by Kat Bastion
With Chloe and Kiki? She was in good hands.
But my island girl had looked very fish-out-of-water in the shark-infested crowd. Not all those from my old world saw beyond a person’s skin. Most in tonight’s country-club crowd had preconceived notions of class. But in the end, only a few in attendance mattered to me.
And Leilani could take care of herself.
Me? Well, the night was young and I hadn’t bumped into my parents yet…
Without giving another thought down that catastrophic memory lane, I veered toward the packed bar at the far end of the room.
“Well, what do ya’ know?” I murmured, lips kicking up in a grin as I closed the last few feet. My two best friends in the world were manning the drinks, Ben behind the bar, Cade warming a stool on the end; each held a half-full beer.
“Hey, fuckers.” I knuckle bumped them. “How’s Philly hangin’?”
“Same ole, same ole.” Cade gave a one-shoulder shrug, like life was no big deal.
Ben almost choked out a mouthful of beer, swallowed, then snorted. “Fucking liar.”
He turned around, grabbed another beer from the bar fridge, then popped the cap before sliding it over.
I caught it with a nod in thanks, before staring at Cade. He glared at Ben.
“He’s sleep deprived.” Ben gave a knuckle-bump to a third bartender who stepped in behind the bar before she began hustling to handle orders.
I frowned, confused. “Doesn’t that come after the baby?”
“Not when his wife’s up puking all hours of the night.”
“Isn’t it called morning sickness?” Cade grumbled, before taking a long pull off his beer. “Apparently Hannah didn’t get the memo.”
I thought about restless nights of my own. “You know what else doesn’t only happen in the morning? Roosters crowing. Damn birds screech twice as much at night.”
Cade stared at me. “Dude. You moved to the beach, but you sound like a farmer.”
“Damn straight.” I gave a short nod. “I live in Mediterranean-climate Upcountry; got a ten-by-twenty garden and second one I’m clearing. And my twelve girls will give me fresh eggs every morning.”
“Sounds awesome,” Ben said.
“So when are you heathens going to come visit?”
Ben nodded toward the lucrative bar, what his business provided to Invitation Only events. “Hey, I’m just a workin’ Joe. Don’t have the money to be flyin’ halfway around the world.”
“What about you?” I glanced at Cade who downed the last of his beer. “You’re obscenely rich.”
“Not anytime soon.”
“Another beer?” Ben asked.
“Make it a scotch.” Cade sighed, then glanced at me. “No way I’m making Hannah suffer through travel like that. And doc says could be a good couple of months before the queasiness dies down.”
Ben arched his brows. “By then she’ll be what? Eight months? She may not want to get into a swimsuit at all.”
“Maybe…” Cade’s expression went unfocused. He was either deep in thought or sleeping with his eyes open. Then he glanced toward the doors at the front of the hall, as if looking for the subject of our discussion.
No one stood in the vicinity but a dozen or so constituents, smiling their fake smiles, whispering, and nodding. Wielding power and bartering favors, no doubt.
Seconds later, my parents walked in.
My pulse kicked up.
I took a slow, deep breath, narrowed my eyes, and forced myself not to react.
“Catch you guys later?” I stood from the stool, downing the rest of my beer.
Cade turned, stared in the direction that held my attention, then gave a nod. “Yeah, man. We’ll be here.” Translation: We’ve got your back.
They always did. None of us fit into the typical country-club mold. We’d chafed at the rules, the entitlement of those who belonged. From kids, we’d always yearned to break away from the gilded paths our parents had intended for us. Was never meant for us. Had always fit wrong from the start. Restless independent souls, we needed to blaze our own trails.
Cade had. A couple years older than me, he’d graduated business school with honors. Before he had graduated, he’d already created a successful bar, Loading Zone, then had sold it to run one of the largest companies in the world. He’d also formed the wildly successful event-planning company, Invitation Only, with his sisters. But when his future with Hannah had been on the line, he’d traded in the corporate world to start a boutique restaurant and bar.
Ben was well on his way; He’d bought out Cade’s interest in Loading Zone, planned to expand into other locations.
Then there was me.
Figuring out what road to travel.
I stared hard at the one obstacle that had tried to bar my way to discovering my own destiny. Two people who’d only had kids to further their cause, to carry on their legacy. They’d tried to direct me, reason with me, bribe me, and ultimately threaten me. But I would’ve had to care about what they were offering…or taking away…for it to control me.
All it did was push me closer to the edge of leaping off the cliff without a parachute.
Why the hell am I here again?
Oh, right. Supporting friends. The Michaelson’s, Cade, Kristen, Kendall, and Kiki. Plus Ben, Chloe, and Daniel. They were throwing the bash. And it meant something to them to please their client: Senator and Mrs. Price. The couple of the hour.
I sized them up as I crossed the room.
“Perfectly coifed,” My mother would say and used the phrase often enough when getting ready for parties for me to know she’d achieved her goal. Not a platinum-blond hair out of place, upswept and pinned with a sparkling clip. A flowing white gown portrayed the appearance of innocence. It was also cold, devoid of life.
My father wore his standard conservative tuxedo. Black tie. Crisp white shirt. The stiff attire suited him; I’d never seen him fidget or tug his tie. Not once.
They wore their uniforms like the soldiers of fortune they were.
Me? I’d caved and wore a white dress shirt, gray silk tie, and cashmere pants. I slid my hand into the pockets as I approached, counting the minutes until I could put on a T-shirt and jeans again.
Anxiety welled up from deep within my gut. The kind that churned to life when a kid trudged a grim march toward the principal’s office. Same kind of situation. Appearing before the authority to be judged. Ready to be deemed unworthy.
On a hard sigh, I shook my head and blew off all the mental anguish.
I don’t care what they think. What I kept telling myself. If only my self-lecture would stick. Because it clearly hadn’t. Not all the way. I wouldn’t be here if it had.
“Mason.” My father refused to call me Mase.
“Father.” Civil and cold right back at ya.
“Couldn’t be bothered to wear a tux?” My mother’s perfect manicured left eyebrow arched in judgment. “You know we’re being watched.”
“You’re being judged, you mean.” Donors only supported those who had great election odds. “Be lucky I’m not wearing a Tommy Bahama tropical shirt and flip-flops.”
“Watch your tone, son.”
“Son? What a joke,” I muttered.
My father got up in my grill. At six-foot-three, he had a couple of inches on me.
I rolled my eyes up to meet his gaze.
“I’m not above having security escort you out.”
“Oh, really?” I snorted at the image in my head. “Sure you’ve thought that through? Me shouting about how abusive you are. How racist. Hmmm…” I turned and scrubbed a hand over my mouth in thought as I assessed the hundred plus donors carrying on conversations but casting curious glances our way. Because we looked like a family dressed for the cover of any magazine, yet anyone with eyes could see the tension between us. “I wonder if your bigotry will garner you more votes, not less. Discussed it with your campaign manager?”
“Enough.” My mother’s cutting word broke
through our pissing match.
We both turned to stare at her.
“We’re here for your father. I wanted you to be here.”
“For him.” I wanted to clarify the private plea she’d made to Kristen, not to me.
“Of course.” She sniffed and raised her nose. Then she wielded a practiced smile at their adoring crowd.
Right. Not because she missed her son. Or wanted to make amends.
Thank God Leilani hadn’t been with me to witness my parents’ cruelty.
Done with our charade of the “good family,” nervous energy made my legs bounce. Cade had left the bar, probably to find Hannah. Ben worked double-time with the other two bartenders to handle the throng of thirsty patrons wanting to get drunk on an open bar.
They weren’t who I really wanted to be with right at that moment, anyway.
I took a step to the side and glanced down the hall toward the restrooms.
And there she was. Surrounded by people who loved me, the real me. One arm looped in Kiki’s and the other in Chloe’s. Behind them, Kristen and Kendall flanked Hannah. Daniel, Cade, and Kristen’s husband, Jason, brought up the rear, guarding the flock of beauties.
The women wore bright dresses and glowing smiles.
But my breath caught as Leilani’s gaze locked on to mine.
Her smile widened. And I swear my heart stuttered.
In two quick strides, I closed the distance.
Chloe and Kiki released her, right as I spun her into my arms. I nodded at Hannah, Kristen, and Kendall as they passed. “Ladies. Great to see you. Looking beautiful, as always.”
When the gang walked out of earshot, I tucked Leilani against the wall behind a potted spiral of greenery. “Fuck, I missed you,” I murmured against her mouth. After a relieved sigh, I kissed her more thoroughly.
“Mase,” she whispered fiercely, eyes glittering. “I’ve got that word echoing in my head while you’re doing scandalous things to my mouth.”
“What word?”
“The f-word.”
“You’ve said the word before.” I turned my chin, narrowing my eyes at her with a skeptical look.
“No, I haven’t.” Her expression grew somber.
“Yeah, ya have.” I specifically remember her mouthing What the fuck? and saying various other random profanities.
“Well, I try not to. It’s something I’ve been working on this past year.”
“Really?”
“For sure. My makuahine didn’t like profanity. She taught me to carry my words with care and grace, for pride of self, love of language, and sharing the aloha spirit.”
In that instant, all anger at my parents and their failings faded away.
At least she’d had someone love her. And I would endure everything all over again for her to always have that.
“You know, I would’ve liked your mom.”
Happiness instantly beamed on her face, in the sparkle in her eyes, her wide easy smile.
“She would’ve loved you.”
“Really?” I held up my hand to hers. “I don’ knowww…” I teased. “He be lookin’ like one pale haole.”
“Ahhh, but dat sexayyy boy’s my haole.”
Speaking of parents who cared, the glare of the narcissistic quieted all conversation in the hall. Leilani even glanced up and shivered, as if my kind permeated the air with a level of frost.
And they kinda did.
“C’mon. That’s my parents. Let’s get this over with,” I grumbled.
With a nod, she clasped her hand in mine, then tugged me forward. “It’ll be okay.”
But she said the reassuring words on a stiff exhale, as if mustering her courage. And when she glanced at me, jaw set with determination, her brow wrinkled slightly with worry.
I didn’t like her doubting herself. Or her being concerned about anything. She was out of her element because of me. And it was up to me to make it right, make her feel safe.
I squeezed her hand. “Yeah, it will.”
It had to be.
Leilani…
No wonder Mase’s parents got to him. They looked chiseled in stone.
Nothing about them was approachable. They shined like packaged merchandise and neither one smiled. When they managed to tear their scrutinizing gazes from me, they glared at their son.
On a deep breath, I pulled my shoulders back, lifted my chin to meet their hard stares, and held my head high, unafraid to own who I was the way Makuahine taught me.
“Mother, Father, this is Leilani, my girlfriend.”
His father sighed heavily, then swept a second obligatory glance at me, scanning my body from head to toe, pure contempt in his expression. His mother only bothered with a split-second look at my face, lifting one corner of her upper lip, before she shot Mase a harsh glare.
“Mase.” His mother nodded, pursing her lips tightly. “We’ll see you inside.” They turned, offering us their backs as they walked into a sparkling ballroom filled with energy.
“I’m not invisible, right?”
“No.” He wrapped his arm around me, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“And I don’t stink?”
He snorted, then gave me an incredulous look. “You do not stink.”
“Could’ve fooled me the way your mom curled her lip.”
“Do not care what they think. I’ve spent my whole life trying to ignore them.”
Trying. Not flat-out ignoring. Which meant they got to him; he cared what they thought. Just like no matter how unjustified Makuakane’s and Koa’s and Holokai’s hateful actions and beliefs were, I cared what my father and brothers thought.
“N’kay.”
“And I happen to think you smell amazing.” He buried his nose into my hair as he slid his arm around me, guiding us forward into the room. “Like flowers.”
“Plumeria.”
“Fucking love plumeria,” he growled low, over my ear.
I fought a smile, nudging closer into his side. “There you go with the swearing again.”
“Does it make you blush?” He pulled back a few inches, never releasing his hold, and dropped a provocative stare at my cleavage, causing my breaths to quicken. Then he drifted his gaze up my neck, pausing at my lips before his eyes met mine. His lips curved with a smug smile.
“Yes.” Face heating, I hid it against his neck, inhaled his masculine scent, then pressed a gentle kiss there. “You know it does.”
“Then prepare yourself, Lani.” He turned, touched a finger under my chin until I glanced up at him, then gave me a sensual kiss. “I plan to swear up a storm just to see your cheeks pink up.”
For those brief seconds, the rest of the world vanished. Only he and I existed, warm skin, shallow breaths, rapid heartbeats, and his protective arms wrapped around me.
But the moment our kiss broke apart, Kiki, Chloe, and Daniel rushed in around us, guiding us toward a table on the far side of the room. “Break it up, lovebirds.” Kiki shot Mase a pointed look, raising one brow. “No R-rated activities in the main room.”
Mase coughed out a laugh, glancing around. “Kristen put you up to that?”
“I’m only protecting you. Mama Hen has her hands full keeping Cade behaved at parties. Kristen will skin you alive if you step out of line too.”
Chloe tugged on Kiki’s hair, then stepped between Mase and me. “What Kiki meant was there are designated R-rated zones. Behind potted plants, in supply closets…”
Daniel roped an arm around Mase’s shoulder. “In the coatroom: down the hallway, third door on the left…even has a lock.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Not that you’ve checked it out.”
“Hey.” Daniel waggled his brows, his silver piercings glinting in the light. “You never know.”
We all gathered around then took seats at a table set for ten. Mase and me, Cade and Hannah, Jason and Kristen, Kendall, Kiki, Daniel and Chloe.
“Where’s Darren?” Mase asked, then he leaned close, murmuring, “Kiki’s new boyfr
iend.”
“In New York with Logan,” Kiki replied with a wistful smile, then she glanced at me. “Logan is Darren’s younger sister. They’re at a string quartet performance at Carnegie Hall.”
“What?” Mase dramatically thumped a hand on the table. “And I missed that scintillating entertainment?”
“Hey.” Kendall tapped a knife on the side of her water glass, ringing a chime out. “Entertainment’s at this table, buddy. The balloons? They’re all Kiki.”
“Hey!” Kiki discretly tossed an herbed roll at her sister. But it tumbled short, landing with a wobble on the edge of Kendall’s salad plate. “I’ll have you know a lot of thought went into those balloons. Republican red.”
Kendall rolled her eyes. “Real imaginative.”
“I pushed for white and blue. Hellooo, patriotic.”
“Or at least some silver.” Chloe chimed in. “Jazz it up.”
“Let me guess.” Mase leveled a stare toward his parents who’d taken their seats on a raised dais at the front of the room.
“Yep.” Kiki gave a nod. “Team Price vetoed it.”
“Along with a stellar cake.” Hannah shook her head. “Chloe and Daniel went to a lot of trouble making those Capital Hill sketches.”
“No sweat.” Daniel shrugged. “They want a basic sheet cake for four thousand dollars? Basic sheet cake it is.”
“Psshhh.” Chloe waved a dismissive hand, settling back in her chair. “Nothing about that cake is basic.”
“Flat, then.” Daniel gave one of his hard Mohawk-bobbing nods. “It’s definitely flat.”
Kiki nudged my arm. “Hannah started a bakery that Chloe and Daniel took over. They’re genius artisans with cake.”
“My Maestro designed and made an eleven-foot dragon cake once.” Cade lifted Hannah’s hand and kissed her knuckles. She brightened at the loving touch.
On instinct, I leaned further into Mase’s side, nestling under the arm he’d loosely draped over my chair. His fingers had been absently drawing small circles over my shoulder, but he stopped just then and gave my shoulder a possessive squeeze.
In those short minutes after the coldness of his parents had faded away, my heart warmed. The people present at the table were Mase’s real family. The ones who mattered to him most.
