“These have got to be the nastiest, ugliest clothes I have ever seen. Please don’t tell me that you chose these bleak, colorless, shapeless sacks?”
I shrugged. “Annette did. But I don’t mind them. They look fine to me. Comfortable and cool. Perfect for the humidity. And they’re functional. See the khaki pants and cotton tops? I can go from school in those straight to helping Daniel at the welding workshop, not a problem. Just cover them up with overalls. They’re timeless classics.”
Simone’s lip curled in distaste. “Classics are just another way of describing boring and old. If I was Daniel, I would set fire to your clothes on purpose. The only thing worth saving in this entire collection is this pair of shoes. Louboutins. I’m sooooo jealous.” He slipped on the shoes and looked at himself in the mirror. “Daniel must love you for your mind. And the inner workings of your beautiful spirit. Because it’s surely not because of what you do with your exterior.”
My phone chose to beep right at that moment, sparing me from having to come up with a suitable reply. Simone rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t tell me that’s Daniel now. Can’t you two even have one night apart without any kissy-kissy love talk?”
I just poked my tongue at him and checked my phone, my face lighting up at the message display. “No, it’s not Daniel. It’s Jason.”
Simone looked intrigued. In a scandalized way. “Ooooh, the hot blonde volcano man? Leila, I’m shocked. Get on with your bad self. Phone sexting two guys?”
“I am not phone sexting anybody.” I busied myself with texting a reply. “Jason’s a friend. That’s all. He’s in American Samoa but his team is coming back here next week. He wants to meet up. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has requested their return because of the recent volcanic activity on the island. As a precaution.” Because I summoned a mini-volcano to take out Sarona and her sisters. Because I had disrupted the natural seismic order of things. Those were things I couldn’t say out loud. Even to Simone.
“Soooo, volcano man is coming back to see you then?”
“No, Jason is coming back to Samoa to work. To study volcano stuff. Stop making this more than it is.”
Simone faked aggrieved innocence. “What? Who me? See dalashious wickedness where there is none? Never.” He arched an eyebrow at me. “And what does the rugby god think about this thang you got going on with Jason?”
I had to laugh at Simone’s code names. Even as I battled with unease at the thought of seeing Jason face to face. Soon there would be no more excuses for not telling him the truth. The whole truth and nothing but the truth. And then there was the slightly sticky issue of his love declaration. We would have to tackle that one head-on as well. “Daniel knows that Jason is not a ‘thang’. Daniel knows that Jason is a friend. A very good friend. Daniel trusts me and my choice of friends.” I narrowed my eyes at Simone. “I don’t know why though because I’m friends with you and nobody is more wicked than you. If I was Daniel, I would be far more worried about his girlfriend hanging out with someone who keeps sending her pictures of half-naked guys on her phone.”
“Nothing wrong with looking, Leila. Look but don’t touch. You have to just touch with your eyes. I’m only helping you keep your options open. For when you get bored with the rugby god.” He rolled his eyes. Again. “Who am I kidding? Who could ever get bored with such chiseled perfection?” He leapt across the bed, threw open the window, and struck a dramatic pose, calling out into the darkness, “Oh Daniel, wherefore art thou, Daniel?”
I chucked a pillow at him and in the ensuing laughter the Jason topic was forgotten. For now.
Nervous. Freaked out. Excited. Happy. Impatient. All those words pretty much described how I felt about seeing Jason again. It made sense though, right? I had spent two months avoiding the facts with my best friend. Too chicken to do it. Worried. What if Jason (rightfully) decided to hate me for it? What if he never wanted to speak to me again?
Just like I had been avoiding talking to Jason about the fact that, while on his death bed, he had told me (and a room full of his science team mates, nurses, and my boyfriend) that he was in love with me.
Leila, staring death in the face has that effect on a guy, you know? It makes you realize what’s important, that we shouldn’t waste a single moment. I love you.
And now here we were, Daniel and I. At the Amanaki Restaurant on the Apia ocean front, waiting to have lunch with Jason. He had spent three weeks in American Samoa doing volcano things and had gotten in the night before. I couldn’t wait to see him. But it was freaking me out. Jason in person? Fully conscious? With Daniel by my side?
I was prepped for awkward. Tense. Possibly torturous.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the woman that Jason walked into the restaurant with. Her hand in his. A petite young woman in skimpy shorts and a midriff-baring tank top that barely held her abundant curves in check. She was tiny. Even in platform heels she only came up to Jason’s shoulder. Her bleached hair fell in shimmering waves to her waist and she tossed it over her shoulder artfully as she stumbled over the step, half-falling against Jason, who caught her easily in his arms. She giggled and gazed up at him. She looked like a brown Barbie doll.
I hated her instantly.
But I didn’t have long to think about why because Jason had caught sight of us and that familiar heart-tugging grin was reassuring me that yes, it really was him. My surfing instructor, island tour guide, volcano expert, and self-appointed fire goddess scientist.
“Leila!”
The next minute, I was in his arms, closing my eyes against his warmth, the sun-kissed familiar scent of him. Into my hug I poured all the chaotic emotions that I had bottled up over the past weeks, trying to stifle the sour taste of guilt with the sweetness of relief and gratitude that he was okay. He drew back a little so he could smile into my eyes, kissing me lightly on the forehead. Almost at the exact same time we both exclaimed.
“I missed you.”
The jinx had us both erupting into laughter and he pulled me into a fierce bear hug again. Over his shoulder I could see the Barbie doll. She didn’t look happy. I was sorely tempted to make a face at her and grab Jason’s butt. Just to irritate her further. But conscious of the quiet presence behind me, I ended the hug instead and stepped back to take Daniel’s hand in mine.
“Jason, I’d like you to meet Daniel.”
The two exchanged a quick handshake. If there was tension, I couldn’t feel it. “We’ve actually met before, but I doubt you would remember. I was with Leila at the hospital when you were sick. You were pretty out of it.”
Jason winced. “Ugh, that’s one nightmare I’m still trying to forget. You know, the doctors back home still haven’t been able to figure out exactly what was wrong with me? Or why I got better? All they can tell me is that I’m lucky to be alive.”
My breath caught on the web of my deceit. I felt sick inside. Sensing the evaporation of my happy bubble, Daniel squeezed my hand. “It’s great that you’re okay. I know that Leila was worried about you. She was willing to give up everything, hoping that a cure would be found for you.”
Daniel smiled at me and in his eyes I read his unspoken message. It’s not your fault. You have nothing to feel badly about here. You risked your life for him, Leila. Stop beating yourself up over this. I smiled back at him. I love you Daniel. Can you read what my eyes, my heart, my every breath, my every fiber and particle is whispering to you?
Jason looped an arm over my shoulder for another quick hug. “I know you were there for me, Leila. Thank you.”
Behind us a petulant voice asked, “Baby, aren’t you going to introduce me?” The Barbie. Of course. How could we forget the Barbie?
Jason reached for her with a smile so enveloping that it stunned me. He looked utterly and completely possessed by her. I had seen that look somewhere before. Where?
“I’m sorry. This is Lesina Agiao.” He held her close by his side, nestled within a protective embrace. “My fiancé.”
&n
bsp; I couldn’t stop it. Shock ripped it from me. “Your what?!” Heads in the restaurant turned. Daniel nudged me warningly. Cool it, Leila. Keep it together now …
Jason was oblivious to my horror. He had eyes only for the girl beside him. “Yes, I wanted to marry her right away, but Lesina insisted that we wait a while so she could meet my family and stuff like that.”
“But when did you meet each other?” I glared at Jason. “I Skyped you before I flew out of D.C. and you never said anything about her.” I was spluttering. “Why didn’t you tell me then you had a girlfriend?”
Barbie answered me this time. With syrupy sweetness. “Jason and I met two weeks ago. I was visiting my family in American Samoa for the school break and volunteering at the National Parks and Reserves office when we met. And well, the rest just happened.”
She stood on tip-toe so she could kiss Jason on the cheek and it made me want to vomit. “Two weeks? You hardly know each other. This is ridic …”
Daniel swiftly interrupted me. “Really awesome. Congratulations you two. Shall we order lunch? Jason, why don’t you two go ahead? I just need to talk to Leila for a quick minute. If you’ll excuse us?”
Without waiting for a reply, Daniel grabbed my hand and walked us away from the dining area and out onto the restaurant deck, out of sight of the other couple. He was incredulous. “What is wrong with you? I know you feel guilty that he nearly died because of your mom but do you think being rude to his girlfriend is going to make things better? Can’t you see how into her he is?”
I winced, struggling to stay calm. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It caught me off guard, that’s all. He was like my best friend last year and it hurts that he wouldn’t tell me about some girl he’s crazy in love with.”
The sentiment sounded artificial, even to me. I threw my hands up in despair. “What am I saying? He did so much to help me, but I’ve lied to him about what happened with the Sisterhood. I’m a crappy friend, the last person who should be getting mad when her best friend keeps secrets.”
Daniel pulled me close, encircling me in his arms. “Come here.” A kiss on my cheek, a whisper. “No, you’re not a bad friend. You’re a girl who gives everything for the people she cares about. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so I’m a reliable witness.”
“No, you’re a biased witness.” I wilted in his embrace, my head on his chest. Listening. Ah, there it was. Daniel’s heartbeat. Strong, sure, steady. Constant. I smiled up at him. “I love that.”
“What?”
“Your heartbeat. It always calms me. Steadies me.”
A wry smile. “That’s funny.”
“Why?”
“Because having you near me doesn’t calm me or soothe me at all. Quite the opposite.” The deep timbre of his voice so close to my ear almost had a growl to it. A quick glance at his face confirmed it. He wasn’t joking. His eyes glinted with an emerald intensity that sent ripples of fire into the pit of my stomach.
He bent and his mouth claimed mine with a fierce possession that surprised me. Daniel’s kiss consumed me and for a moment we were the only people in the restaurant, in the world, in the universe. When we finally broke apart, it was so he could cradle my face in his hands. “Nothing about you calms me. Everything about you turns my world upside down.”
“Ahh, but in a good way, right?”
A groan. “In a very frustrating way.”
I didn’t think I wanted to even start trying to decipher what his words really meant. Instead I blushed my invisible brown girl blush and wished we were alone somewhere. Like at our secret mountain pool. With nothing but green walls and blue sky for company.
He released me. “Come on, we better get back there. Before Jason thinks we’ve run away because you hate his fiancé.”
Lunch for everyone else was fun. Light-hearted conversation as Jason filled us in on his latest research project. But for me, the hour was painful. Lesina had a nasal giggle and I struggled not to make a puke face every time she laughed. When the torment was finally over and we were in Daniel’s truck, only then, did I let loose.
“Who wears clothes like that to lunch at a restaurant in Samoa? She looked like she’d just come straight from strutting her merchandise on Hollywood Boulevard or something.”
A shrug from Daniel. “I thought she looked nice.”
“Nice? Whatever. That’s just because you’re a guy. And whenever there’s boobs involved, guys will always think a girl looks nice.”
He faked a shocked exclamation, Simone style. “She had boobs? Really? No way.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Like you didn’t see them. They were practically falling out of her top. They walked into the restaurant before she did.”
“I didn’t notice.”
“And her hair. Ugh. That bleached look is so trashy.”
“Hmm.” A non-committal sound that meant nothing. And everything. But I was on a roll and didn’t need any encouragement.
“I don’t know which was worse though, the hair or the shoes. They looked like something Naomi Campbell would fall down in on the runway. This is Apia, for freak’s sake. There isn’t a single sidewalk or road here without cracks, potholes, and gravel slips. I bet she just wears shoes like that so she can fake an excuse to hang on to Jason.” I assumed a syrupy breathless voice. “Ooh, Jason, you’re soooo strong. Soooo big. I don’t know why I keep falling over in these stupid shoes and rubbing my chest all over you.”
Daniel laughed. “Leave the poor girl alone. Listen to you. You’re a nut, you know that don’t you?” He turned into the familiar driveway and brought the truck to a halt in the shade of the frangipani tree. There was nobody home, and the quiet peace of Matile’s luxuriant garden was a welcome change from the dust and noise of town. He turned the engine off before giving me his trademark crooked smile. “I’m just glad he’s wild in love. With someone other than my girlfriend.”
But I wasn’t done. Nowhere near it. “I don’t get it. It doesn’t make any sense. Jason barely knows her. Why would he ask her to marry him? I mean, who does that? Who wants to be with someone forever when they’ve only known each other for two weeks?”
He rolled his eyes and answered me drily. “I know. Crazy. It took me at least six weeks to know I couldn’t live without you. And even then, I had to see you on fire and naked first.”
“Daniel!” I didn’t know whether to punch him or laugh. So I did both. He dodged me easily.
“What?” Innocent face. “Just saying it like it is. You were this vampy seductress, luring me to your midnight pool of dark desire so you could entrap me with your gleaming, wet body.”
Outrage. “I did not.”
“Did so. And now I’m doomed. You’ve stolen all of my forevers.”
“What do you mean?”
Daniel wasn’t teasing anymore. “I mean that no matter what future path I dream up for myself, you’re in every one of them.”
My breath caught on the permanence of his words. Daniel talking about forever was too much for me to handle. As if sensing that he had revealed too much, Daniel moved back to safer topics. “I’m guessing that you don’t like Jason’s fiancé. Even though she seemed like a very nice person.” A light shrug. “Hey, I noticed she had Diet Coke at lunch. And she ordered two different desserts. Kinda like someone else I know. That’s enough for you to forge a friendship on. You two could be soul sisters.”
“Nowhere near it. All I know is that you are the worst person to dog on girls with. I wish Simone had been there. He would know what I was talking about.”
“I like Simone, but I for one, am glad that he’s not here with us right now.”
“Oh yeah? Why not?” I was in an argumentative mood. Ready to do battle over nothing and everything.
“Because I’m tired of talking about Jason and his girlfriend. Because then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He leaned over to kiss me, his hands slipping to twine through my hair.
Wow, twice in one afternoon. Daniel wasn’t usually th
is generous with his kisses. I wasn’t complaining though. I wasn’t sure what had gotten into him, but I liked it. I angled my body so I could get maximum coverage and yelped in surprise when he lifted me easily, shifting so that I was sitting in his lap. The discomfort of the steering wheel meant I was crushed against the hard expanse of his body with nowhere to go. I wriggled, trying to get more comfortable and his kiss became even more urgent. He fisted handfuls of my hair and it got very hot inside the truck, very fast. Rivulets of sweat trickled down my back as his mouth left mine so he could breathe kisses along the edge of my cheek, down the side of my neck, the pulse point of my throat. Every nerve ending of my body was aflame with something indefinable. I wanted to incinerate his clothing and mine, remove every barrier between us. I wanted to feel the planes of his chest with my fingers. Skin against skin. Thoughts blurred to become actions. I pushed his shirt up, exploring smooth contours and ridged abs. I was careful to dance lightly over the fresh tattoo patternings but still, I wanted more. My fingers moved lower. Grazing hip-bone, the waistband of his shorts, the dip and curve that hinted of more.
That was all it took to shock Daniel out of the delicious place that we were in.
“Hey. Enough.” The kisses stopped. He restrained my hands in his and carefully held them away from him. Thanks to the confined space, there wasn’t much he could do about everywhere else that our bodies were touching. I shifted in his lap and he winced. A shamefaced grin.
“Umm, can you please move back over to your side of the truck?”
Innocent face. “You’re the one who invited me over here.” I leaned over to whisper in his ear. “And I like it right here where I am. Are you sure you want me to move?”
His answer was to lift me off his lap. “Yes. Being in a car alone with you is not a good idea. I need some air.”
He opened the door and got out to lean against the truck. I scooted over and clambered out the open door, going to stand beside him. A nudge. “You’re not mad at me, are you?”
A grin. “No, of course not. Just wish you weren’t so damn hot.” He tugged me to him, holding me against his body with fingers lightly clasped behind my back.
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