A Day at Azure Cove

AVA

“You should definitely go with the blue shorts,” Riley said, pointing her finger at the pile of clothing options scattered across my mattress.

The outfit she picked was a cute, knitted set with a matching knitted halter-top.

“Yeah, you're entirely right,” I said, picking up the blue set and tossing the other clothes back into my suitcase.

“Oh my gosh, I am just so excited!” Riley squealed, playfully kicking her feet in the air as she lay down flat on the bed.

She had already been fully dressed and ready to go for over an hour. I guess she simply couldn't contain her absolute excitement for today. We were all going to a luxury beach resort for some mandatory “family time” before the big anniversary dinner scheduled for tomorrow night. To be completely honest, going to a beautiful resort sounded a million times better than just rotting in bed all day doing nothing.

Chloe and Millie, along with their parents, had already left for the resort hours ago. It was so typical of them. It was the exact same annoying thing that happened yesterday. We had followed Chloe's dad all the way to the mall, and he ended up driving away and picking up only his own daughters from the shopping center. Well, it wasn't totally a bad thing for us, because Riley and I could finally stop forcing fake smiles around them.

Another one of Riley's cousins was arriving today. Her name was Amora, and she was coming along with her mother, Aunt Janet. According to Riley, Amora was the only cousin out of the entire family tree that she actually genuinely liked. So, we were currently hanging out in our room waiting for her arrival before we could leave for the resort property. We were waiting for her, and the fact that Aunt Mabel was still upstairs taking her sweet time with her morning beauty sleep.

I quickly slid into my knitted blue outfit just to get that task out of the way.

After a little while, a series of heavy, loud knocks suddenly echoed against our bedroom door while Riley and I were curled up together on the bed.

“Riles!”

It was Miles.

Riley and I both let out a heavy sigh and rolled our eyes at the exact same time, which instantly made us burst out into a fit of quiet giggles.

“Come in!” Riley called out loudly.

The door swung open, and Miles stepped into the room. Our eyes met instantly. He looked incredibly handsome, wearing a crisp white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up neatly to his forearms and a pair of simple tan shorts. His dark hair was a bit messy, and a pair of expensive sunglasses rested on top of his head.

“I honestly thought you were dead or something,” he said smoothly, walking slowly toward the edge of the bed.

“I know that is exactly what you have always wanted, but too bad your wicked prayers never actually get answered,” Riley shot back playfully, hopping down from the mattress.

“Riles! How can you even say something so hurtful to me?” Miles asked, quickly placing a hand over his chest in a highly dramatic manner. “Anyway, Amora is finally here, and Dad is waiting downstairs in the car.”

“Thank goodness,” I muttered under my breath, slipping my shoes on and getting up from the bed.

“Don't waste another single minute,” Miles said firmly before turning around and walking right out of the room.

Hmm. It is pretty funny how he completely pretended like I wasn't even sitting in the room, I thought to myself, a small frown forming on my lips. I watched his tall frame disappear down the hallway.

“Come on, Ava. We really don't want to deal with my dad when he is in full-on 'Dad Mode,'” Riley said, shaking her head.

I picked up my white purse from the vanity table, and the two of us finally left the villa.

“Ava, this is Amora and Aunt Janet,” Riley's mother said happily as we approached the family group standing by the vehicles.

Amora was insanely beautiful. This entire family honestly had some incredible genes. She had striking blue eyes, long, wavy brown hair, and a light dusting of cute freckles right across her nose area.

“Hey! I have heard so much about you from Riley,” Amora said warmly, stepping forward to wrap her arms around me in a brief hug.

“It is so nice to finally meet you,” I said, smiling back genuinely.

The moment we pulled apart, Riley rushed forward to greet her. The two of them didn't say anything loud enough for the rest of us to hear, but they were laughing happily as they shared a tight hug. I politely greeted her mother, who just stood there watching the two girls reconnect.

We finally departed the villa grounds in two separate rental cars. The adults all climbed into the first vehicle, while Miles drove the second one. He still didn't say a single word to me as we loaded into the car, and I couldn't help but wonder what exactly I had done wrong.