Coming Home

by Kimberly McKay

  The girls heard the two joking from the other room, and ran in to see what the commotion was all about. As they stood in each other’s arms laughing, it was clear to see they had real chemistry.

  When it was clear they’d gained an audience, both dropped their arms and walked out to join the rest of the group.

  “You ready?” She winked in his direction.

  “Almost.” His eyes sparkled, as he took her in. The Hawaiian sun agreed with her. She had always been beautiful in his eyes, but to see her olive complexion deepen with a bit more sun gave her an almost exotic look.

  Anne cocked her head, wondering what he was thinking.

  He nodded and dragged his view back to the other women, before saying, “You remember after the softball game, I promised you that you all would get rewarded?”

  He saw the women’s faces light up, and then continued, “Well, I have something fun planned for us tomorrow. William?”

  At that moment, a large Polynesian dancer appeared at the front door. Traditional luau music played as he stepped through shaking his hips, wearing nothing but a loincloth and a tribal rope necklace.

  Within a few steps he dropped to a squat position temporarily, before popping back up and finishing his short dance. The girls clapped in amusement, wondering what it all meant.

  “You got us a male dancer?” Staci laughed. “Nice body, but I’d rather have a date with you.”

  The group laughed. The young Polynesian grinned and waited for Chad to explain.

  “I got you both. Dancing and a date with me.”

  “All ten of us?” Kamryn asked. She was still hoping she’d get a one on one. She had yet to figure out if there was something there between them.

  Terrance stepped through the doors, and was followed by more Polynesian dancers, dressed like William. They walked in carrying leis for each girl.

  “Tomorrow afternoon, we’ve planned a traditional luau for you - with dancing, a lot of food, and a chance for a one on one.” Terrance said. “Chad? Anything else you want to add?”

  “Nope … just my goodbyes. Ready?” He looked to Anne and grabbed her hand.

  She squeezed it in return, and lifted her free hand to give a small wave to the girls, as Chad led her out the door.

  “Can we keep him as a consolation prize?” Tina looked at William from head to toe, as Chad and Anne left.

  Terrance couldn’t help but laugh. “Tina. You’re free to do whatever you want here, but remember that you’re supposed to be here for Chad.”

  “I am!” She laughed it off. “I was just joking!”

  As Chad sat, deep into the warm sand, he wrapped his arms around Anne, and watched the sun lower in the sky.

  “Penny for your thoughts.” He leaned in closer and kissed her cheek. She looked as far away as the twin islands, which adorned the horizon across from them.

  “Huh?” She turned toward him, and smiled.

  “You just seem pretty far away.” He pulled her in tight, taking in her scent. After today, it was a mixture of chlorine and coconut oil.

  As his mind flashed back to when he massaged her back with coconut scented suntan lotion, he leaned down to kiss her shoulder.

  “Did you not have fun today?”

  “Are you kidding me?” She burst out. “You took me to Sea Life Park, where we swam with dolphins. Never in my life would I have imagined doing such a thing.”

  “So it was a good time, then?” Chad asked, confused. “Because you seem lost in thought.”

  “I am. I mean - I came here not expecting any of this…” Anne turned to wrap her arms around his waist. “I expected to come here for the adventure – to which we’ve had plenty. I didn’t expect to come here and…” Her voice fell off and she looked back out to the ocean.

  “Tell me.”

  She brought her gaze back to his face. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the cameras rolling. So far they’d not been a real issue, but today, as they rolled, she felt like she was about to fall off a huge cliff.

  She couldn’t believe what she was feeling … let alone the thought of expressing it to Chad on camera. So, instead of giving him the full impact of her emotions, she held some of what was in her heart at bay.

  She reached for his hand and laced her fingers through. “I never expected to feel anything in the midst of this. I never expected to be invested.”

  Chad could see how much it took for her to bare her heart. There was excitement in that fact … but he still wanted more. He needed reassurance.

  “Invested in the show?”

  Anne glared at him and dropped her head to his shoulder. “Do I need to say it? Because you still have nine other women here.”

  The warmth he felt in his heart spread like wildfire throughout his whole body. She had feelings for him.

  “No, I won’t make you. But if it makes you feel any better…” Chad quickly reached down to turn off both of their microphones, dropped his mouth to her ear, and whispered, “Be patient, and know that you’re it for me. At this point, this show is just a formality. I have to play the game to get through my contract. But if you’ll wait it out with me, I’d be forever grateful … because I’ve fallen for you.”

  He felt like he could take on the world, as he finally said the words that he’d felt for so long but couldn’t express. As her head snapped up, he saw that her eyes were full of emotion. He gently stroked her face, and continued, “And this process means nothing without you in the end.”

  Anne tried to contain her emotions but his words were too much for her to handle. She tried to be respectable … after all this would be on television. However, every logical thought went out with the rising tides.

  She could tell he took every word he said to heart … so did she. And since she couldn’t find her voice to respond, she did the only thing she could.

  Since Chad turned off the sound, the cameramen struggled to compensate their boom, but heard nothing more than the sounds of the ocean as it pounded the shore.

  “Did you get that?” Janie asked them, to which they shook their heads. “Ugh! You are getting that though, right?” Janie pointed out toward the shore.

  The microphones may not have been able to pick up Chad’s words, but the next scene they filmed spoke volumes.

  It was clear to see that whatever Anne heard was enough to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him down over her as they lay in the sand, kissing.

  “I don’t think they’re will be many words for the rest of the night guys.” Janie chuckled, and picked up her radio to connect with Ned. This would make for great television.

  Chad’s hands stroked Anne’s body as they lay in the warm sand kissing. The rising tides surged forward and licked the tips of their feet, as they rolled a few times in the sand.

  What Anne thought could possibly be the most romantic make-out session in the world, quickly came to a halt as she rolled on top a piece of coral.

  “Ouch!” She arched her back.

  Chad pulled her up, and ran his hand along the sand to find the coral and tossed it into the ocean that was threatening to overcome them.

  “Are you okay?” He looked to her with concern.

  She laughed as the tides swarmed around their feet. She didn’t realize how close they’d rolled toward the water.

  “Yes.” Her eyes twinkled. “Saved by the rock?”

  Chad’s heart was beating so fast he felt like it was going to leap from his chest. He wanted nothing more than to pick up where they left off, but thought he’d let her take the next step.

  “Well, we couldn’t have anymore scandalous activity on camera could we?” He laughed, wishing more than anything they could be alone. He looked over his shoulder and noticed the crew had already packed up and left.

  Anne laughed at his face, as it dawned on Chad they were alone.

  “You think I would have let you get to second base if they were still here?”

  He leaned up on his elbow and traced the side of her fac
e with his finger.

  “You’re something else, LaSal.”

  Chad looked into her dark eyes, which looked black under the veil that had fallen over the sky. As his hopeful eyes bore down on hers, she felt like every fiber in her being were alive for the first time in ages, which scared the living daylights out of her.

  Her mind told her to get up and run down the beach to safety, as this was too much too soon. However,

  her heart kept her cemented in place, within Chad’s reach, waiting for what was to come next.

  Anne dragged in a deep breath, and lifted her chin to the night sky. “Oh, Chad. What are you doing to me?”

  “I love it when you say my name.” He leaned down and kissed her neck.

  “You seem to keep finding ways to get me alone.” She sighed as his lips grazed the base of her neck. “First, we ran away from the cameras in Texas, and now you’ve run the camera crew off the beach.”

  Anne was surprised she could assemble any sort of sentence, as every second his lips were on her skin her mind and willpower slipped away. She knew if she didn’t put the brakes on fast, there would be nothing left but her open need for him and she couldn’t bare that part of herself yet.

  “Chad.” Anne sat up, just as the tides rushed in and splashed them with a cold spray of ocean mist.

  “Think someone’s trying to tell us something?” He laughed at the comical look on Anne’s face, after getting sprayed with cold water.

  “Yeah, maybe.” She half laughed, and wiped the side of her face.

  He stood, and extended his hand to help her up.

  “I’m sorry. I got carried away.” He pulled her in, feeling like he couldn’t get enough of her. “You’re amazing. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “Once … thanks.” Her hand slid into his and they walked toward dry sand, to sit far enough away from the crashing waves.

  “Well, it’s true.” He loved how their hands fit so perfectly together.

  After they repositioned themselves a few yards up the shore, she settled in between his legs and leaned against his chest.

  He could tell she was struggling with something, and tried to help the best he could. “Is it your ex that has you so troubled right now?”

  Anne scooted around to face him. She wanted to see his eyes when she said what came next.

  She ignored his question for now and said, “I’ve never met anyone like you. And, if you were honest about how you feel.”

  Chad interrupted, “I was … I am.”

  Anne smiled shyly and squeezed his hand.

  “Then you should know that I think you’re amazing too. I don’t think I can express every emotion I’m feeling right now, but I will tell you that I never thought I’d feel this way so soon.” She dragged her gaze away and stared up toward the stars.

  Chad lovingly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into him. As she laid the back of her head on his shoulder, he stroked her hair away from her face, and placed a single kiss on her cheek.

  “What you said back there, hit me right here.” She laid a hand over her heart. “And I reacted the only way I could to tell you how I felt. I know I came on too strong, and I know it’s too early for any of this.”

  “You won’t hear me complaining.” He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “You’re a great kisser, and I will never complain of being put in that position.”

  Anne laughed, and turned to throw a light punch at his shoulder. Chad seized the moment by grabbing her hand and pulling her in for another soft tender kiss, and then gently pulled away with a sigh.

  “Can we just leave the show now? I’m done.” She sighed, knowing the answer.

  Chad dipped his head back and searched the night sky, wishing they could do just that.

  A cool breeze blew in over the ocean, sending the palm branches swaying above them. The gentle swishing motion had a calming effect, yet still sent shivers along her skin.

  When Anne wrapped her arms around herself, Chad snuggled in closer to protect her from the cool air. Content, she closed her eyes and smiled.

  He imagined this is what it would be like if it were just the two of them, and they didn’t have the show to contend with. He shook his head from that thought, as he didn’t really know how deep her feelings ran. She really hadn’t returned his sentiment yet.

  “You ever think about how life would be like after the show?” He lovingly stroked her face. “At the end, when this is over?”

  Anne hadn’t thought that far ahead yet, but didn’t clarify one way or the other. “Well, if it’s you and I standing at the end - we’d have to decide where to live.”

  “Would you be willing to leave Oklahoma to move to California?” He asked, hoping she was as invested as he was.

  “Leave Oklahoma?” She burst out laughing. She had forgotten she’d listed Oklahoma City on her application as her city of residence.

  “What’s so funny? It’s a serious question.” Chad released her and turned her to face him. He searched her face with concern.

  “I was living in Oklahoma temporarily to be near my best friend, Chastity. I’m actually from California. Did they not tell you?”

  “What? No. No one did! What part?” Chad sat astounded.

  “I lived in Silver Lake … not to far from where you are.”

  “So you’d be willing to move there again?” His heart expanded with hope.

  Anne grinned and tilted her head. “I think so,” she teased. “For the right reasons.”

  Chad noticed she didn’t say ‘for the right guy’. “And what would those be?”

  “Well, I’d have to have a career to move on toward, and I’d like to have someone special to share my future. And I’d like to have someone with the same values and faith that I do.”

  “Faith?” He paused.

  “Yeah, faith.” Anne wondered where he stood.

  “Do you go to church?”

  “Sometimes. But as Kamryn points out – it’s not always about where you worship. It’s about your relationship with God that counts. I’m only starting out on my journey – you might say.”

  “Well, going to the right church helps that too though.”

  Anne nodded. He had a good point. “So do you go?”

  Chad pursed his lips. “I used to.”

  “When you were young?”

  “I went when I was back home with my family, but since I’ve moved out to L.A. – I have to admit I’ve lost my way some. But God is always there in the back of my mind. Like I always know He’s going to be there to fall back on.”

  Anne realized that throughout her walk in her faith, she’d sort of felt the same way. And somehow, in hearing how Chad put it, it didn’t seem fair.

  “I get that. I’ve been there. But now, I’m sort of leaning toward putting Him first instead of giving Him my left overs.”

  “Ouch.” Chad winced. “Nothing like cutting to the bone LaSal.” She liked that he’d picked up on the nickname the other girls called her.

  “Well, its how I feel.” She awkwardly sifted through the sand, which had gathered in the cuff of her shorts. This was hard, but she pushed on.

  “I’ve come through a hard journey in my life, and trust me you don’t know that half of it. Someday I’ll fill you in.” She looked at him from under her eyelids.

  Then she found the strength to say the words she’d been denying for so long. “And, He’s taken care of me every step of the way. It’s only been recent that I’ve tried to focus on what that means and how I need to pursue my faith.”

  Chad sat convicted. With the exception of his father’s death, he’d led a charmed life. “I get it, and admire you for talking about it. Not everyone would be so bold.”

  “Well, I know it’s not the norm in today’s world.”

  “No, it’s not … especially in our part of the world, but I think it’s nice.”

  He was never more proud of her, than in this moment, as she showed complete transparency. Between this and know
ing she was willing to make the move back to SoCal, his heart soared with hope.

  Anne let go of the breath she’d been holding. “That was hard for me.”

  “You did good.” His eyes dropped to her shaky smile and he leaned in for a kiss, which was partly for reassurance but mostly because he couldn’t take one more minute without feeling his lips on hers.

  As his hands ran through her hair, they became entangled in the matted the sand, which resulted from their romp on the beach. He heard her muffled giggle from beneath his mouth.

  “Did I hurt you again?” He quickly pulled away.

  She took his hands in her to keep him from doing any more damage. “It’s okay … well worth it.” She looked up to him from under her eyelids.

  He watched in her awe, as the breeze blew her dark hair from her face, and sat in wonder that he could ever be so lucky to have met a girl, like her.

  Chapter 26

  “Is everybody ready?” Terrance grinned down to the group, who were finishing their luau feast.

  Ten hopeful women clapped in response, screaming with excitement as the dancers filed in behind him on the soft grass.

  “Bring on the dancing!” Tina yelled, holding her pina coloda in the air.

  Anne shook her head, thankful that it was just their small group here to experience the luau. Although she’d almost come to appreciate Tina’s capricious nature, she knew someone else, on the outside, may not.

  Earlier in the afternoon, they toured the center and learned about Polynesian culture. She and most of the girls marveled at everything they learned, taking it all in like sponges. From grass woven necklaces to the huli huli pig, which had been set in the ground in a pit not far from them, Anne was drawn to how they used raw resources for their every day living. She was surprised to learn that even their tattoos were applied with wooden sticks, stones, and ink.

  She watched Tina’s overzealous mood, and shook her head. She thought that after such an educational afternoon, they all would be reverent to what they were about to see … but she reminded herself this was Tina … the loud girl without a drink in her hand, let alone adding a few cocktails to the mix.

  “How many of those has she had?” Kamryn leaned over and asked quietly. She didn’t want the other girls to overhear.