She grinned. “You do know that the spa is just about getting ready for the date, don’t you?” she asked.

“Of course!” I replied. “I had my own spa day before this trip. I went in looking like the great hairy unwashed and came out looking as gorgeous as I do now!” I could feel Josh squirming beside me as Siobhan belted out one of her huge laughs.

“Okay, we’re going,” he said, picking up our bags. He crossed the lobby and headed outside, having called ahead to have the valet bring our car around. I left him to it. He’d probably had enough girl talk for the time being.

I hugged Siobhan again. “We’ll be back in plenty of time to share a ride to the party.

“Brilliant.” She grinned again. “It’s going to be mad fun!” I didn’t doubt it.

I went to meet Josh out the front of the resort. “Hey,” I said.

“Hey,” he said back, leaning down to give me a kiss. “Excited?”

“I am.”

“Me too.” I earned another kiss, which was interrupted when the valet, a man in his late-forties or early-fifties, pulled up with our car and greeted us with, “Aloha.”

We returned the greeting and when we tried to put our bags into the boot, he shooed us away, lifting them both with one hand and making short work of it. I tipped him heavily, then we climbed into the car, and I tucked the bag with the beach towels and snacks behind my seat.

I pulled up the route on my phone while Josh double-checked the seat and mirrors. The route was actually quite simple. We would drive north along the west coast, cut northeast across the top of the island, and then drive southeast along the east coast.

I realised the valet was watching us with what seemed like an amused expression on his face. “So, you’re the navigator, huh?” he asked me, indicating my phone. I smiled my reply, even though it was Google doing the navigation. “Navigator through life,” he added, nodding his head sagely. It wasn’t a question, it was a statement, as though he was offering some gem of wisdom.

Josh and I stopped what we were doing, shared a quick look, then nodded politely at the valet. I didn’t think either of us were ready to be someone’s “navigator through life”. Maybe the valet assumed we were honeymooners. Still, it was a little heavy for first thing in the morning.

“Ready?” asked Josh brightly.

“Ready. Just go out to the highway and turn left.” Yes, Google could have told him that, but I liked having a part to play in our adventure.

It was another beautiful day in paradise, and I was glad we’d chosen the convertible. It felt incredible to have the sun on my face and the wind in my hair, no matter how much of a cliché it was. And for the umpteenth time, I mentally pinched myself. Hawaii! I was in Hawaii, and it was stunning.