by Susan Stoker
“Tell me those are your pumpkin spice cookies with the cinnamon cream cheese frosting,” Elodie said.
“Yup,” Lexie told her.
“Wait until you try these,” Elodie told Ashlyn. “You’ll be ruined for all other cookies for the rest of your life.”
“I couldn’t eat another bite,” Ashlyn said on a moan.
“How about a wafer-thin mint?” Lexie asked, quoting one of the funniest movies of all time.
“I’m absolutely stuffed,” Ashlyn answered without hesitation. “Bugger off!”
Lexie grabbed a paper towel and draped it over her arm as if it were a cloth napkin. Then she grabbed another and put a cookie on it before holding it out to Ashlyn like a waiter at a fancy restaurant. “Oh, but, madam, just one.”
“Fine. Just one,” Ashlyn said, grinning.
“Just one,” Lexie echoed as she bowed a little.
“What in the world are you guys going on about?” Elodie asked.
Lexie and Ashlyn merely grinned. When Ashlyn took the cookie from her hand, Lexie ran across the room to the window and hid behind the curtains, peeking out as if waiting for something exciting to happen.
“Seriously, what the hell, you guys?” Elodie asked.
Both Lexie and Ashlyn burst into laughter.
Lexie couldn’t remember laughing this much in a very long time, if ever. She came out from behind the curtains, explaining as she walked back toward the small kitchen. “It’s from Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life movie. Haven’t you ever seen it?”
“No,” Elodie said, shaking her head.
“Oh, man, you’re missing out!” Ashlyn said as she took a small bite of the cookie, then moaned. “Holy shit, this is orgasmic!”
“Well, I’m not sure I’d go that far,” Elodie said, smirking.
“Yeah, it’s good, but orgasmic?” Lexie added. “I’d have to disagree with you on that one.”
“That’s because you’ve got a hot-as-hell boyfriend,” Ashlyn said.
“True,” Lexie said with a small smile. “And Elodie’s husband isn’t too shabby either.”
Elodie playfully smacked Lexie’s arm. “He’s more than not too shabby,” she said, defending her husband.
Ashlyn sighed. “I have to say, I miss sex.”
Lexie almost choked on the sip of drink she’d just taken. She’d consumed more alcohol than she had in ages. The buzz she had was just enough to lower her inhibitions and give her the courage to be more forthcoming than she might’ve been otherwise. Ashlyn’s cheeks were flushed, and she figured her new friend was probably also feeling the effects of the alcohol.
Elodie grabbed the bottle of wine and poured herself another glass, and Lexie noted that she’d drank three-fourths of the bottle already. Yeah, it was safe to say they were all a bit tipsy. But since they were safe and sound inside her apartment, Lexie wasn’t concerned in the least. The women would definitely be taking taxis home.
“You’re single and beautiful,” Elodie said, as she leaned her elbows on the counter. “That brown curly hair of yours, those hazel eyes, pretty smile…why aren’t you out there finding some hot Hawaiian men to get it on with?”
Ashlyn shook her head. “I came to Hawaii with a guy,” she admitted. “Things didn’t work out.”
Lexie tilted her head in surprise. Before tonight, she hadn’t known Ashlyn had moved here with anyone, and while she hated that things didn’t work out, she was pleased the woman was still here. “What happened?” she asked.
“I was living and working near San Diego. I’d graduated from college and wasn’t ready to start a career, so I got a job at a place called Aces Bar and Grill. It was awesome. The owner is a super-cool chick who’s married to a former SEAL.”
“No way!” Elodie chirped. “I wonder if Scott knows him?”
“Stop interrupting,” Lexie told her friend.
“Oh, sorry,” Elodie apologized, not sounding too sorry at all.
“Anyway, the pay was awesome, the guys who came in tipped really well, and I even had benefits. A man started coming in every night, and he flirted with me hard. He was hot and a little older than me—”
“Wait, how old are you?” Elodie asked.
“She’s never gonna get through this story if you keep interrupting,” Lexie scolded. She never would’ve been so bold if she hadn’t been drinking, but Elodie didn’t get offended, she just shrugged sheepishly and pantomimed zipping her lips shut.
“I’m twenty-eight,” Ashlyn said, and held up a hand. “I know, I know, just a baby. But anyway, he was in his early thirties. He was respectful and attentive. We started seeing each other outside the bar, and I fell for him. He said he lived here on Oahu, and that he was planning on coming back soon to help out with his family. I hated the thought of never seeing him again, so when he said he could see himself spending the rest of his life with me…I agreed to come to Hawaii with him.”
“What was he doing in Southern California?” Elodie asked.
Ashlyn sighed and took another long sip of her drink. “Yeah, that’s one of about a hundred questions I really should’ve tried harder to find the answer to before I upended my entire life to fly thousands of miles to come here.”
Lexie covered her friend’s hand with her own, and Ashlyn gave her a small sad smile.
“Suffice it to say, things weren’t all sunshine and roses when we got here. The job he said he had didn’t exist, and the connection he claimed to have to help me find a half-decent apartment turned out to be a lie too.”
“That sucks!” Lexie said.
“Yeah. Anyway, Franklin said it wasn’t a big deal, that I could live with him.”
“Franklin?” Elodie said with a grin. “His name is Franklin?”
Lexie smothered a chuckle.
“Do you want to hear the rest of my sad tale of woe and no sex or what?” Ashlyn asked with a huff.
“Sorry, yes. Go on,” Elodie said.
“Right, so even though I moved to Hawaii because this is where he lived, I wasn’t ready to live with him full time. Especially not in the studio apartment he had. I started to get the feeling he’d convinced me to come to Hawaii simply so he could mooch off me. Needless to say, the relationship didn’t last very long after the move at all.”
“Yeah, I can’t blame you,” Elodie said.
“I mean, I’m not opposed to a woman making more money than a guy in a relationship, or having the man stay home with the kids while the woman works, but I thought I was moving to Hawaii to be with a man who had a stable job, and who would be fun to hang out with and take me sightseeing…but in reality, I got a lazy asshole who was really good at selling a lie.”
Ashlyn gave the other two women a small smile. “But it’s been almost a year since all that, and I got the job with Food For All, and I’m happy. So to bring this depressing conversation full circle…that’s why I miss sex. Because I haven’t had it in so long, I think I’m a born-again virgin.”
“That sucks, Ash,” Lexie said. “Did you call the police?”
“Because I haven’t gotten laid in months? I think that’s a little drastic, don’t you?” Ashlyn quipped.
Lexie chuckled and rolled her eyes. “No, because he’s a predator who’s obviously preying on women.”
“He’s not technically a predator. An asshole and a liar for sure. And I should’ve asked more questions and not moved so fast with him. I shouldn’t have been so eager to upend my entire life to move out here,” Ashlyn said. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’m not nearly as willing to jump into a serious relationship now than I was back then. I mean, I’m not opposed to dating, or having sex, but I’m going to be very cautious before I agree to move in with someone or marry them.”
“That’s kind of sad,” Lexie said.
“It’s fine,” Ashlyn insisted. “It’s just me being smart. Besides, things have worked out not so bad for me here in Hawaii. I’ve only been working for Food For All for a few months now, but I really enjoy it. It’s n
ot like working in a bar, and that’s not a bad thing. Like you, they’re paying for an apartment for me to live in. It was furnished too, which was a blessing. I’ve got a better view than you though,” she said with a smile. “I get to see the top floor of a parking garage next to my building.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re my coworker,” Lexie told her.
“And I’m glad to now be your friend,” Elodie chimed in. “And if you ever get curious about what the hell is going on with Franklin, just say the word. There’s a guy who Scott and the rest of the guys know named Baker, who I am sure would love to look him up.”
“Yes!” Lexie exclaimed. “Midas told me about him. He lives up on the North Shore, right? He’s like a surfer dude?”
“He surfs, but…” Elodie lowered her voice until she was whispering, as if she were afraid someone would be listening to their conversation. “He’s also some sort of super spy or something.”
“I don’t think he’s a spy,” Lexie said with a frown.
“Okay, he’s not a spy, but he can get things done. He actually went to New York and had lunch with the head of the mob family that caused me so much trouble.”
“He did?” Lexie asked.
“Holy shit! Mobsters?” Ashlyn breathed.
“Yes. And he promised that I was safe. And for some reason, I believe him. It helped that Scott and the rest of the guys visibly relaxed when he told me that.”
“I’ll tell you the whole story about the mobsters later,” Lexie told Ashlyn in a stage whisper. Then louder, “Baker was able to get Shermake and his brother and sister scholarships to Somali universities,” Lexie said. “They won’t cover the entire cost of attending, but a lot of it.”
Elodie nodded. “I’m not surprised. Anyway, I’m sure he could find out what Franklin’s deal is.”
“Baker sounds kinda scary,” Ashlyn hedged.
“I haven’t met him,” Lexie said. “But he’s apparently got some pretty impressive connections.”
“I’ve met him. And he’s more mysterious than scary,” Elodie said. “But he’s totally got the surfer thing going. He’s tan, has tattoos all over, and he’s got longish hair. It’s mostly gray, so he’s like a silver fox surfer dude.”
Both Ashlyn and Lexie sighed.
“Right?” Elodie said. “I have no idea what his whole story is, but he’s definitely got demons. I mean, I owe the man everything for making sure no more hitmen would come after me, and he still kind of scares me. There’s something in his eyes that makes me want to keep my distance, while wanting to hug him at the same time.”
“Why is that such a lethal combination?” Ashlyn asked. “I mean, women in general should run from men like that, but instead we’re drawn to them like moths to a flame.”
“You interested?” Elodie asked.
“In this old surfer guy? No,” Ashlyn said firmly.
“I don’t think he’s old,” Lexie mused.
“So who are you interested in?” Elodie pushed.
“No one,” Ashlyn said, staring into her drink.
“Wait…so there is someone,” Elodie said cheerfully. “Who?”
“No one. I’m done with guys,” Ashlyn mumbled.
“But you said you missed sex,” Lexie teased. “We all know sex is possible with a vibrator, but it’s not nearly as good. Trust me, I know. When did you meet him? Come on, tell us!”
“I’ve only seen him once…” Ashlyn admitted.
“Spill!” Elodie exclaimed.
“If you can’t tell your best friends, who can you tell?” Lexie asked. The alcohol had loosened her tongue for sure. She felt extremely close to these women. Saying they were best friends was more wishful thinking than anything else.
“Slate.”
Elodie and Lexie stared at Ashlyn with wide eyes—then began screeching in excitement.
“Yes!” Elodie crowed.
“That would be awesome!” Lexie agreed.
“But he’s pretty grumpy,” Elodie added.
“Guys, I don’t even know him,” Ashlyn said.
“Ashlyn would fit against him perfectly, since she’s so tall,” Lexie said. “He’s what, only a few inches taller than her?”
“Something like that. But those muscles of his are so freaking huge,” Elodie said.
“Maybe Ash can curb his impatience,” Lexie teased.
“You guys—” Ashlyn started, but the other two women ignored her.
“I mean, there’s something to be said for impatience,” Elodie responded with a smirk.
Lexie nodded. “Oh, yeah,” she agreed. “And they—”
“Enough!” Ashlyn shouted, making both Lexie and Elodie look at her in surprise. She sighed again. “Sorry. But seriously, I shouldn’t even have said anything. I literally saw him once, and he was annoying. He was all hulk-like and arrogant when he came into Food For All. He also tried to keep me from approaching you,” Ashlyn continued.
Lexie nodded.
“And after Franklin, I’m done with older men. No, thank you.”
“I think Midas told me he’s our age, thirty-two,” Lexie told her. “Which isn’t much older than you. And you were the one who brought him up.”
“Which I regret,” Ashlyn muttered.
“Okay, okay, we’ll shut up,” Elodie said. “But real talk here. I was intimidated by Scott and his team when I met them, but there was just something about my husband that caught my attention the second I saw him. And I don’t think it was just because I was scared out of my mind either. Yes, Slate is older than you. Yes, he’s a bit grumpy and, from what Scott tells me, a lot impatient. But I don’t think you’ll find anyone who would be more respectful than Slate.”
“Do not set me up,” Ashlyn said firmly. “I mean it. I recently got out of a bad relationship, I don’t need to jump into another one.”
“Fine, but it doesn’t sound like you had much of a relationship at all with that Franklin guy. And it’s been almost a year,” Elodie pointed out.
“Maybe you could see if he’s interested in something casual,” Lexie suggested. “Don’t SEALs have a reputation for being ladies’ men?”
Ashlyn shrugged, but not very convincingly. “I saw firsthand how many women threw themselves at the Navy SEALs at Aces, back in California. It was disgusting. I’m not like that.”
“Of course you aren’t,” Lexie told her. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t date him.”
“I just…is it too much to ask for a man who will support me, but not suffocate me? Who will love my outgoing personality, but understand that I want to sit at home and not be social every once in a while? Who actually knows where my clit is without me having to point the damn thing out?” Ashlyn asked.
Lexie and Elodie shared a smile at her last question.
“Oh, for God’s sake, I don’t want to hear about both of your awesome sex lives,” Ashlyn said, balling up a napkin and throwing it at Lexie.
“Hey, guys talk. And since Scott has no problem finding my clit, I’m guessing that Slate wouldn’t have a problem either.”
“Okay, I’m officially changing the subject,” Lexie said. “I can’t think about any of Midas’s friends that way.”
“Fine. Ashlyn, I have a question,” Elodie said.
“Shoot.”
“You said that you loved working at the bar, so how’d you know you’d enjoy what you do now?”
“What do you mean?” Ashlyn asked.
“Well… I used to love being a chef. But then my world kind of blew up in my face and I can’t imagine doing that as a career again.”
“You don’t enjoy cooking anymore?” Lexie asked.
“It’s not that. I do. I mean, I had a great time cooking for tonight, but it was for you guys. Not a bunch of strangers. And I love hanging out with Scott and the rest of the guys and grilling and stuff. But I’ve struggled to figure out what I want to do with my life. Obviously being a charter fishing guide is out…since being out on the ocean hasn’t been that good to me,
” Elodie said.
“I’ve been thinking…” Ashlyn started.
“Oh, Lord,” Lexie blurted.
“No, seriously. You know how many people we help at Food For All. But there is so much more food that gets wasted. Grocery stores throw away expired bread and wilted vegetables. And cans that are dented get tossed as well. Restaurants throw away tons of food. We try to get some of that stuff to give away, but we’re only talking to the places close to where we are. And think about all the families who travel down from the North Shore or out east, to where we are, just to get food. It has to be expensive, not to mention how much time it takes to drive all the way downtown.”
“What are you saying?” Elodie asked. “And what does it have to do with me?”
“I was thinking of talking to Natalie about starting up a satellite location of Food For All, but with a slightly different focus,” Ashlyn said. “And while it’s not exactly cooking, many of the lunches we put together aren’t that healthy. It’s just chips and an apple thrown in with a not-very-appetizing sandwich. What if we could tap into more stores to get food they’re going to throw away? Restaurants too. It would help if we had someone who could turn those donations into more appealing and nutritious meals.”
“How old are you again?” Elodie asked.
“Twenty-eight. Why?” Ashlyn asked.
“Because you seem a lot older. And…that sounds like a huge challenge,” Elodie said. “And a lot of hard work.”
Ashlyn merely lifted an eyebrow. Then she turned to Lexie. “I was thinking there are probably a lot of military families who live here who could use some assistance. And elderly people. I’d considered maybe starting my own charitable organization, but I like working for Food For All, and there’s some comfort in working for such a well-known and established organization. The Barbers Point area would be a good location to start with. To see if we can make this work. And if I could convince Natalie to talk to the Food For All people, and if they gave me the go-ahead, I’d need help. You know, with getting it up and running, talking to managers at stores and restaurants, getting the word out. And I know for a fact that it’s a hell of a drive for your man every morning to bring you to work downtown.”
