Aloha in Love

by Watts, Jennifer

  Lance pronounces us man and wife, and Kane lifts me into his arms and kisses me. At the same time, the sun dips below the horizon, the sky flashing an intense emerald green. Our friends get to their feet and cheer, before swarming us with breath-stealing hugs. After he’s had enough attention, Kane scoops me into his arms and carries me to his Jeep. He sets me down on the passenger seat and buckles me in with great care, trying not to wrinkle my dress.

  “Mrs. Keo.” He speaks in that gravelly voice that I’ve come to love so much. “Mmm…I like the sound of that. I might want to hear you screaming that later tonight.”

  “Make me then,” I tease, and his eyes darken a shade.

  “Oh, I plan to.”

  Kane parks in front of Salty’s. When he leads me into the backyard, my jaw hits the floor. The space is transformed by tropical flowers, palm fronds, flickering candles in mason jars, and twinkling white lights draped over every surface.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

  “It’s what you deserve. I’d do anything for you.” Kane lifts my hand to kiss my knuckles.

  I wander towards the white linen tables, each displaying a veritable smorgasbord of food. I offered to cook everything myself, but Kane wouldn’t have it and Adele insisted on catering. I drew the line at my wedding cake, which was important to me, and I’m filled with happiness at Kayla’s display of my macadamia-crusted coconut cupcakes on a hand painted surfboard. Once the last of our friends have arrived, Adele asks everyone to take their seats.

  Kane leads me onto the makeshift dance floor in the center of the dining area. Elvis Presley’s “Hawaiian Wedding Song” plays in the background; Kane shakes his head at the musical choice, but he’s smiling. It was my pick, but as he moves effortlessly across the wood planks with me in his arms, I know it’s a tune we’ll never forget. The feeling is one that I’ll never forget either, and my eyes brim with tears as I gaze at the bright starry sky.

  “Why are you crying, Lani?”

  My eyes find his as salt droplets drip down my nose. “Because I’m too happy.”

  “Too happy?” He laughs, but I can see the understanding in his eyes.

  “I feel like my chest is about to burst open.”

  His eyes dip into the low neck of my dress, and he traces the hemline with his thumb. “Now we can’t have that, can we? I love this chest.”

  I try to swat his arm away, but he laughs even harder and tugs me close. “I never thought I’d find happiness again. I never thought I’d deserve it.”

  “You deserve everything, Kane Keo, and I want to give it to you.”

  “You already have,” he whispers, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “More than you’ll ever know. I’ll never be the person I was before meeting you, even if I’m always a bit broken. Losing a child, I guess you never come back from that, but you’ve shown me how to find joy again. You’ve shown me that despite everything, it’s possible to take risks—and to love, even if I’m not good at it.”

  “You’re good at it, Kane.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “Besides, there’s no right way. It’s whatever you feel in your heart.”

  “You are in my heart. Only you.”

  His answer brings tears to my eyes, but I swipe them away, like memories I don’t need anymore. The song ends and Pancho switches to something more upbeat, hoping to get the guests on their feet. Kane and I sample the food, handing out cupcakes as we visit each table. The evening is casual but intimate, and far more than I could’ve asked for on my wedding night. The night wears on and Adele heads home for her beauty sleep. A few others, including Pancho and his family, say their goodbyes as well. Eventually, it’s just Kayla, Taylor, Lance, Kane, and myself left inside.

  Kane pours everyone—including himself—a small glass of champagne. We toast to good food, good friends, and Paia, which Taylor follows up with “And to us!” He’s about to throw back his drink, when his eyes lock with something behind my head. I glance over my shoulder to see what’s so interesting, and I can’t help but smirk at Kayla’s surf calendar tacked to the wall, open to none other than Miss July.

  “What the hell is that?” He snaps, getting to his feet.

  “What?” Kane’s eyes flit around the room.

  Taylor gets off his stool and stalks behind the bar, ripping the calendar from the wall. “This!” He waves the glossy paper in Kane’s face.

  “A calendar?” Kane answers, giving him a funny look. “Ashley put it up.”

  “Why did you put it on the wall?” He shouts, turning his wrath on me.

  “Because Kayla is beautiful and the calendar is awesome,” I say with a shrug.

  “It’s not appropriate.”

  “She’s fully clothed.”

  “You mean barely clothed?”

  “Something about my ass must really offend you.” Kayla says.

  The two of them lock eyes in one hell of a stare down. I let myself fade into the background, not wanting any part of this moment.

  “So, you like having your ass on display for everyone to see?” Taylor asks.

  “It’s just a surf calendar, man,” Lance starts, though he wisely shuts up upon seeing the look on Taylor’s face.

  Taylor speaks through clenched teeth. “It’s not going up on that wall again.”

  “Shove off, Akana! It’s not your decision to make. It’s not your bar!” Kayla shouts.

  “I’m Kane’s best friend and occasional business partner, so it damn well is my decision. Kane?” He snaps, turning his attention to my husband.

  Kane raises his hands in surrender. “I’m staying out of this one.”

  “Yeah? What if it was a calendar of Ashley?”

  “On second thought, burn the goddamn calendar if you want. It’s not going up again.”

  “Real helpful, Kane,” Kayla snorts, turning to me instead. “Men think that they have domain over everything.”

  “Not everything,” Taylor begins, his eyes lingering a little too long on her face.

  “Ugh!” Kayla throws up her hands. “Keep the fucking calendar, for all I care! I’m going home. Sorry guys, congratulations to you both.” She kisses my cheek and nods to Kane.

  “Don’t be sorry,” I say, softly. “Get home safely.”

  “I’ll take you,” Taylor offers.

  “Uh, hell no?” She shakes her head like he’s crazy. “Lance is giving me a ride.”

  “I said I’ll take you!” I watch Taylor’s hands curl into fists, scrunching the calendar into a ball.

  “And I said that I have a ride.”

  As entertaining as I find their banter, I’m relieved when Kayla and Lance finally make their exit. Jamie comes to say goodbye and surprises me with a hug for Kane. She’s been cautious with him, giving him a hard time at every opportunity, but she has a newfound respect for Kane that warms my heart.

  “Take care of my best friend,” she says.

  “She’s my best friend, too—and I will, always.”

  “I know you will…or else.” She grins and punches him in the arm. Jamie barely comes up to his chest, but he mock-flinches anyways and rubs his wound.

  Taylor lets Jamie know that he’s leaving, having agreed to take her home. He bids us a distracted goodbye and stalks out of Salty’s with a confused looking Jamie in tow.

  “What the hell was that about?” Kane asks, sliding his arms around me from behind and resting one hand on my swollen belly.

  “You know exactly what that was about.”

  “Believe me, I don’t.”

  “Me Tarzan, you Jane.” I do an impression, and he spins me around.

  “Taylor? And Kayla? No.”

  “Remember how you acted after my date with Lance?”

  “My sweet, sexy wife,” he murmurs, pulling me closer. “If you want that guy to continue breathing this beautiful Hawaiian air, you will never mention that date again.”

  I roll my eyes. “You’re calling him that guy? Lance was your friend first, remember
?”

  “Some friend,” he responds, but I can tell he’s joking—sort of.

  I shake my head. “What’s with island men and marking their territory?”

  “He knew better. From the moment you set foot in Salty’s, you were mine and I was yours, even though it took us some time to realize it.”

  “Well, I’m glad it took another man to help you come to your senses,” I tease.

  He takes my cheeks in his hands. “You know it wasn’t like that. From the second you opened that luscious mouth of yours, only to demand the biggest margarita that I could make, I ached to be near you. Keeping my distance was almost physically painful.”

  “So glad that I could put you out of your misery,” I laugh, not realizing my words.

  Kane’s eyes soften. “I’m getting there, day-by-day, thanks to you, and now this little gift.” He drops his hand to caress my belly once more. “Aloha au iā ‘oe. I love you, Ashley Keo, more than any language can adequately describe.”

  He kisses me with soft warm lips, and we stay like that for awhile, wrapped up in each others’ arms under a brilliant blanket of stars.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to my husband, Thor, and to my two little men, James and Andrew, for giving me the space to write when I needed it, for helping me select titles and fonts and storylines, and for always being your sharp, curious, and inquisitive selves.

  To the island of Maui: unmatched in your beauty, you are truly one of my favorite places in the world. There aren’t enough words, in any language, to convey the magic you hold. And to our own Hawaii of the North, Savary Island, for being a constant source of inspiration. I written more on your shores in the last six years than I think I have in a lifetime.

  A big, heartfelt thank you to Megan Watt and The Self Publishing Agency for your guidance: to Sarah with her launch expertise, and to Kelsey Straight for her amazing, unmatched, incredible, ninja-like editing skills.

  To my friends and family - my cheer squad - who support and encourage me every day and continue to share my writing with others.

  And to my mom, the woman who gave me a way with words. I am forever grateful, aspiring always to create narratives as beautiful as yours.

  For more titles and information visit www.jenniferwattsauthor.com on Facebook and Instagram @jenniferwattsauthor.