Risk & Reward

Thirty-One

"Thank you!" Calum calls through the open window, lifting his hand in a kind of wave to the Uber driver. Grabbing his suitcase by the handle he shifts his backpack slightly before heading up the walkway towards the villas ahead. Fiji is hot, and humid. Not something he's unaccustomed to, but something about it is different. It's probably his lack of sleep, having been up the entire flight despite trying to get a few hours of sleep.

"Calum!" He turns as he hears the excited voice, seeing a couple of his cousins with drinks in their hands already.

"Hey guys."

"Your mum's got your room key already, she's been waiting for you to arrive." They wave him away from the front office, waiting for him to catch up before leading him down one of the paths.

"My flight was a bit longer than everyone else's. I think I get a pass."

"Except Mali. She's been here since yesterday though."

"She left sooner than I did. I had some commitments to keep in LA." Calum laughs. Though his delayed flight was not originally for any reason other than the best flight option, he's glad it worked out that he got to spend his last night in California with Shi. He'd booked the flight before he even knew her, so it was pure luck that had given him those twelve hours with her on the night she needed him most.

"We're all in these villas down this way. A bit away from some of the other guests and where we can have a big family party without being a bother to everyone. You're mum and Mali are in that one, you'll be with them." He's directed towards a small hut looking building, wandering that way himself to drop his bags and hopefully change before being bombarded by his family.

"Calum!" He grins as he pushes open the slightly ajar door, seeing his mum sat in a chair.

"Hi, mum." He chuckles, setting his things down and giving her a proper hug as she stands.

"I'm so glad you made it. You'll have this room here, and Mali and I are in this one." She points to the two doors leading off the small living space.

"Thanks, when is everything important starting today? I want to get cleaned up from my flight."

"They're all gathering for lunch here soon, but dinner together will be bigger. If you need a nap you can skip lunch, there's basics here and a few places to find food on the property as well." She smiles knowingly, lifting a hand to cup his cheek softly. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, mum. We've got two weeks though, and I'm excited to relax and spend them with my family."

"Good. There's a key to the villa on the counter there for you, follow the noise if you're coming to find us."

"Will do." Calum nods, grabbing the key card first before going back to the front door for his bags.

Pulling his things into the small bedroom space he shuts the door behind him. Pulling out his phone, he frowns, turning back to the door and leaving the room momentarily to find the WiFi information. He's going to need that to keep in contact with Shi while he's here. His service plan covers a lot of places but Fiji is not one of them.

Once connected to the WiFi he returns to his room, setting his suitcase on the bed as his phone rings through on speaker phone. Pulling out a pair of swim trunks and a t-shirt to change into as Shi answers on the third rolling tone.

"Hey!" She sounds happy, but tired.

"Hey, baby. Just wanted to call and check in. I just got the the resort." He smiles, changing out of his travel clothes and into the fresh set.

"I'm glad you got there safely. How was your flight?"

"Uneventful, didn't manage to fall asleep though so I may end up napping on the beach this afternoon." He chuckles.