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“Since Tina threatened to cut me off from Monday night dinners.” I tip the glass, letting one more drop of champagne fall onto my tongue. “Besides, it was nice walking in and not hearing from the cousins and aunties what a Kekoa family failure I am.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re a Jex then.”
“I’m more Kekoa than Jex. So are you.”
“Because we stayed in Hawaii? Kal, Malia didn’t leave us, and neither did Dad. They simply moved away.”
I scoff. “We both know Dad’s guilt is heavier than that. And that I’m nothing like him.”
“Is this really the time to discuss it? Tina’s on her way back with your girlfriend.” Leilani holds her hand out for my glass, and I give it to her, wondering where I can find more.
I scan over to Meg with my mother, surprised to see she’s smiling. Her lips curve up, and her white teeth shine with a grin—at least, until her eyes land on me.
16
Meg
“Let me help,” Alana says, taking a white hanky from who knows where and wiping my face down. I bend toward her, feeling like a two-year-old after scarfing their first Oreo. She isn’t gentle as she wipes, and I watch as she pulls back to inspect me, each time the white cloth is covered more and more in pink—bright pink—lipstick. “There. All clean.” She nods at me approvingly.
Once I’m cleaned up, we take a few more steps until we stop in front of Kal and a pretty woman, maybe a few years older than him. She must be a relative; I can see it in the eyes.
“This is Kalani’s sister, Leilani,” Alana says. “Her husband is out of town for work. He’s brilliant. He’s going to be known all around the world one day for his traveling salesman skills.”
“Mom—” the pretty, dark-haired Leilani groans.
But Alana doesn’t seem to hear her. She just keeps on talking. “Malia, my middle child, lives in the States with my two perfect grandchildren. They couldn’t make it today.”
“Hi,” I say, tensing my body, waiting for the woman with black hair and full lips to pull me in for a hug and a kiss. She may be five inches shorter than me, but I have no doubt she could manhandle me—just like her mother has, just as her aunts did.
“How about we just shake?” Her tan nose wrinkles with her playful grin. A grin so very similar to her brother’s.
I reach my hand out toward her, and she greets me with a warm shake. “So, how do you know our Kalani?”
“We just m—”
“Ah,” Kal says, interrupting me, “we met at Polihua Resort.”
“Makani’s place?” Alana says.
“Wait, you know Makani?” I say—he’s the one person at the resort that I know. Wait. Did he set this up?
“We’ve been family friends for many years. Wonderful man. Wonderful.” Alana nods.
“Um, would he…did he…” I look at Kal. “Did Makani ask you to find me?”
But Kal’s eyes are confused. He shakes his head. Before he has a chance to speak, Alana reaches out, snatching me by the hand. She holds onto me with her left, then reaches out for her son with her right hand. “Time to dance,” she says, placing my hand in Kal’s.
“Oh, um. I don’t really—” I start, but Alana doesn’t allow me to finish. I don’t dance! I bark in my head. My head is so much faster than my mouth—at least when it comes to Kal’s mother.
She pushes us toward the dance floor, where the bride, groom, and a handful of others dance to a slow ballad.
I peer back at her. “I’m not sure about this,” I tell her. “I don’t really dance.”
But Kal’s mother pats me on the behind and gives me one encouraging nod.
“Rule number one,” I whisper-yell at Kal. “Rule number one!”
“I’m sorry. I would love to follow all of your rules, but I cannot disobey my mother. You wouldn’t want me to, would you?” We pass by a waiter, and Kal swoops one of the sparkling drinks from the tray he holds. “Here.” He holds the bubbly liquid out to me.
