I picked at the plate I kept for myself and got to work cleaning up the kitchen. It was one of my pet peeves to have a dirty kitchen. It was a point of pride for me to keep my workspace clean and organized.
I finished cleaning up and was looking ahead to the next wedding when Ada walked into the kitchen. She was dressed in a long, peach dress that hit her ankles. It looked great with her dark honey skin. She was a beautiful woman, but she wasn’t my woman. I loved Ada, but not the way Kapena did. I was just glad he and I were finally getting along. He was not the kind of guy I liked having on the opposite side from me.
“Everything okay?” Ada asked, giving me a quick hug.
“I’m good. Did Kiana say something to you?”
Ada tilted her head, her dark hair spilling over her shoulder. “No. Why? What happened?”
“I was a few minutes late. I didn’t realize people would be here so early. She got upset.”
“She’ll be fine. She’s stressing because Sawyer’s friends are all coming in a few weeks. I think she’s worried they aren’t going to like her and convince him to move back to Winterville.”
“What’s not to like about living in Hawaii?”
Ada laughed. “I know. But Sawyer’s brother is getting married so it’s his family and his friends and it’s a big deal. She’s been stressing for weeks. Don’t take it personally.”
I nodded and took a deep breath. Kiana was happy with my work. As long as I didn’t give her a reason to fire me, we would be fine.
“How are things with Kapena?” I asked Ada, anxious to change the subject.
As expected, she got that dopey smile on her face. “We’re good. He’s talking about getting married, but I’m not there yet.”
“Why not? You love him, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Of course. I just think it’s fast.”
“You think it’s fast or other people think it’s fast.”
Ada wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes. “Fine. My mom thinks it’s too fast.”
I snorted. “You and Kapena are the ones that really matter.”
“Yeah, I know. But my mom is important to me.”
“Will she ever be okay with you getting married?”
Ada laughed again. “Probably not. Are you still coming surfing with us next week? Kapena’s friend, Ginny, is back from Oahu and going to join us if you’re okay with it.”
“Sure. Have I met her?”
Ada shook her head. “I don’t think so. She’s been gone for a few months. She was here when you first started working here, but I don’t know if you ever met.”
I wiped down the counter once more and double checked that everything was put away. “Well, it’ll be nice to have someone around that I can have a conversation with.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you and Kapena spend so much time kissing that I feel more like I’m interrupting your sex life instead of hanging out with friends.”
Ada scoffed. “We’re not that bad.”
I just stared at her. “Really?”
“Okay, fine, we are. We’re in that honeymoon phase. Everything is still new.”
“You’ve been dating three months.”
“Yeah, well, after being in love with him for half my life, I’m not apologizing for being happy. I can finally say I love him and not get pitying looks from everyone around me.”
I flashed her a look overloaded with pity.
She slapped my arm. “What the hell?”
“I’m just messing with you. You’re right. You should be able to enjoy the fact that you and Kapena are stupid in love as much and for as long as you want to. I’m just happy I won’t be the only witness to it.”
Ada smiled. “Good. I’ll text you. I think you’ll really like Ginny.”
Ada was halfway out the door when I called her back. “Whoa. This isn’t a setup, is it? Tell me it isn’t a setup.”
“It’s not a setup.”
“Shit. Ada. I don’t want to be set up with anyone.”
“Then it’s a good thing it isn’t a setup. Ginny is Kapena’s best friend. She’s been gone for months, and they used to surf all the time together. Since he’s doing boards and teaching more lessons, he doesn’t have as much time off. Ginny wanted to go surfing with him, so he invited her when we’re all going. That’s it.”
“You promise?”
She crossed her chest. “Cross my heart.”
I smiled at her childish guarantee. “Good. I’ll see you then.”
“Bye, Micah.”
Ada was out the door and back with the party before I checked through everything again. I reviewed the pantry and the fridge and made notes of all the staples I was going to need before the next event.
I double checked the schedule for the next week and went to find Kiana at the wedding.
“I’m going to head out if you don’t need me anymore,” I said.
She nodded. “Thanks. I think we’re good. They seem to be winding down. I was going to do inventory tomorrow, just so you know.”
“Already done. I have a list on the fridge of things we’re getting low on and a menu for the weddings next week. Once you get them approved by the clients, I can pick up everything we need.”
Kiana turned and gave me her full attention. “Thank you. I really appreciate you doing that. And I’m sorry about earlier. Sawyer’s family and friends are coming soon. The Fisher-Carpenter wedding. I’m freaking out about it.”
“Have you met any of them before?”
Kiana shook her head. “No. I’ve talked to his brother and parents on Skype, and the bride, but there are so many of them. There’s like twenty friends coming.”
“They’ll love you as much as the rest of us do. You have nothing to worry about.”
She sighed. “Thanks, Micah. I needed to hear that.”
“It’s the truth, Kiana. You’re a great person. And anyone can see how happy you and Sawyer make each other. His friends and family will love you for that reason alone.”
She smiled and hugged me. “Thank you. I hope you’re right.”
I nodded. “I am. You’ll see.”
She laughed. “I’m really glad you came to work here. Get some rest. Next week is busy.”
“You, too. You have people you can lean on. Make sure you lean on us.”
“Goodnight, Micah.”
“Night, Kiana.”
I left her to manage the party and went home. I wanted to stay in my new house for the night, but I didn’t have anything there. I stopped by and walked around, enjoying the quiet of the place.
When I got back to my apartment, I started packing. I wasn’t spending one more night there. I’d turn in my keys the next day and move. Onward and upward and all that.
Things were looking up for me. I could feel it.
You are cordially invited…
To witness the love of Micah and Ginny
Boy vs. Girl
Coming Fall 2018
* * *
Losing control is not an option…
It’s been a long time since I had the space to dream.
Seeing my dreams come true again is a pretty great deal. Not that I have big dreams, but being out from under the crushing debt that ripped my first marriage apart means I’m ready to start living again.
* * *
Not everyone sees the Big Island as their dream.
Ginny wants to be anywhere but here. It makes no sense to me why anyone would want to run from paradise, but she has something else in mind. Something that doesn’t include a job that has her landlocked on her father’s coffee plantation.
* * *
We aren’t friends, but we aren’t enemies. There are so many stops in between. Which one we’re at definitely depends on the day.
Acknowledgments
This book was a tough one for me. I don’t know what it was, but there was something about Kapena that I couldn’t figure out. He was a challenge. And because of that, I want to recogn
ize my writer friends out there.
Western New York Romance Writers, Contemporary Romance Writers, and From The Heart Romance Writers have all been there for me. Sometimes it’s a friendship I’ve found online. Sometimes it’s one I’ve developed in person. Sometimes it’s a post from another writer who had a piece of advice that stuck with me. Sometimes it’s just knowing I’m not the only one struggling. Whatever it is, I know this job would be so much harder without my romance writer friends.
I’d specifically like to call out two of my friends, Mary and Samantha. I’m not using their last names here because neither of them are published yet and I don’t want to inadvertently expose their real names before they’re ready to tell the world, but these two ladies have been there for me with an encouraging word and a text that made me smile so many times I can’t even count. We bounce ideas off each other and trade manuscripts and make this lonely profession one that doesn’t feel so lonely. I seriously appreciate the hell out of you ladies, and I know I don’t say that enough!
As always, I want to thank my husband, who is right now cooking dinner for us so I can get this done. He’s my rock. To my daughter, who offered to fix dinner if daddy wasn’t home. And to my son who’s quietly watching his iPad so he doesn’t disturb me. I love all of you so much.
Also by Mary E Thompson
Opposites Attract series
(A Big & Beautiful spin-off series)
Order vs. Chaos
Better vs. Worse
Boy vs. Girl (coming Fall 2018)
* * *
Big & Beautiful series
Chubby & Charming
Lush & Lovely
Shapely & Stunning
Bulky & Beauteous
Fat & Fine
Plump & Pretty
Husky & Hot
Fluffy & Fabulous
Puffy & Precious
Round & Ravishing
Curvaceous & Captivating
Stocky & Sumptuous
Ample & Alluring
* * *
Raise A Glass series
Love The Wine You’re With
Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride
Love At First Fight
Everything She Never Wanted
Too True To Be Good
Walk Of Fame
Fake It ’Til You Break It (coming Summer 2018)
About the Author
Mary E. Thompson grew up loving to read, like a good little girl. Many nights she would fall asleep with the flashlight still turned on as she hid under the covers trying to finish the last few pages of a book. As an adult, the light from her ereader means she doesn't need a flashlight, but she still stays up way too late to finish a book.
When Mary's not reading, she's playing with her two kids or living out her own real life romance novel with her hubby. She has a weakness for chocolate, especially when it's paired with peanut butter, and has been known to have a bad day just because there's no chocolate in the house. Unless there’s wine. Then everything is okay.
Mary grew up in Buffalo, New York and swears she's the only local to never ski or snowboard. Soccer was always her sport, with a couple adventures white water rafting and skydiving to keep things interesting. Mary moved to South Carolina for college but missed Buffalo every day. Yeah, she thinks she's crazy, too. She somehow convinced her South Carolina born and bred hubby to return to Buffalo to raise their kids and live out their lives. He’s still not sure what he was thinking.
Visit me at http://www.MaryEThompson.com/fiction-free/ to sign up for my newsletter and get one of my ebooks, FREE! Your choice!
For even more great stuff, find me at:
MaryEThompson.com
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