by S. L. Scott
“I’m glad you’re here. Yeah, let’s celebrate. Have you been to a luau? You told me before you want to go to one before you leave. My family is having one tonight. I want you to come with me.”
“Oh, um, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’d like to talk now,” I say, knowing there are a few choice words I want to say to him, but unlike him, I’d prefer to say them in private.
Looking over his shoulder at his dad, who is beaming and shaking hands with other spectators, he turns back and says, “Well, I kind of have to go now. Come with me. We can talk there.”
I’m too angry inside and need to right this wrong that has gone on too long. I can’t let this slide any longer, so I agree. “I guess I’ll come for a bit, but we need to talk—”
“Great! Meet me over in the parking lot in ten, okay?”
“Fine,” I say, my chipper tone to most would render me untrustworthy, but he takes it at face value. I need to get this over and done with, location is irrelevant to me. I turn on my heel and walk back to the t-shirt booth. This is right. This is what I should’ve done over a month ago. Evan was right. I can see the lies behind Noah’s eyes so clearly now and I can’t wait to call him out. His victory party just might turn out to be my own personal celebration.
I let Sunny know I’m going with Noah. She’s shocked by this revelation and warns against it, but I can’t let this opportunity slip away. “What am I supposed to tell Zach if he asks about you? You know he’s with Evan today.”
“I don’t want you to lie, but I need to settle things. I can’t let this drag out any longer.”
“Like settling a score?” she asks, eyebrows raised.
“Don’t be so dramatic!” I laugh. “I’ve got to resolve this, not for Noah, but for me…and Evan. It’s time I set things straight with both of them and since I’m not with Evan, I’m starting with Noah.”
I meet Noah in the parking lot at his Jeep. He has the engine already going and the trophy loaded in the back with his board strapped on top. He’s excited and the sheer happiness on his face is kind of contagious. The friendship we’ve shared is starting to override the memories of the tug-of-war he made me play against Evan. When he takes off down the road, his tires leave a trail of rubber on the cement behind and I hold on to the side for safety.
“Mallory,” he starts, raising his voice above the wind blowing through the open-air Jeep. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry about last night at the party. I shouldn’t have said those things in front everyone. My temper took over. I’m sorry.”
“You humiliated me, Noah,” I say, anger coating my tone. “Why would you do that? Why would you hurt me like that?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was trying to show everyone that Ashford treats you like every other girl he’s ever had sex with. You’re not special to him like you are to me. You were blinded by the money. I get that, but he’s all surface and show, Mallory.”
A gasp escapes me at his insult and I feel disappointment color my expression. “You think so little of me. I guess this is good to find out now.” Feeling betrayed, I want to leave, hiding how his words, his true feelings, hurt me, but I don’t. I have to be strong and finish what I started by coming here with him. I take a deep breath. “Listen Noah. I’m gonna say this once, so pay attention. Evan means a lot to me. I’m not gonna lie or downplay how important he is. What I share with him is real and he treats me well, better than you think. He treats me like he loves me and that’s all I want from someone I’m with.”
He pulls into a lot and parks, killing the engine and hopping out. I get out and meet him at the front of the car, trying to keep him focused. Clearly he’s not focused on me at the moment. I can’t blame him for that, though. I do feel a lot of other blame can be placed squarely on his shoulders. “We need to talk about this now.”
“We’ll talk, but my family is waiting. Let’s go over and say hi, and then we can take a walk on the beach and talk.” He turns and walks ahead, across the short green grass of the park toward the beach picnic area.
I trudge behind him and watch over the next hour as his family grows in numbers and he has to spend time with each arriving member. I swim in my own irritation, unfriendly, and unwavering in my anger waiting on him.
The sky turns dark and I’m tired, extra pissed, and ready to talk, so I call him over.
He jogs toward me, apologetic. “I’m sorry, but winning today is my dream come true. I kind of got caught up in the party. You want a beer or something?”
“No. Can we finish talking, please?”
He rolls his eyes, shaking his head as if he’s been waiting for this confrontation all along. The way he’s playing this off fuels my irritation. “Why are you so mad?” he asks. “I was honest with you, which was more than Ashford was and you’re throwing it in my face. So go ahead and shoot, Mallory. I can take it. Just know before you get pissier, I actually like you.”
“You’re being so self-centered.” I mimic his eye-roll. “This… this expectation you seem to be holding onto between us, it’s got to stop.”
“So Ashford finally got to you. I knew he would.” His cocky side starts to come out. “I kind of expected it sooner. He must be losing his touch.”
My hands fly to the air, representing my temper that I lose control of. “Evan didn’t work on me or turn me against you, Noah. You did a fine job all on your own. Last night proved that to me.”
“He’s got you fooled,” he says, shaking his head in disappointment. “You leave in a month. Do you really think he’s going to be faithful once you leave? Hell, he wasn’t faithful with you here. You heard that girl at the party. He’s been talking to her all along—”
“No, he hasn’t. I know it’s a lie. I know it.”
“How? How can you tell? I’ve seen him lie with a confident smile on his face, believing his own bullshit.”
I look off toward the ocean and the reflection of the moon on the choppy waters before crossing my arms and looking back up at him, staring him in the eyes. “He didn’t cheat. I believe him. He loves me and he wouldn’t hurt me.”
“He only declared his undying love for you because you were leaving with me, baby,” he says as he reaches for me, stroking my cheek.
“Don’t call me that and don’t touch me! You only pursued me because Evan was interested. You covered your lies in the charade of a friendship. Were we ever real friends, Noah? Did you ever really like me? Because if these are your true colors than you win and I lose because I trusted you.”
“You’re no loser and we met before I knew about Ashford being in the picture, but even I can man up, unlike him, and admit, it did make the chase more appealing.” He chuckles, looking away briefly. When his eyes target mine again, he says, “Then I wanted to fuck you to prove a point to Ashford. But I didn’t take that further because I actually care about you.” His hand touches my cheek again and his voice is softer as if that will take the sting from the words he confessed. “He’s a fuck-up, Mallory. I’m a winner. I got the trophy to prove it today.” He laughs. “I know you feel the chemistry between us. Give us a chance.”
I turn from his touch, the contact prickling my skin as a warning. “I said don’t touch me.”
Offense is written all over his face and his jaw hardens, all hope disappearing from his eyes. “I think you’re right. Let’s skip the foreplay and celebrate my win with a first place fuck.” His large hands reach around my body, grabbing me by my ass and pulling me roughly against him. Just as he leans in for a kiss, I start to struggle, but his hands hold me firmly in place, so I can’t back away or take a swing at him like I really want to do.
I finally manage enough strength to shove back, which is like pushing off of a brick wall—unmoving, and intimidating.
“Noah!” I scream, shocked by his abrasiveness and audacity, wondering how far he would have taken things if we weren’t surrounded by others.
“C’mon, baby. How long are we gonna pretend we don’t want this?” he a
sks, signaling between us. “I’ve seen you check me out more than a few times.”
I feel dirty, dumbfounded by what an asshole he’s become. But with his new found confidence, that I assume he got from winning the surf contest, I realize he’s serious. He actually believes I want him. My hand goes out to stop him. “So let me get this straight. You think I’ve been ‘pretending’ to not want to sleep with you? For real?”
“Oh, there’d be no sleeping involved, sexy,” he says smugly, grabbing me against him again.
I don’t know if it’s his face, his gall, what he said about me at the Ashford’s party, his complete lack of respect for Evan being in my life, or maybe all of the above, but the emotions that have been simmering inside of me the last twenty-four hours boil over when he calls me baby again. Only Evan has earned that right. Feeling strong—mentally and physically—I slap his face, a knee-jerk reaction before logic catches up.
When the palm of my hand makes contact across his cheek, the sting is immediate, like a bed of tiny needles piercing my skin. I stumble back, grabbing my hand and squeezing it into a fist to fight the searing pain. “Holy Hell!” My eyes begin to water as the pain holds steady.
Noah’s laughing, but it’s the loud snarl from a few feet away that grabs my attention. There stands Evan and I lose all feeling of pain as my eyes connect with his, my heart soaring as everything becomes clear in that moment. Evan is everything that matters. He’s mine and I’m his and all of our good intentions are good enough.
His eyes hold only love for me as he comes closer. Taking my hand in his, he brings it to his mouth and kisses it. The sense of relief I feel from his tenderness heals all wounds. I just want to leave with him, escape to our own world, wishing I could take away all the bad that’s ever been and love him forever.
But Evan has different ideas about how the next few minutes are going to go. And just like how he’s passionate about me, the flip side to that passion is his hatred for Noah. When I see his expression, eyes glaring at his enemy, I know it’s too late. My heart is pounding in my chest, my head spinning as I try to figure out how I’m going to stop a war that’s already begun.
“Evan, Stop!” I hear my dad yelling as I make a dash from the hospital to the car. I see red after what that hospital clerk told me and I’ve got to go and now!
Zach and Murphy catch up to me. They block my path, and Zach, the voice of sanity says, “Kalei’s entire family will be there. We’ll be out numbered.”
Murphy hits him in the chest. “You chickening out, brah?”
“Fuck no, but he has a big fucking family and I don’t feel like spending the next week in the hospital.”
I fume, no reasoning left in my mind. I’m ready to take Noah on once and for all. “This has been a long time coming. I’m going with or without you.” I cross my arms over my chest and throw down an ultimatum. “You in or out, Z?”
“If you’re going, you know I’ll be there, man.”
I shake his hand and nod once.
“Evan!” my dad calls just as I’m about to leave. He walks with purpose with his eyes focused on me. “I know you’re angry, but is chasing Noah down really going to give you the answers you need to feel better? The result you want?”
“Absolutely!” I lock eyes with his, trying to match the intensity I’ve seen him use many times in the boardroom.
He grabs me, pulling me by the neck toward him, forcing my forehead against his. With our eyes still engaged, he lowers his voice and says, “You’ve been absent from my life for too long. Don’t go waging a war that could end in your demise. I don’t want to lose you a second time.”
I reach my arms around his neck and nod in understanding. “You won’t. We’ll win this round. I need to do this, but I need to know I have your support.” In that moment, I realize I’m about two inches taller than him. He’s right. I’ve been so absent from my life that I don’t remember growing up? “Are you with us?”
“I can’t support violence, so I hope you cool down. But you’ve been hurt. We all have, so there’s nowhere else I would be right now. If you’re there, I’m there, but I’m driving.” He backs up and starts for his car.
Murphy says, “You’re really going, Hugh?”
He stops and smiles. If I wasn’t paying attention, I might have missed the devious glint in his eyes when he says, “Yes, I am. Not the smartest decision I’ve made recently, but my boy has been wronged, so I need to be there for him.”
Trying to keep my mouth from dropping open, I tense my jaw instead. I hold back the feelings of joy wanting to overcome me, trying to save it for later. As much as I want to savor in the fact that my dad is willing to go to protect me, to help me, and to support me simply to be there for me, I can’t get lost in the niceties of the moment. I need to hold onto the anger and pain I feel inside by being broken by the Kalei family.
Murphy and Zach chuckle. Murphy says, “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back, Sir.”
“That’s good to know because I’ll probably need it.”
I know my best friends well enough to know they’re in the car behind us psyching themselves up, probably placing a wager on who gets the most hits in. I can appreciate that. But my father and I sit in a tension-filled silence. As we pull into the parking lot, with my hand on the door lever, I whisper, “Thank you.”
He looks over at me and nods his head. I jump out and start running toward the gathering of Noah’s family. I hear Zach behind me yelling to my dad, “You sure you’re ready to fight.”
“Damn sure, but try to talk first, boys. Always try to talk it through first.”
“Okay, old man. Let’s go serve some justice,” Zach says, patting my dad on the back.
“Well, all-righty. Let’s go get those lying bastards,” Murphy says, elevating his voice as we jog to the luau on the beach.
A commotion up ahead draws my eye. I spot Mallory…in Noah’s arms, but I can’t hear what’s being said as she pushes him away and slaps him across the face. “Holy Hell!” she screams as she stumbles backward. He’s laughing at her, which pisses me off even more, but then the scene before me registers.
I stop shocked by what is playing out before my eyes. “Holy shit,” I say, stunned when I see Mallory slapping Noah Kalei. That’s my girlfriend taking care of herself. And to think I foolishly thought I’d be saving her. I knew I loved her, but that right there shows me the firecracker that she was that first day I met her. My girlfriend is a fucking badass.
But there’s no time to revel in her greatness because the damage he’s caused me and my family weighs heavy on my mind and my hands fist. I start running again, ready to settle all past pains and lies. And as much as I love that I didn’t have to point out what an ass he really is, it also doesn’t change my feelings of wanting to punch his face in for touching my girl.
When I reach her, I take her hurt hand in mine and kiss it gently. Looking at it, it’s red, but she’s gonna be fine. I place another kiss on her knuckles and whisper into her ear, “We’re gonna talk, but right now, I need you to back away, baby.”
“Why?” she asks, her gaze shifting to Noah then back to me.
Keeping my voice low, for her ears alone, I kindly ask, “Will you please back up for your own safety?” I turn ready to attack Noah, verbally first.
Mallory grabs my arm and moves closer. “No! Why? I don’t want you fighting.”
I turn back to her, hearing the plea beneath the demand. “Can you please listen to me and not be so stubborn this time. This isn’t about you…Well, it is about you, but it’s mainly about the lies these motherfuckers had me believe.”
Noah crosses his arms after taking a step forward. “Who you calling motherfucker, fucker?”
“You, because you are,” I spew back at him.
“Actually, speaking of motherfuckers,” he starts smugly, “your mother does have a fine as—”
My dad cuts in, his face as stern as his tone. “That’s my wife, Noah! Kindly refrain from talking about
her.”
Kekoa Kalei, Noah’s father flanks his son’s side, as well as a few of his cousins that make up his gang of misfits. Kekoa tries to reason with Noah. “Son, he’s right. Don’t be disrespectful.”
“That’s a joke.” I step forward pointing my finger between Noah and Kekoa. “How could you do it? Lani loved me and you let me think I killed her, like it was my fault she died. I didn’t have a chance and you knew that all along. That’s disrespectful to her memory.”
“What are you rambling about, Ashford?” Noah asks, his feet anchoring into the sand with his body on the defense.
“I know about Lani’s heart. I know how she really died. The tear in her heart caused her death, not my inability to save her.” My hands fist at my sides. “You knew and you didn’t tell me. We used to be good friends, Noah, best friends. How can you be so fucking cruel?”
“Listen, Hugh, I don’t know where you and Evan got this information, but it’s not—” Kekoa starts.
“Don’t, Kekoa! We know the truth now. We settled with you out of court because I believed your pain, I saw the anguish in my son as you let him believe he caused your daughter’s death. I wanted to end his suffering in public. He was persecuted in the papers and you allowed that, you lied.” I watch my dad standing tall and powerful, sure of his every word.
I nod, agreeing with him when I’m struck by a surprise blow to my left cheek and fall to the ground, sand flying into my face.
“Evan!” Mallory screams.
When I look up, all hell breaks loose. The cousins attack Zach and Murphy, and I snap up, putting my hand on Mallory’s middle to push her behind me. “Move back, baby!”
I run forward, landing a right hook across Noah’s shocked face and follow through with a left punch to his stomach, which sends him stumbling backward. I see Murphy in my peripheral tossing one guy into the sand. I glance to my right and find Zach already rolling in the sand with another, appearing to have things under control. I look for Mallory, who’s standing there horrified with her hands over her mouth. When I turn back, Noah is in full swing motion. I’m too fast for him and I duck. He stumbles a bit, landing his fist straight on my dad’s jaw. My dad flinches, but quickly resumes his composure and swings, taking Noah down with one smooth direct punch.