Epilogue
MIA
Mia couldn’t help the bubbly giddiness in her belly. Anticipation was her best friend as K.J. held her hand and wove through the crowd to their table at the front of the giant lawn, Nat following just behind.
“Uncle Koa is the best spinner,” K.J. chattered excitedly.
It was family night at the luau Koa worked at and the very first time Mia was going to be able to see her man in action.
They’d gone on two months of incredible dates—from surfing to bookstore hopping—since that day at the beach park, but they hadn’t spoken about being something more than just friends who went on dates.
Mia was kicking herself for labeling them as such, why hadn’t she used the word girlfriend when they were at the beach?
Because it had been too soon, some wise part of her mind reminded.
But now it wasn’t too soon. And she was more than a little sick and tired of being friends who dated.
Especially because Koa was such a freaking gentleman and had yet to kiss her.
Two months of no Koa kisses, and though she’d never kissed him before, she knew in her gut she was missing out on something amazing.
However, tonight…tonight she couldn’t help but read into the fact that Koa had invited her to family night. As far as she knew, the only people he’d invited were Tutu, Kahiau and family, and Mia. Granted, Mia had brought Nat and she wasn’t Koa’s family, but still. This felt like something special.
“Mia,” Lana greeted enthusiastically, getting out of her chair to hug and kiss Mia on the cheek.
“And it’s good to see you, Nat,” Lana said as she moved around Mia to greet Nat.
Kahiau stood to hug and kiss Mia and Nat as Grace lunged from her father’s arms to Mia’s.
The baby girl gave Mia a giant hug before reaching back for her dad.
“Hi, Tutu,” Mia said, gratitude filling her that Tutu was out there with them.
She did use a walker now, especially over terrain like grass, but it was mostly a precaution.
The woman Mia had known and loved was back in full force, saying she still had decades to go before anything would take her from them.
“My favorite patient of all time,” Nat said as she leaned over to hug and kiss Tutu.
Tutu swatted at Nat. “I’m sure that’s what you say to all your patients.”
Nat grinned before taking the open seat next to Tutu, and Mia landed between Nat and K.J.
“You’re just in time for the first course,” Kahiau said as he nodded toward waitstaff who were coming from the kitchen with platters of taro chips and ulu hummus, taro rolls with guava butter, and kulolo and haupia.
“Please tell me pink butter means guava butter,” Nat said as she literally bounced in her seat.
Tutu nodded, and the family dug in. Mia sat back, enjoying the sight of her two worlds coming together. All they were missing was Koa.
“Aloha ohana!” The announcer said loudly as he came onto the stage just in front of Mia.
Lana offered her the chips and hummus. Mia took her portion while keeping one eye on the stage. She knew Koa came on later in the show, but she wasn’t going to miss a minute of it. Shirtless Koa wasn’t a sight to take lightly.
Sure enough, female dancers came on first, dancing the hula kahiko. The traditional style of hula was accompanied by chants and ipu, a Hawaiian gourd that was carved out to become a drum-like instrument.
Mia was entranced, barely noticing the following courses of food as they traveled all through Polynesia with different songs and dances.
“The lau lau,” Nat groaned and Mia had to admit the tender pork covered in luau leaf was succulent but nowhere near as good as Tutu’s.
Dessert had been served and Mia realized it had to be close to time for Koa to perform.
Loud drums began playing, and K.J. jumped up chee-hooing.
“It’s time,” Lana said with a wink at Mia before all eyes went to the stage.
Koa came bounding onto the stage, shirtless as she’d anticipated, but the lavalava slung low around his hips? Mia’s mouth went dry.
His eyes scanned the crowd and then stopped on her, a devastating smile was sent her way before he covered the flame on one end of his stick with his hand and lit the other.
Mia gasped. Had he literally carried fire?!
She heard Nat’s gentle chuckle, but Mia couldn’t look away as Koa started to spin his fire knife one way then the other. Apparently, it wasn’t just a stick on fire, but under that fire was an actual knife. The act was dangerous, and yet Koa made it look easy.
Suddenly, his knife was spinning so fast the fire looked like one never-ending circle. Mia bit her lip as she decided she was kissing Koa tonight.
More chee-hoos were called out as Koa performed, as well as a few cat calls, but Koa took it all in stride as he kept spinning. Two men joined Koa on stage, but Mia’s eyes wouldn’t stray.
“Oh, my gosh,” she heard Nat utter, and she wanted to ask her friend why she was oh-my-goshing, but that would have to wait.
Koa soon had a fire knife in each hand, and he spun them both with beauty and yet precision. A combination of entertainment and showing off his prowess.
The knives went this way then that, being thrown up in the air and then caught before he suddenly ended with a triumphant pose.
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Mia joined them with her own clapping.
Koa jogged off the stage with his fellow dancers, and Mia tried to calm her thumping heart.
“I need to…” Nat said, grabbing Mia’s arm, and Mia was finally able to pull out of the spell Koa had put her under.
“Are you okay?” Mia asked, noticing her friend was unusually pale.
“I don’t really feel so good,” Nat said.
Mia stood.
“Sit down,” Nat said, pulling on Mia’s arm. “I just need to get out of here. But you stay. Koa can bring you home, right?”
Nat had caught a ride with Mia on the way to the luau but it had already been the plan for Nat to take Mia’s car home and for Mia to drive home with Koa.
“Not if you don’t feel well,” Mia said, putting a hand on her friend’s forehead.
“I’m fine,” Nat said, swatting Mia’s hand away. “My stomach just doesn’t feel great. It’s probably just cramps or something. But I need to go.” Nat looked to where Koa and his fellow dancers had escaped the stage. “Now.”
“You sure you’re okay?” Mia asked.
Nat nodded but didn’t add any teasing remarks on Koa’s performance or the way Mia had watched him slack jawed. That alone told Mia her friend wasn’t feeling well. But Mia knew that time of the month could be horrible for Nat so decided to let her go.
“Call me if you need me,” Mia demanded as Nat stood.
“I will. Promise,” Nat said before hurrying to the nearest exit.
That was strange. And Mia would get to the bottom of it as soon as Nat let her.
“He’s gotten even better, don’t you think?” Lana asked Kahiau.
“He’s fine. But you know I’m the one who taught him everything he knows, yeah?” Kahiau said, puffing out his chest.
“Yeah, yeah,” Lana said, lifting Grace from the high chair she’d been seated at between herself and Kahaiu. “It’s getting late.”
Kahiau stood, walking toward Tutu to give her assistance, but she waved him away.
Tutu pulled her walker close to her and began to pull herself up. Before anyone could say anything, K.J. was at her side, making sure his great-grandmother was okay.
Mia smiled, knowing it was excellent parenting but also this island that had helped K.J. to be the gentleman he was.
“Aloha, Mia,” Tutu said as Lana and Kahiau waved.
Grace blew Mia a cute kiss.
“See you later, Aunty Mia,” K.J. said as he walked a step behind Tutu, careful not to get too close but also not to let Tutu get too far in front of him.
“Bye,” Mia said, waving at the family she’d come to love.
Other tables were also emptying until Mia was one of the last ones left waiting.
Mia’s text tone went off.
Sorry, I’ll be out in a minute. But Paka needs some help with his kerosene.
Mia smiled. She didn’t know Paka well, she’d only had that small interaction with him when he’d tried to ask her out, but she’d heard enough stories to know the man was often a pain in Koa’s behind.
“Hey, Mia,” Preston’s voice came from the side of the stage.
She waved as he jogged across the lawn to where she sat. His eyes wandered around the lawn as if he was looking for something.
“I was just wondering, who was that here with you?” Preston asked, sounding out of breath. As if he’d hurried to change and get out here as fast as he could.
“Have you not met Nat?” Mia was surprised she’d gone this long without introducing her best friend to Koa’s best friend.
“Nat?”
“Natalie, my best friend,” Mia said, wondering why Preston was acting so strangely.
“Your best friend?” he echoed. He shook his head.
“Is she still here?” he asked urgently.
Mia shook her head. “She headed home for the night. Are you okay, Preston?”
Preston nodded, but Mia could tell his mind was a million miles away.
“Mia!”
Her stomach somersaulted as a sound fast becoming her favorite filled her ears.
“I’ll see you…” Preston’s words trailed off as he walked away.
Seriously weird. Mia would dig into what was happening there soon.
But right now? Her attention was solely Koa’s.
Koa jogged to her, lifting her in his arms.
“You were incredible,” Mia gushed, even though the word didn’t seem like enough.
Koa’s normal scent of coconut and salt water filled her senses, but it was now combined with smokiness, making the man somehow even more appealing.
“I’m glad you liked the show.”
“Yes, I liked the show. But I was mesmerized by you.”
Mia felt her cheeks burn. She’d meant to say by his performance.
“Me, huh?” Koa said, pulling her close so her body was flush with his.
If he didn’t kiss her soon…
“So, I have a question for you,” Koa said, taking a step back.
A step back? What was the man doing?
And a question? Right now there needed to be a lot less talking and a lot more kissing. Or even just some kissing. Just a kiss. She’d take anything.
“Mm hm?” Mia asked, her impatience was surely showing.
“Mia Goodman. Will you be my girlfriend?” Koa asked.
Mia’s knees went weak as Koa held her in his arms once more.
She knew her reaction was kind of silly. She’d been asked to be a girlfriend so many times before. She’d been proposed to and made vows, but that had been to the wrong man. They’d all been the wrong men. But this time…
Her smile was wide as she nodded her affirmation.
Koa returned her smile, a cockiness to it that told her he knew what her answer would be. One arm stayed behind her back as he lifted a hand to her face, carefully pushing her hair behind her ear, all of his earlier playfulness gone.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” Koa said softly.
Mia froze, unable to answer his question.
“I’m falling truly and deeply in love with you.”
Mia held her breath, had he just..?
Koa’s fingers brushed her face, his thumb at her waist creating circles that were driving her insane. Her entire body shivered with anticipation.
Then, with the same intensity yet lightness, his lips finally brushed hers. Mia leaned forward, immediately yearning to feel them again.
And this time he didn’t keep her waiting long, his lips met hers again, the passionate press telling her he’d wanted this as much as she had.
The arm at her waist tightened as his fingers delved into her hair. Her arms went around his neck, pulling him closer.
The kiss deepened, and Mia lost all sense of thought and just existed in that kiss. For that kiss.
“Koa!”
Mia tried to pull out of his arms, but Koa held on firm.
“What?” he finally responded with a sigh, his eyes still on Mia.
“We’re closing up,” the voice Mia now could tell was Paka’s replied.
Koa frowned but his gaze was still full of appreciation as he held Mia’s, promising more to come.
Butterflies flew high in her belly. She had known kissing Koa would be amazing. But even the best of her imagination couldn’t have prepared her for this. Mia’s world had shifted, and she knew nothing would be the same.
“Koa!” Paka called again.
Koa sighed in response, telling Mia they were going to leave. She was ready to take a step away from him, but instead of allowing her to put any space between them, he kept his arm around Mia’s waist, pulling her into his side.
“Really? This guy instead of me?” Paka joked as they passed by him to walk to the parking lot.
“What can I say? My girlfriend’s got taste,” Koa replied.
“Your girlfriend?” Paka said with lifted brows as they passed him.
Koa smiled at Mia, reminding her that he hadn’t just asked her to be his girlfriend, he’d used the L word.
Before she’d met Koa, falling in love had seemed like an impossibility. But now she was living it, and it was absolute bliss.
They’d both worked through their fears…even now Koa knew Mia could still leave him. She knew being in a relationship, even with the right man, could end badly. But they were still choosing the other. Not because that dissolved their fears but because loving Koa was worth living through her fears.
“So what did Tutu say about you asking me to be your girlfriend?” Mia asked as they got into Koa’s truck. She would have liked to have gone right back to kissing but knew that if they did, they might not ever leave that lot.
“It’s about time, boy,” Koa said with a perfect impression of Tutu.
Mia laughed.
“K.J. said that I shouldn’t ask you to be my girlfriend. I should just bypass all that and ask you to marry me,” Koa said, showing a bit of his vulnerability as he spoke.
“Maybe you should have,” Mia said bravely. She knew they weren’t quite there yet, but she wanted Koa to know that she was braving her fears too.
Koa smiled, kissing Mia’s temple.
“Soon,” he promised as he backed out of the parking space and headed home.
Mia grinned, knowing he’d make good on his promise. That he’d make good on every promise, because that was the kind of man Koa was.
And she couldn’t help but be grateful for all that they’d gone through to be right here. Because her pesky little crush had become the man of her dreams—that night and every night to come.
Thanks for reading Just a Pesky Little Crush!