Page 47 of Worth the Trip

Her head tilted. “You really do have an answer for everything.”

“Only when I’m properly stimulated.” Her eyes narrowed. I smiled. “Intellectually, Hershey. We at the hostess stand.”

That laugh caught her before she could stop it.

Yeah.

I was going to enjoy her.

The hostess returned. “Table for two?”

Nolani looked at me once before answering.

“Table for two.”

We followed her toward the windows overlooking the marina. Nolani sat across from me and put her book beside the silverware, giving me enough time to register that I had somehow gone from hoping I might see her again to sitting across from her less than an hour after asking God for assistance.

Effective turnaround time.

The server appeared with menus. “Can I start y’all with something to drink?”

“Peach tea.”

I looked at Nolani.

She caught me immediately. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“That wasn’t nothing.”

“I’m impressed you willing to get back in the game this soon.”

“The tea didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Neither did my shirt.”

“You survived.”

“Barely. Had to bury that Hershey bar with no family present.”

The server pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

Nolani had no such restraint. “Bring him water. He’s still grieving.”

“Sweet tea. Grief requires sugar.”

The server nodded. “I got you.”

When she walked away, Nolani opened her menu. “You are committed to that chocolate bar.”

“With almonds.”

“I remember.”

“Good. Means my loss had witnesses.”

She shook her head and kept reading.