. His eyes lingered on her a little longer than usual, his expression changing from indifference to something more... intense.
Awa felt her heart skip a beat. Forrest's gaze traveled over her bikini-clad body, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—something almost predatory. She resisted the urge to shiver under his scrutiny, reminding herself that she was here to relax, and experiment some more of course, and not get caught up in whatever weird energy was brewing between them.
Tina appeared beside Awa, having finished changing into her own swimsuit. "Ready for some fun in the sun?" she asked, oblivious to the tension.
"Absolutely," Awa replied, forcing a smile.
They joined the others on the sand, setting up their towels and umbrellas. Beatrice was already building a sandcastle with some of the other kids, and Tina was busy chatting with a few of her coworkers.
But Awa couldn't stop herself from glancing at Forrest, who had waded into the water, his back turned to the group. The sun glistened off his skin as he swam further out, his movements fluid and graceful.
"He's watching you," One of Tins's coworkers said suddenly, her voice low enough that only Awa could hear.
"What?" Awa's head snapped toward her sister, her face heating up.
She smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Don't play dumb. Forrest. He hasn't taken his eyes off you since you came out of the changing area."
Awa swallowed hard, trying to hide her embarrassment. "He's not watching me. He's just... looking around."
"Sure," The woman teased, giving her a playful nudge. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Awa rolled her eyes, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the woman just now was right. Forrest's gaze had lingered on her longer than it should have. But why? Was it just her imagination, or was there something more to it? Why the sudden change from earlier? It didn't make sense.