Chapter Ten
Steven
Raptor’s was this iconic dive bar that had great pizza, good drinks, and a relaxed vibe that was totally different from Slapshots. For some reason, Ashton enjoyed himself here a little bit more than he did at Slapshots, or some of the other places we went to.
“This is so good,” Kai sighed, taking another piece of cheesy, meaty pizza.
We got the pizza we usually ordered, which was full of meat and vegetables. Kai briefly tried to talk us into ham and pineapple but was overruled.
I offered to get her a small personal pizza, because I wasn’t about to have pineapple on my pizza but didn’t want to deprive her of what she liked to eat. Kai just shrugged and said that she wanted to try our favorite.
So here we were, with a large cheesy, meat-laden, pizza and a pitcher of beer, sitting at a round table with plastic chairs. Tiny lights and neon signs blinked around us. Music played on the old-fashioned jukebox.
There were plenty of other groups eating pizza, drinking at the bar, and playing games. It was more of a local spot than a tourist place, and I was glad we were able to show her something classic, but different.
I was impressed by the sheer amount of pizza Kai could eat. Yes, please give me an omega who would absolutely devour this pizza and slam some beer.
“I bet you play beer pong,” I joked.
“I’m in college, I’ve played a fair amount of beer pong and cornhole.” Kai got more beer from the pitcher.
“Do we need to stop at the drugstore, or do you have lactose intolerance stuff? I don’t want your stomach to hurt.” Ashton reached for another.
“I have some. Good thought though.” Kai rummaged through their little backpack. “Got it.” She swallowed the pills with some beer.
I had to admit that I was really into Kai. I wasn’t sure what it was.
Perhaps it was her.
Okay, it was in the way Kai and Ash’s scent combined. Lemons and forest absolutely did it for me, in a way I never expected.
I know the two of them were having a moment back in the gift shop. But I just couldn’t help it, because my boyfriend looked so fucking cute hugging her like that. Not to mention, I felt the tension when he put the necklace around Kai’s neck, his fingers brushing her tan skin lightly.
He couldn’t see her face, but I could and it was obvious that Kai liked it a lot.
It could just be a biological pull. Kai was used to being with an alpha. It could be as simple as missing that contact.
But I also saw the sparks when the two of them were sitting up in the tree, sharing photos, and talking about trees. I didn’t climb the tree or hug them because I was trying to disrupt their moment. I just wanted to be part of it, too.
Sure, Kai wasn’t interested in dating, with the breakup being so fresh, and living so far away. But I really was feeling like maybe we could at least have a little fun. Respectfully, of course.
Anyone who could make Ashton that happy was something special. It was almost a pity this was temporary, but it was probably for the better, considering Kai had been with that ex for so long, and it might be good to have a little time to figure things out.
Certainly, Ashton and I benefited from taking some time together after everything with Charlotte.
“Hey, have you read the new webisode?” I asked Kai as I reached for another slice of pizza. I’d read it this morning over coffee.
“I read it by the pool. I really like where it’s going. I hope when it finishes, they publish some hard copies, because I’d buy this one.” Kai took another bite.
“Me too. Do they have comic conventions in Hawai'i? That would be really fun. Ashton will go with me, but I’ve yet to get him to cosplay. The one here is really good,” I told her.
“I think there might be some on O’ahu. Not sure about my island.
I think you should absolutely do a couples costume.
Do you ever go to the Renaissance Faire?
I love dressing up for Renn Faire. We always went back in LA.
There are ones on the Big Island, but I couldn’t ever get my ex to dress up with me. ” Her shoulders slumped.
Of course he didn’t. I’d absolutely dress up with Kai.
“That’s a good idea. I'm really good at putting different pieces together and making something cohesive, but I once tried to make something and broke Ashton’s mom’s sewing machine.” I hung my head. She had forgiven me, though.
“Same. I usually get one of my cousins to make me custom stuff. She makes costumes for the local community theater, but she’s not good with weapons.” Kai shared a picture of her and some people in costumes. They all kind of looked like her.
“I know some weapon makers, wing makers, too.” I showed her a few things.
“Oooh, I love that one,” Kai said.
“Renn Faire. We go to one every summer with my family,” Ashton said.
“We should go and dress up.” Kai nodded as if already planning our costumes.
My heart exploded with happiness. “What would we dress up as? How about Ashton? He never dresses up for Renn Faire either.”
“What don’t you like about dressing up?” Kai inquired.
“I don’t want to wear the tight pants that show off everything.” His head ducked in embarrassment.
Oh. That’s the reason? He never told me that.
“Pirates. Or Vikings? Something with loose pants. Vikings have big furry boots,” Kai suggested, looking something up on her phone.
“And we could get some really nice leather armor?” I added, wanting an excuse to get some.
“I’d be a pirate.” Ashton took a sip of beer.
My jaw dropped. Ashton would dress up as a pirate? Maybe we should keep Kai just for that.
“I’d be a pirate. I do like to plunder.” I gave Ashton a wink. We could still get some really nice leather gear as pirates.
“Pirates make great group costumes, because you can piece them together from things you have lying around. You also have so many options, too. While puffy noble dresses are beautiful, they’re really heavy and hot.
I do like the ability to wear pants and be a pirate. ” Kai kept scrolling through her phone.
“No takebacks, we’re going as pirates this summer,” I told Ashton.
Kai showed us some examples, and I took notes as to which ones Ashton seemed to like. Yeah, someone was getting a couple's costume for their birthday.
“There are cosplay options without tight pants,” I added. “If there’s any Renn Faires or comic conventions in the summer, we could come visit you. That would be really fun, wouldn’t it?” I blurted. Wait, was I overstepping? But she did say we should dress up.
“I’ll have to look. The stuff I know of is in the fall. I go to things with my cousins, but I don’t really do them on my own. Logan’s into serious things.” Kai finished her beer.
“Serious things?” I made a face.
“His words. Still, class takes up a lot of time. Things get expensive. We did a lot of hiking. We went to the beach and snorkeled. He wasn’t really into surfing. He liked artsy things, too.”
“He sounds exhausting. He’s probably one of those assholes who thinks audiobooks aren’t reading.” I made a big yawn.
“Yeah. I’d sometimes listen to audiobooks for class, and he’d make comments that we’re in college and I should be over that.” Kai’s voice went soft.
“He’s a dick.” Ashton gripped the table.
That he was.
“Now I see it. But there were so many times where we had fun doing things that I looked the other way. Maybe I wasn’t enough. His mom said I was a mistake, and if I was a better omega, he wouldn’t stray.” Kai looked about to cry.
“Do you want me to punch her?” It didn’t matter that I’d only known Kai for two days. She was my friend. If someone hurt my friend, they got punched.
“I’d like to see that. But while sometimes violence is the answer, I’m not sure it is in this case.” Kai toyed with her cup.
“Him cheating on you has nothing to do with you not being omega enough. If you’re not someone’s idea of a good omega, then obviously they’re not the person for you, and they can go fuck themselves.” I held up the beer pitcher. “Should we get some more?”
“Yeah.” Ashton’s eyes darted over to the air hockey table. “I’ll play winner.”
“Sounds good to me,” I replied.
He went to the bar to get a new pitcher. Kai and I cleaned off the table and another group quickly filled our spot. I got the stuff for air hockey and went over to set up the game.
“Do you play?” I leaned around her, showing her how.
“I played a little bit in the after school program that I went to in middle school. They had this and foosball. But it’s been a while,” Kai replied.
From the smirk on her lips, I could tell that she was lying. Maybe I should have let Ashton play her first. But he had called winner.
“I can’t believe you got Ashton to agree to dress up as a pirate. I’m honestly going to hold him to it,” I told her.
“I feel like he’d do anything for you. You just have to ask the right questions.”
I thought about that for a moment. “You're right. I never asked him what he would wear in general. It was always, Let’s do this. He was always like, No, that’s not really my thing.
But you can do it and I’ll just be the big scary person behind you, making sure no one bothers you.
Not that anyone really bothers me when I cosplay. ”
“Lucky you. The idea of you coming out to something on the island or maybe meeting you in California, or Washington has a lot of appeal, because then I can cosplay what I want and you can be my scary dogs,” she replied with a grin.
“Absolutely. That would be a lot of fun.”
“What would be fun?” Ashton reappeared with more beer.
“We’re still planning to bring you to a comic convention or a Renn Faire. Even if you don’t want to dress up, you can just protect Kai and me, so we don’t have to worry about any creepers harassing us.” I fluttered my eyelashes dramatically at my big, strong lumberjack.
Ashton nodded. “Done.”
Wow. This was so worth it.
“You can play her first,” I offered Ashton.
He shook his head. “No. I’ll play winner.”
It’s hard not to roll my eyes. “Sure.”