Meet Me in Hawaii

by Georgia Toffolo

  She groaned. The idea of lying in bed tossing and turning over Todd suddenly had its advantages.

  Chapter Twelve

  ‘BACK AGAIN?’

  Kalani came up alongside Todd, his grin all-knowing as Nalu trotted up behind him, giving a little woof of his own. Were they both teasing him?

  Yes, it was Thursday, and yes, he knew he’d become a bit of a fixture since Tuesday afternoon when he’d started setting up camp at the beachside café next door to the surf school. But from here, he could work on his laptop, the thatched-palm umbrellas providing ample shade and the staff being kind enough to rig him up an extension lead when his power was running low. And he could take in the amazing progress the kids were making under Malie’s expert tuition.

  ‘It’s good to see them coming along so well.’ He looked back to the water and the group having such obvious fun in the waves.

  It was more than good, it was fantastic, thrilling even, but it wasn’t the real reason he was there. Truth was he couldn’t stay away. He’d tried to and managed one whole distracted-to-the-brink-of-insanity day. That had been Monday and his intentions had been good. He’d wanted to give Malie space after what had happened, not knowing where they now stood in spite of the pact and the agreement to put the day behind them.

  But he’d spent the entire time apart stuck on her, he couldn’t forget it. Not the kiss and not the life history they’d shared. His heart ached for her even now. The woman who’d lost her brother and effectively lost her place with her parents too. It was one thing to never know family, to have never experienced what it’s like to be part of a loving whole, he’d been there. But to have lived and breathed that life, only to have it taken away, to mourn it…

  ‘You don’t look too happy about it.’

  Todd pulled his eyes from the water again to see Kalani frowning down at him and realized he too was frowning. He forced his face to relax into a smile. ‘I’m more than happy.’

  ‘Worrying that the kids are better than you, hey?’ he teased and Todd laughed.

  ‘They have age on their side.’

  ‘So true…’

  They both looked to the sea as Malie high-fived an exuberant Tara. The young girl was hardly recognizable now. He’d never seen her looking so alive, so happy and carefree. Malie had worked wonders on her and he really was happy, but he missed the way things had been between them.

  That one day had given him a glimpse of another life, one filled with fun and laughter, of someone to share it all with, and no matter how much he tried he couldn’t shake it off.

  It didn’t matter that they’d agreed it was best all round, that neither of them wanted to pursue a relationship or anything more – he couldn’t stop wanting it.

  And he could see the fight in her too. The look in her eye, part fear, part panic, part want, and no amount of trying to act normal around each other eased it.

  ‘So, when are you going to come for your next lesson? Malie tells me you’ve not booked it in yet.’

  He hadn’t. He’d been avoiding that too. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, himself too, especially when she was doing such a great job with the kids. The fact that he’d kept his presence in line with their lessons meant there’d been no need for them to be alone again. But his private lessons called for exactly that and he knew her schedule was such that she was tied up at peak times when the beach and the school was at its busiest, leaving only the quieter, more intimate times of the day available.

  ‘I’ve been busy.’

  ‘Busy watching from here, yeah, I can see that.’ Kalani shook his head. ‘I’m starting to worry she’s scared you off.’

  ‘Not at all…’ He knew the guy was still teasing him, but he could also read the genuine curiosity in his eye and could understand why. A man like Todd had a work schedule to keep, he should be looking to have the times nailed down to be sure he could make it and get them all in before he left. His time here was finite, after all.

  ‘I assume you still want them?’

  ‘Absolutely,’ he reassured Kalani, feeling guilty that the guy would even think otherwise.

  ‘Then how about when she’s done with this session? It’s the last of the day and I can lock your stuff up safe here.’

  ‘Sure.’

  His voice sounded odd but Kalani didn’t appear to notice, instead he just beamed down at him and looked quite pleased with himself.

  ‘Excellent, I’m just heading down to speak to her, I’ll let her know.’

  ‘Great.’ Todd swallowed. ‘Thanks.’

  He watched Kalani make his way across the beach and felt his heart pick up pace as he waited on her reaction. It wasn’t like the lessons hadn’t been paid for, or agreed to, but…

  Kalani waded into the water, Nalu heading in with him. Try as he might, Todd couldn’t see her face clearly from here, but he could imagine the flutter of panic, the over-bright smile she’d put on to conceal it and the of course, no problem she would deliver. He could see her nod her head, her hand sweeping her hair out of her eyes as she continued to listen to what he had to say. Then Kalani was heading back and he knew that was that. There was no avoiding it now. They’d be having a one-to-one very soon and he needed to get a lid on the chaos inside.

  ‘She’s up for the lesson,’ Kalani said as he neared, ‘but you have a slight detour first.’

  ‘A detour?’

  ‘She promised Tara ice cream and asked if you would call the parents to see if it’s OK for her to drop Tara back at the hotel later. She said it might help Tara’s parents to say yes if you joined them too.’

  He looked back to the water, where Nalu was now riding the surfboard with a laughing Tara and Malie’s face all lit up as she watched them.

  ‘No problem, I’ll call them now.’

  He had an idea forming already. A way to spend more time with Malie, without either of them feeling on edge, and to also make Tara’s day, as well as that of her parents. He just hoped Malie would appreciate it too.

  If worst came to worst, he could always come up with an out. But hopefully he wouldn’t need it.

  ‘Excellent, they should be wrapping up in thirty mins.’

  He nodded and pulled out his mobile, found the contact details for Tara’s parents and dialled. He listened to it ring, hardly aware that the fingers of his other hand were now crossed beneath the table, a move he hadn’t done since his skateboard days when he desperately needed the job he’d applied for.

  ‘Hi, Anne-Marie…’

  Malie watched the kids trooping back to the surf school, surfboards under arm, and listened to their pumped-up chatter. Another great day, another happy group of kids. But she was dragging her feet, nerves getting the better of her. She wasn’t the only one, though, Tara was also hanging back, her shoulders slumped.

  ‘Tara? What’s up?’

  Not that Malie hadn’t already guessed. But she was hopeful that Todd had managed to use his charm on the girl’s parents by now. She wouldn’t say anything though, not until she knew which way the conversation had gone.

  Tara paused, turning to look at her. ‘I wish we could surf for longer.’

  Malie laughed and ruffled her hair. ‘You and me both, but we’re already looking like prunes.’ She waved her fingers in the girl’s face and grinned.

  ‘Beats having to go back with Mum and Dad.’

  ‘Hey, I know, love, but it’s only cos they care.’

  She looked up to see Todd approaching and her heart skipped inside her chest. Strands of his fringe fell over his forehead and she felt a giddy flutter as she wondered if it was down to her. Had he opted for the laidback look because she’d said she liked it? His shirt was also a casual colourful number, paired with beige shorts and no trainers. Definitely laidback and definitely all the hotter for it.

  ‘It’s not just that.’

  Tara’s comment pulled her up short and she dragged her eyes from his approach to look down at the girl. Her face was downcast, her black hair fallin
g forward as the fingers of her free hand twisted in the fabric of her rash vest.

  You’re supposed to be focusing on Tara, came the guilt-ridden admonishment and she dropped down to the girl’s height. ‘What else is it, sweetheart?’

  Tara lifted her head, but didn’t look at Malie, her swirling blue eyes were back on the waves instead. ‘When I’m out there I don’t think about it…’

  Malie frowned, sensing her need to talk and she looked up as Todd paused a few strides away. He gave her a nod and a thumbs-up, code for getting the OK from the Davidsons. She smiled back at him, knowing just how much this would mean to Tara.

  ‘Tell you what,’ she said, looking back to her, ‘you head in and get changed, and I might have a little surprise for you when you’re done.’

  Tara’s eyes met her own now, curiosity sparking in her gaze as her lips threatened to smile. ‘Really? Like what?’

  ‘If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it? Now, off you go.’

  Tara spun on her heel and raced off after the others.

  ‘Hey, Mr Masters,’ she said as she passed him by. ‘Malie has a surprise for me!’

  They both watched her go with a smile, relief making Malie forget her nerves from seconds before. She was just happy to see the girl’s spirit back.

  ‘There’s a lot going on inside her head.’ Todd turned to her as he said it and Malie nodded, not quite ready to look back at him, instead she started towards the surf school.

  ‘What did her parents say?’

  ‘They agreed we could drop her home later… after dinner…’

  Her eyes snapped to his. ‘Dinner? I said ice cream.’

  He shrugged. ‘Based on your confession the other night that you’re a bad cook I thought you’d appreciate a meal out, and I already knew Tara would appreciate the upgrade.’

  ‘But… I might have had plans.’

  ‘Do you?’

  ‘No, but—’

  ‘Malie…’ He reached out, his hand coming to rest on her arm and making her jump at the frisson of excitement the simple gesture triggered. He frowned and pulled his hand back, pocketing them both as he looked away and explained, ‘I thought it would be nice to take you both out and give Tara’s parents time to enjoy a dinner, just the two of them. I don’t think they’ve had a dinner date in a very long time.’

  Guilt coursed through her and she gave him an apologetic smile. ‘Of course, that sounds like a lovely idea.’

  ‘Fingers crossed it helps. Kalani recommended a restaurant up strip…’

  ‘Hang on, did you treat them to dinner?’

  He gave her a smile that was so bashful and handsome in one that her heart squeezed inside her chest, her lungs robbed of air.

  ‘I may have.’

  She shook her head, unable to stop her smile from widening as she stroked a hand over her crazy sea-crisped hair. ‘But what about your surf lesson?’

  He shrugged. ‘We can do it after dinner.’

  ‘It’ll be dark then.’

  ‘Tomorrow then.’

  ‘My friend Zoe arrives tomorrow and I’m taking a few days off.’

  ‘So you do take time off?’

  She gave a soft laugh. ‘Yes, I guess I do.’

  ‘What about a morning lesson? I can get here for the crack of dawn if that works?’

  She hesitated. It would be quieter, romantic even, with the sun lifting on the horizon…

  ‘Don’t tell me you have plans for then too?’

  ‘No, just my board and the sunrise.’

  ‘Excellent, so dinner now, surf first thing – perfect.’

  His words were enthusiastic, but his tone restrained, like he too was contending with the same inner battle: head saying it’s a bad idea, body being abuzz with it. And were they crazy to risk dinner together again, especially after last—

  ‘If you’re worrying about what happened last Sunday, consider that off the cards.’

  She felt her cheeks colour, more at the fact he could read her mind, rather than the actual memory of last Sunday. No, that had another effect over her body, just as hot and just as tingly.

  ‘Tara will be our chaperone.’ He winked and flashed his perfect teeth with a grin, the weight seeming to lift from his voice now.

  ‘Funny.’ She rolled her eyes, but his grin was infectious and working its magic, whisking away her worries so easily. And he was right, what’s the worst that could happen? With Tara around, her libido would be forced to take a back seat. Tomorrow morning, though…

  One step at a time, Malie.

  ‘Just give me time to shower and change, I can use the amenities here.’

  ‘Great.’

  She felt his eyes warming her back all the way through the doors of the surf school and long after she’d hit the shower.

  This was crazy.

  This was bad.

  This is for Tara and you will do it even if you end up going home a hot mess tonight.

  If Todd had been offered a choice with no future risk – Malie all to herself, or Malie plus Tara – he may have jumped at the first option, but now, sitting in what he could only describe as a bamboo-and-leaf hut, adorned with wooden masks, shells and rainbow-coloured floral strands, he would actually be torn.

  He’d let Malie choose where to eat, her knowledge of the local eateries far surpassing his. It didn’t matter that he could afford to take them to the finest Hawaii had to offer, this was the real deal. Tara’s flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes told him Malie had chosen right.

  ‘Aloha! One mocktail for this lady,’ said the cheery waiter, lifting a tall glass off the loaded tray with a tinsel palm tree and straw, placing it down in front of a beaming Tara who sat opposite him, Malie next to her.

  ‘One cocktail for the other…’

  Malie’s drink looked practically the same as Tara’s, he just hoped they’d got them the right way around.

  ‘And a water for you, sir.’ He placed it down in front of him.

  ‘Thank you.’

  Tara grimaced at his glass. ‘You should have had one of these.’ She dipped and took a long sip. ‘It’s delicious.’

  ‘I bet it is… and I can just imagine the sugar content.’

  ‘You need to live a little, Todd.’ He looked to Malie as she said it and saw the teasing glint in her eye, it was impossible to take offence. Truth was, when he was with her, he felt very much alive and very much like he was living. More than he could ever remember doing before.

  ‘We need to come up with a plan!’

  Malie and Todd both looked to Tara, surprised. ‘A plan?’ they said in unison.

  ‘We have two weeks left and I kind of figure that Mum and Dad letting me come out tonight shows they’re willing to ease up, especially when you speak to them, Mr Masters… so how about you talk to them about me going with the other kids on the bus? Maybe if they start letting me do it here, they’ll let the same thing happen at home.’

  She sounded so certain, so determined. The quiet, reserved girl that he’d brought out here just over a week ago was almost unrecognizable in the bright, confident girl before him.

  ‘Does it bother you that much?’ he asked. To him, having a parent who cared enough to take him from point A to point B as a child would have been a blessing.

  ‘It would bother you too,’ she said adamantly, twirling the straw as she spoke. ‘It’s bad enough to look like I do—’

  ‘Don’t say that,’ Malie said her hand reaching out to rest on Tara’s shoulder as she leaned in to get her attention.

  ‘I’m just stating a fact,’ said Tara, holding her eye, suddenly wiser and more confident than her ten years. ‘I look different, I can’t change that, but I can change the way people see me. You taught me that.’

  He watched their little interchange, saw Malie’s gaze waver over Tara’s face as she smiled. ‘In what way?’

  ‘You made me realize that by hiding away from the group I only made myself different, made myself stand out, I made them
uncomfortable around me… as soon as I started getting involved, doing what they do…’ she shrugged, a smile lifting her face, ‘then I realized I could blend in, I could have fun, I could be just another kid.’

  ‘Because you are,’ Malie said softly, she reached around Tara’s back and pulled her in for a hug, ‘and I’m so proud of you.’

  ‘Hey, gerroff, don’t be getting all soppy on me.’

  Malie backed away, laughing, but Todd could see the tears glistening in her eyes, her happiness fit to burst from her and reaching inside him too. She was the reason Tara was like this now. She was the reason the girl had grown in confidence. She was the reason he was starting to see more to life than just work.

  ‘You too, Mr Masters.’

  He refocused and saw Tara gesture towards Malie. Lord knew what she’d read in his face – another thing he seemed to be losing on this trip, his trusty poker face.

  He grinned and raised his glass – ‘Deal!’ – and threw back a chug. The girl was right, he should have gone for the sugar high.

  ‘So, it’s agreed then?’ Tara said, looking between them both now. ‘You’ll talk to them about the bus?’

  Malie looked to him hesitantly and then back to Tara. ‘We did try before, and they weren’t keen.’

  ‘Yes, but now’s different. I don’t think they would have said yes to this if they were still in the same head space.’

  ‘Head space?’ Todd said.

  ‘Yeah.’ Tara did a circular motion with her finger alongside her temple. ‘And they’re starting to argue less.’ She said it so matter-of-factly, her approval written in the nod of her head. ‘It’s been a week but already things feel different. I was worried about them before… you know… they just seemed to argue, or talk about what’s best for me. They never seemed to talk like I was there, or pay attention to me and what I thought – it sucked – but now…’ She took a long drag on her straw and gulped it down, like she didn’t want to pause too long now she had the floor. It made him smile to know she was in such a good place she felt able to speak openly. ‘Now, I don’t know, they ask about my surfing, they ask where I’d like to go to dinner, who my friends are, and they talk, to each other like, you know, properly.’