“Definitely,” I tell him, checking for Aya. She’s still busy dolphin diving.
“Let’s head over to the bar, and I’ll introduce you to my girl—this lovely woman’s sister.” He nods his head toward Kai with an eye roll. “She works over there.”
“Dude, I’m so happy for you that you met someone. You deserve all the happiness. You gotta give me the deets … how did you do it? Were you all traditional and shit?” I ask him.
“Oh you two must not be friends on Instagram,” Kai interrupts. “It’s the classy way to announce your engagement. You wouldn’t feel the need to ask any questions if you saw their ‘story.’”
Noa and I are both silent for a moment. I take it Kai does not approve of this engagement, so that’s not sounding so great. Maybe she’s jealous. Chicks are like that. They’re either jealous or—yeah I have nothing else.
“Well, let’s go. I want to meet her. I just got to get my daughter out of the pool before we head over there. Give me a minute.” I’ve been trying to digest Noa’s engagement news since he called me last week. The fact that Noa, of all guys, is getting hitched makes me scratch my head. He’s been a lady’s man for as long as I’ve known him and I never imagined him settling down. He likes to fly by the seat of his pants and move at a hundred miles per hour. In the few times we talked over the last month, he didn’t mention her at all. I wonder how quickly this all came together. In any case, she must be something else.
“Right! I was wondering where the baby was,” Noa says.
Baby. I snicker. Time flies, and since Noa’s not a parent, I can understand how might not register how much time has passed since he’s seen Aya until he sees how big she is now.
“Aya,” I shout as I move toward the end of the pool. “You gotta get out for a few, baby. I have to talk to someone.”
“Dad! I can stay here. I’m fine.”
“No, Aya. You know the rules. Come on out. You can go back in when I’m done talking to Mr. Noa.”
She huffs and dramatically trudges up the pool steps where I meet her with a towel. “I’ll get you a smoothie, okay?”
“Fine,” she says with a little smile. “Thank you.”
“Holy shitballs,” Noa barks. “That’s Aya?”
Aya grabs the towel I’m holding around her and storms over to Noa, jetting her hand out to him. “Hi, I’m Aya. I don’t think we’ve met, but you shouldn’t swear in front of kids. It’s rude.”
“Aya,” I snap. “Don’t you be rude. You understand me? Apologize to Mr. Noa.”
“No, it’s okay. She’s right,” Noa says. He kneels in front of Aya and shakes her hand. “I apologize for swearing. I won’t do it again. I just can’t believe how big you’ve gotten since I’ve seen you last.”
“We know each other?” Aya continues.
“Well, I haven’t seen you since you were about this big,” Noa says, holding his hand just a couple feet off the ground.
Aya takes his hand and lifts it up to her current height. “And now I’m this big, so don’t forget that for the next time I see you.”
Noa laughs. “Holy—I mean, geez, man, she’s all you,” he says to me.
“Yup, that she is.”
We walk over to the bar area where an almost mirroring look-alike to Kai awaits, waving her heart out toward us. I’ll assume that’s Noa’s fiancée.
“Babe!” he shouts out. “This is Denver.” He points to me with both hands as if he were a neon blinking light. I think she gets it. The pool isn’t too packed at the moment. “He’s the one I’m filling the last position with at the restaurant.”
“Ohh!” the girl shouts. “Good pickin’s.”
Good pickin’s? What the hell is going on?
Chapter Four
Kai
Today carried on like a snail’s race. I’m completely exhausted from the troop of tourists reliving precious moments of spring break from two months ago. I realize I live in a vacation spot, but if I were to go away somewhere, I’d want to relax, do nothing, and listen to no one. I wouldn’t want to wake up with a hangover every afternoon, but to each their own, I suppose. The drunkos have finally simmered down for their late afternoon naps now, and my shift is over.
“Ready ready ready?” Lea hollers across the pool.
I slip my guard hoodie over my head and grab my bag. “Yeah, let’s head out.”
“We have an hour before we have to be down in Lahaina, so we gotta be quick,” she says.
“Uh, what?” I question as we head down the botanical path that’s lined with hibiscus, plumeria, and bird of paradise flowers, where the hummingbirds hang out all day. This might be my favorite part of my day—the peace and serenity that seals out the chaos. Plus, it’s a quick escape route to the parking lot.
“We’re going out tonight. You were already notified this morning, missy.”
“No, I’m not going out. I’m tired. It was a long day.”
“But, I promise you we’ll have fun,” she continues badgering. I’m not sure why she cares if I go out or not. Normally, she has no problem going out on her own. “Plus, you promised Talon.”
“No, I didn’t. He put words in my mouth.”
She huffs loudly, and like a rag doll, throws her body into the car. “I didn’t want to have to do this,” she warns.
“I don’t care what you say. I’m not going out drinking tonight so I can feel like ass all day tomorrow.”
“We’re celebrating our engagement tonight, Kai.”
“No, you’re not,” I argue. “You would have started your argument with that.”
“No, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to bribe you with a ‘cause’ to go out. If you had just agreed, you would have been pleasantly surprised to hear why we’re going out. Now I just know you don’t want to, and you’re only doing it because I made you feel guilty.”
She juts out her bottom lip and throws her head back against the chair. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Come on, Kai. What else are you going to do tonight besides rot in front of the TV?”
“Rot in front of the TV, which I plan to enjoy,” I reply. “Where are you all going?” I don’t want to go, but if she is, in fact, celebrating her engagement, I will be there. I just have a feeling it’s a scam to get me to go out. Lea plans parties and events as if they’re a royal occurrence, so spontaneously mentioning an engagement party like she is, doesn’t scream truth to me.
“To a restaurant,” she says.
“What kind of place is it?” I ask.
“It’s a restaurant,” she says as if my question is absurd. “They have burgers, wings, and salads for those who need to be healthy at all times, so don’t worry. There’s something for everyone. Even you.” I can see her arrogant little smile from the corner of my eye.
“I really want you to come, Kai,” she says, sounding more pleading than she has in the past half hour.
I sigh and nod my head, knowing I have no choice but to give in. She’s my sister, and I can’t say no to her when she asks me anything like that. She uses her pleas as a weapon, knowing it’s my weakness. I’ve tried to help her have a normal life despite our parents being gone. I felt it was my obligation to stand in and do what I can to make sure she’s happy. I know I’ve done a good job with that. She’s happy. Happier than I am. Sometimes, I selfishly wonder who was left to make sure I would be happy after Mom and Dad were taken from us, but I keep those thoughts to myself. It’s not a burden she should have to deal with.
“Okay, okay. I’ll come, but I’m not staying out until two. I don’t like walking into work looking like I’ve been run over by a train.”
“Deal,” she says. “We all have to work in the morning, so I doubt anyone will want to stay out that late anyway.”
“Is this restaurant upscale or casual?” I ask.
“Super casual. You can wear whatever, as long as it’s cute and not motherly,” she says.
I glance over at her for a quick second with a look that is part anger an
d partially confusion. “Motherly?” I return my gaze to the road, wondering what the hell she means by that. I don’t dress motherly. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Um hi, you wear cardigans. Have you ever seen another local wearing a cardigan?” I’ve never been one for fashion or caring about how I look. What’s the point? I want to be comfortable.
“Who cares? I get cold easily. Should I just be cold, so I look the part of being your sister?”
Lea groans. “Kai, come on. Just be normal tonight, please.”
“Normal? Please grace me with your definition of ‘normal.’”
“Look like you’re twenty-eight instead of fifty-eight, maybe?”
“Thanks,” I hiss.
“I have something for you to wear. Don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t worried,” I reply as we pull into our driveway.
“We don’t have long to get ready, so just don’t fight with me, okay?” She continues.
I won’t fight. I’m just about done talking about this. I’m going to grin and bear it for her tonight, and then she won’t have another excuse to drag me out against my free will until it’s closer to the wedding.
“Why is it that your idea of going out and having fun is making me look like a sleazy twit?”
Lea cocks her head to the side, looking at me like I have two heads, which I’m starting to wonder if I do, considering how many times a day she gives me this look. “You do not look sleazy or like a twit. It’s called makeup and a casual dress.”
“This dress is anything but casual,” I say, turning to check out what the back of me looks like in the mirror. “You can almost see my butt cheeks.”
“Almost doesn’t matter. You look amazing, and royal blue is totally your color. So don’t forget that. You need my nude pumps to go with that dress.”
“Oh, to make my bare, long legs look a little longer. Right, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.”
Lea grabs my arm, pinching me within her grip, and turns me to face her. We’re eye to eye, being the same height. She grabs my chin, forcing me to look at her face. “I’m a grown woman, Kai. You raised me, okay? You’re done raising me. It’s your turn to live a little now. I want you to live, and I want you to have fun. You walk around like you have a pole stuck up your butt all the time. It’s not an attractive trait, and it doesn’t match the beauty on the outside. I know you see me as this little girl all the time, but you need to stop. Just listen to me, okay?” Lea doesn’t usually get serious with me. She doesn’t typically act serious much of the time at all. It’s hard to listen to her talking to me this way and understand that she’s trying to be real. “We’re equals now. Please, do me one last favor, now that you protected me these last ten years. Please, Kai.”
“What?” I ask, sounding mousier than I normally do when talking to my sister.
“Stand by my side. Let’s both be responsible. Let’s both live. Let’s both make sure we have the lives Mom and Dad would want us to have. Please?”
I want to tell her she doesn’t act very responsible, but then again, I don’t know what it’s like to let loose. I’ve been taking on more responsibility than I can manage since I’ve been eighteen. It sometimes feels like I’ve missed out on the best years of my life, but I would never change a thing, not when it comes down to making sure Lea’s life could continue with some sense of normalcy. Everything I’ve done these last ten years has been for her. I’ve focused on her. It felt like my job, but I did the job with pride, hoping I was doing good by her.
“Okay,” I tell her. “I’ll stand by your side. I’m sorry if I haven’t been doing that.”
“No, no apologies needed, Kai. You have been shielding me for so long that I’ve had the best ten years any person could have after losing her parents, and it’s because of you. Thank you.” She takes my hand and turns me to face the mirror, standing next to me. We look so much alike, but I can see the age difference. “Together like this. That’s how I want my sister, okay?”
I squeeze her hand and pull in a deep breath. “I can do that, but just know that Noa promised me that he would protect you and give you a good life, so I’ll have to kill him if he doesn’t.”
“He said that to you?” she asks.
I look over at her. “Yes. Last week before he proposed to you. He came to talk to me. He asked me if he could marry you.”
Lea cups her hand over her mouth and tears quickly fill the corners of her eyes. “He asked your permission?” she mumbles into her hand.
“He’s a good guy. I just want to get to know him a little more, I guess.”
“I thought you hated him,” she says.
“I had my up and down thoughts on him until he asked me if he could marry you. That was pretty much the most respect I could wish for from any man who wants to spend his life with you. I didn’t think anyone would be good enough for you. I was worried.”
“He loves me, Kai, and I really, really love him.”
“Then, I do too,” I tell her, kissing her cheek.
Lea smiles, the smile I love to see. The smile that tells me she is truly happy, and that’s all I’ve wanted for her. “Shoes. We need shoes so we can go.”
“Shoes,” I repeat.
She trots from my bedroom on her toes, wearing a dress like the one I have one, except it’s off-white, more bride-like. My conscience is screaming jealousy, but I’m supposed to be the watcher and protector. I just don’t know what my life will be like when someone else is responsible for taking care of Lea. I’ll just have me to take care of, and it sounds kind of lonely. I hadn’t considered the point in our lives when that would happen, and I’ve purposely kept myself from dating to make sure I didn’t get caught up with some guy and lose sight of what’s important in my life.
A pair of nude shoes are tossed into my bedroom. “Come on, let’s go!”
I slip the shoes on and grab my clutch from the bed, catching my reflection in the mirror one last time before leaving the room. A small smile threatens my lips, admiring a person I hardly recognize. There’s still time for me.
Chapter Five
Denver
“Are you sure you don’t mind watching Aya tonight, Mrs. Hale?” I ask Noa’s mom, who graciously offered to babysit for me.
“Oh goodness, no, of course I don’t mind. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had such a cute face in this house,” she says, with a menacing smile targeted at Noa.
“Thanks, Ma,” Noa replies.
Aya seems a little shy, and I feel guilty for leaving her after just arriving today, but Noa wants to go over more specs for the job he’s giving me, and I can’t exactly say no. I kneel in front of her and pull her into my chest. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Dad, I’m fine,” she assures me.
“We’re just going to have a little dinner, and then I’ll take her to the hotel, so she doesn’t have to stay up late tonight. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a putt-putt course over there, and I think we can keep ourselves busy for a while.” Aya’s eyes light up a bit when Mrs. Hale mentions putt-putt, so I’m hoping that will ease her discomfort. I’ve known Mrs. Hale for years, but I haven’t seen her since Noa left Oahu. She visited him there a lot, and he would bring me here to visit her when we had paid time off. The woman can cook, and I’d pay any amount of money to hop on a plane for a good home-cooked meal. I’m betting Mrs. Hale will win over Aya’s heart with dinner alone tonight.
“Aya, do you know I was at the hospital the very day you were born? Your dad even allowed me to snuggle with you for a minute,” Mrs. Hale coos. “You were the cutest baby in that hospital, and the tiniest.” Mrs. Hale says with an innocent laugh. Aya was born a month premature, so she was in the hospital for quite a while until we could get her weight up. She sure was beautiful—still is.
“You were?” Aya asks.
“Of course! It’s not every day you get to see someone live their first day on earth. When Noa told me you’d arrived, I couldn’t help myself.�
�� It was nice having Mrs. Hale there that day since my parents couldn’t make the trek. The flights were impossible without notice, so they didn’t arrive until four days after she was born. “In any case, it’s wonderful to see how grown up you look and that you are still just as beautiful today as you were then.”
“Thank you,” Aya says with a coy smile.
“Okay, why don’t you boys go on. Aya and I will be just fine, right, honey?”
“We’ll be just fine,” Aya repeats. She’s being truthful. I can see it in her eyes.
I lean forward and give her a kiss on the forehead. “Have a fun time, sweet pea,” I tell her.
“You too,” she says. “Don’t forget what we talked about earlier.”
I can’t help the look of confusion on my face because I don’t recall what we were talking about earlier. Aya doesn’t exactly stop talking so pinpointing one subject matter throughout the course of a day is nearly impossible with her. “Could you remind me of what that was?”
She leans forward, cups her hand around my ear and whispers, “Find me a babysitter than can turn into a mom at some point.”
Her words land in my ear like sparks from a fire. I completely forgot about that conversation. “Right, I’m on it,” I tell her with a raised eyebrow. I know she doesn’t understand how difficult her request is, but I don’t want to take away her hope.
Noa and Mrs. Hale are looking at us with question, likely wondering what Aya had to remind me about. It’s not something either of them needs to know about, though. “It’s a secret,” I mouth to them over Aya’s shoulder.
I press myself up from my knees and stretch my arms over my head. “Ready when you are,” I tell Noa.
“Alrighty then, we’ll see you back at the hotel later, Ma. Thanks again,” Noa says.
By time we’re settled in Noa’s truck, I have more questions about this job brewing in my head. “I’ve heard running a restaurant is like two full-time jobs. How are you managing that and planning a wedding? It’s gotta be a lot.”
Man Buns Page 4
