Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 29~

~Raelyn~

~Tuesday March 25th~

The next day was beach day in Santa Monica. We already knew this adventure would be on the list the moment Isa arrived in LA. As the morning sun peeked through the curtains, my house was already buzzing with excitement.

Blake, with his unruly curls and infectious giggle, was bouncing around the room, his Star Wars trunks already on, lightsaber in hand, ready for the galactic battles he'd have with the waves.

"Look at you, little Jedi!" Isa cheered, ruffling his hair, her voice filled with the warmth that only an aunt's love could carry. I emerged from my room, the chosen bikini in hand, a perfect mix of chic and fun - just like Isa's impeccable London style.

"You sure know how to make your sis feel fabulous," I grinned, twirling in front of the mirror. Isa chuckled, slipping into the sundress I had picked for her as a cover up.

"And you always know how to make me feel at home," she said, her eyes meeting mine in the reflection.

The air was filled with the sweet melodies of Taylor Swift, our unofficial soundtrack for the past couple of days. As 'Never Grow Up' started to play, Isa's eyes glistened, a wave of nostalgia washing over her.

"This song makes me cry," she whispered.

I wrapped her in a hug, "Hey, no tears today, okay? We're making memories that'll last a lifetime, right Blake?"

"Yeah, Auntie Isa, we're gonna build the biggest sandcastle ever!" Blake exclaimed, brandishing his lightsaber like a knight ready for adventure.

With a laugh and a promise of an unforgettable day, we grabbed our tote bags and Blake's star wars backpack. With coverups secured, and shades in place, we piled into the car, the energy palpable, as we set off to the Trap house.

"Ready for the beach, Blake?" I asked, catching his eye in the rearview mirror.

"Ready, Mom! I'm gonna show everyone my splash attack!" he declared, kicking his feet with glee. As we pulled up to the trap house, a wave of excitement washed over us.

The crew spilled out of the house to greet us. I stepped out, the vibrant purple of my bikini and some black shorts matching the energy of the day.

"Wow, Raelyn , you're absolutely rocking that purple!" Katrina exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with genuine admiration. Isa, following close behind, flashed a confident smile in her chic green one-piece.

"And Isa, that green is stunning on you!" Tara chimed in, her own vibrant green bikini complementing Isa's choice.

The boys, fresh from the house in their swim trunks, couldn't contain their enthusiasm.

"Are y'all ready for an awesome day?" Corey asked, his black and pink trunks matching Devyn's swimsuit, a bold statement of the fun ahead.

The group erupted into cheers, the excitement palpable. Little Blake, showing off his Star Wars trunks, basked in the attention.

"Check these out, Colby!" he beamed.

"Dude, those are super cool!" Colby replied, giving Blake a high-five, his all-black trunks giving him a sleek look.

Jake, sporting his green and purple SpongeBob trunks, caught Blake's eye. "Like yours too, Jake! SpongeBob is awesome!" Blake giggled, pointing at the fun design.

"Thanks B," he knelt down to him, "Hey, you wanna help me find some hermit craps?"

Blake nodded excitedly. "Yes! Do I get to name them?" "Of course, you can!" As we loaded up Katrina's SUV, the camaraderie was undeniable.