Chapter 10
TEN
Vince was having a remarkable time in Hawaii. Sure, it had only been a few hours, but there was something to be said for sitting at the side of the lake with a beer in his hand where the weather alone wasn't trying to freeze him to death.
They weren't joking about the cold wind coming off of the lake in Chicago, but Enchanted Lake was quickly living up to its name.
Riptide, the Navy man assigned to the Marine unit was enjoying the fact that he wasn't the only squid in the group.
The food that was currently sitting in his stomach was some of the best he'd ever had outside of his family's kitchen. Add to that the beer and the company?
He was enjoying himself immensely.
Kawehi, Pallas' wife, leaned forward and gave him a curious look. "Aren't you overly hot in those pants? That shirt?"
"What? I'm not stylish enough?"
She shook her head laughing. "I'm afraid you're going to pass out if that's what you're wearing while you're here in Hawaii."
"I think you're right," he nodded. "Is there somewhere I can grab some clothes that would be better for the islands?"
Vince avoided looking at Cameron knowing that he was probably looking over at him. He had been watching him all through the afternoon and he'd likely keep doing it until they left Hawaii. Vince didn't let it bother him. If Cameron was in a mood to be menacing, he could.
He was enjoying himself regardless of Cora's brother putting him under a microscope.
It didn't hurt him at all, and he was enjoying his time with Cora more than he thought possible. Buck, the other Marine who'd come to the airport to pick them up leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "If you want, I can give you the names of a few places you can go and get some clothes better suited for the climate."
"Yeah?"
Buck shrugged. "Sure. I remember when we first got here, I had clothes more like yours and the humidity," he rolled his eyes. "I don't think I've ever sweat that much in my life. I've been in some of the Southern states and thought I had a hold on what humidity felt like and then I got here and swore I was going to sweat through my dress uniform the first time we went out to do a Toys for Tots event."
Arctic almost spat out his beer. "I remember that. When they decided to move the box under an awning I wanted to bend down and kiss the ground. It wasn't cool, but at least we weren't standing in the sun."
Pallas shook his head. "Really?"
Buck looked over at his friend. "Yes, really. Not all of us were meant to live in the Pacific, this close to the equator."
"Wuss!" Cameron tossed his head back and laughed. "If he brought the wrong clothes, that's his problem!"
Maile huffed out a breath. "Don't be a complete ass! That's not living Aloha, Axl."
"Living Aloha is a bumper sticker. I just don't see why I have to take it easy on him because he's dating my sister."
Folding her arms across her chest, Maile glared at him. "It's not just a bumper sticker, you ass! Some of us live that way."
"You?" He gave Maile a look that was more of a smirk. "You're always telling me all the ways you could dispose of my body. That's not exactly Aloha , is it?"
Vince bit the inside of his cheek at the way Cameron said 'Aloha' as if he was putting air quotes around it.
"Well," Maile was petite and a little shorter than Cora, but the way she drew herself up, she was like a giant, "King Kamehameha drove his enemies off a cliff while he was uniting the islands, so I think it might just be my civic duty to chuck you off a cliff."
"You?" Cameron reached over and put his hand over the top of her head.
It was almost comical how big his hand was on top of her head.
"Even with a running start, I don't think you could knock me down." He laughed, but no one else was actually joining in.
Maile leveled a blow at him in the odd silence around the fire pit. "Your big, over-sized, bobble head might make it easier for me. All I need to do is knock you off balance and you'd plunge to your death."
Kawehi choked on a laugh and Hoss whistled low and loud. "Damn it, Axl. You better quit while you're ahead. Remember size doesn't have much to do with it. We've all seen men and women half your size toss you on your ass from time to time."
Cameron grumbled as he got up. "I'm gonna go piss. Y'all can stay out here moaning." He headed off toward the house, the sliding door opening and closing with heavy swishes of sound.
It took a moment before anyone spoke and when it happened, Vince wasn't surprised that it was Pallas. The man had the right temperament to lead the group.
Sitting forward in his chair, Pallas looked over at Cora and then at him. "I'm sorry about this. I don't know why he's being like this." Pallas shook his head. "l'll have a talk with him when he comes back out. Neither of you deserve this."
"Don't do that on my account." Cora leaned closer to Vince as she spoke to Pallas. "I'm fine. I think this is all a little hard on Cam. He's used to me being the little sister he can direct. He's been my older brother and protector. I'm guessing he thought we'd slip into our old roles."
Vince saw her look over at him, a gentle smile on her face.
"He certainly wasn't expecting Vince to come with me." She turned and looked at the assembled group. "I know I wasn't expecting to meet him either. Things change in life and when he joined the military, I wasn't expecting for him to move over a thousand miles away!"
"We're all from all over." Riptide chuckled. "Me more than others."
Pallas looked thoughtfully at the group. "If we were on the continental U.S., maybe, but Australia isn't all that far from Hawaii."
"Oh great," Maile laughed, "now they're going to whip out a map and measure who came the furthest to Hawaii."
She gestured at Cora. "If they ask you to look up distances or even just make a guess, don't. The last thing you want to get between are men and a measuring contest.
Kawehi started to laugh, too, earning herself a disbelieving look from her husband.
He didn't argue with his wife, instead, he picked her up out of her chair and settled her, laughing and squirming on his lap.
"Hey!" Kawehi settled back against him, cuddling into his embrace.
It was good to see it.
Especially after Cameron had made everyone feel more than a little uncomfortable.
Again, Vince could see why Pallas was the leader of the group. It was good to see the rest of them relax at the sight of their leader happy with his wife. It was where Vince saw himself down the road, but if you'd asked him a few days ago, he would have said that such a fate was years away. Many years away.
He didn't want to ruin things by 'jinxing' them, but he had a feeling that something could develop between himself and Cora.
Something good.
Something strong.
Something lasting.
It wasn't long before the party started to slow down and those who didn't live at the condo were off early enough.
The marines that lived in the condo made it clear that Cora should stay outside and enjoy the night because they'd take care of the dishes.
And it was Buck that stopped by the side of her chair and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Just call me when you two are up and around in the morning. Take your time sleeping in since the time change can be brutal." He bowed his head a little. "Hawaii's time zone is like an immovable force. It's just sitting here in the ocean. So take care, you two, and I'll see you when you're conscious in the morning."
Cora didn't seem all that eager to head inside and he wasn't either. Vince didn't feel like they were staying out of her brother's way. She was here to see her brother, after all.
As they sat outside, enjoying the quiet evening, Vince heard a soft sigh.
He reached out and put his hand out, palm up. "You, okay?"
Vince didn't see her head move to look at him, but her hand settled against his palm a moment later. When he curled his fingers around her hand, she mimicked the gesture around his as well. It felt good.
Maybe, too good.
"I'm sorry," her soft voice and heartfelt words turned his head.
"For what?" He tried to keep his voice soft. Whatever it was that she was apologizing for couldn't be all that bad.
"I didn't think about your clothes. I didn't think that you'd have clothes for cold weather and here?" She sighed as if there was a heavy weight on her shoulders. "I don't want you to feel like you have to buy a bunch of stuff, maybe I can have Cam lend you some stuff."
It was hard to fight off the laughter that was on the tip of his tongue. It wasn't directed at her. "It's really sweet of you, but I doubt your brother has anything that I'd fit."
Cora turned in her chair and looked over at him, her eyes sparkling in the darkness. It might have been from the stars above or maybe the fire in the pit, but all he could see was her beautiful face. "He is a monster, isn't he?"
It took him a moment or two to react to her words. He wasn't sure exactly how to answer. He was a monster of a man, he could easily play a Grecian God or stand as a model for a statue, but he wasn't sure if she was talking about his behavior for much of the day.
Vince had been trying to figure out ways to keep out of Cameron's way so that he wouldn't be any more upset than he already was.
Vince didn't think Cora had anticipated Cameron's reaction to her bringing home a guy friend.
And while Cameron thought that they were 'together,' she hadn't tried to contradict him. Vince was following her lead with that and everything else. Well, except for the kisses they'd shared.
He smiled thinking about it.
"You're right, though."
She lowered her gaze, and he wasn't sure if she was looking at their hands or the lush green grass under their bare feet.
Either way, he felt the loss of her gaze.
A breeze moved through him, and he closed his eyes to drink in the moment. It was a memory that he wanted to keep.
To savor.
"I'm glad you came with me."
Vince opened his eyes to look at Cora and almost bumped noses with her.
When had she moved closer?
In the half dark, the night sky stretching over their heads and the fire in the pit flickering at their feet, Vince felt like he was truly in paradise. "I'm glad you came up with the idea."
Her smile lit up his world.
"This is amazing, Cora."
She grinned. "I can't imagine being here without you."
He felt his heart pounding in his chest as she squeezed his hand gently. "I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else in this world than right here beside you."
"I think there's something to be said for the magic of the islands," she leaned against his shoulder, turning her face up to the sky, "and the way we can see so many stars since there's hardly any light. You can't do this in Chicago."
"No, we can't." He smiled and leaned his head down so that his cheek touched her hair. "I'm going to have to store away this memory for when I'm back home in Chicago."
"Yeah. Huh..." A silence passed between them and Cora's fingers slipped away from him.
"Cora-"
She straightened away from him and sat up in her chair. "You know, I should go in. I bet there are a ton of dishes that need washing."
"Cora?"
Before he could sit up in his seat, she was up on her feet.
Vince took a few steps to follow her and had to turn back. He couldn't leave the fire burning in the pit. Old camping and scout habits were tough to shake, so he put out the fire and made sure that there weren't any embers burning under the ash before he could head inside.
The kitchen was clean, practically spotless and yet the sink was dry. Someone had likely done the dishes when they'd left the party or before they'd gone to sleep. That only left the bedroom as a place where Cora would be.
He crossed through the game room with its well-worn couch and saw that the bedroom door was cracked open. It was not even an inch away from the frame, but he knew to respect that boundary. Lifting his hand he knocked on the door, softly at first, but a little louder the second time.
"Go ahead," he heard Cora's voice. "Come in."
Her tone was flat, almost sad.
Oh boy.
He'd stepped in it.
He just didn't know what 'it' was.
Using just the tips of his fingers, he pushed the door inward until he could see where she was.
Sitting on the far side of the bed, he couldn't see her face.
When the door was open far enough for him to step inside, he did, but she didn't turn around or say another word.
"I feel... like an idiot," he began, lifting a hand to rub at the back of his head, "I don't know what I said to upset you, but I want to know."
When she didn't respond, he shook his head.
"I want to apologize, and I don't want to mess up again. I just-"
"It's not you."
He caught a breath in his lungs and let it out slowly, relaxing a little.
He watched as her shoulders lifted and lowered along with a sigh.
"I don't know why what you said hit me like- No, I do know why."
She lifted a leg onto the bed and turned in his direction. That's when he could see that her eyes were brimming with tears.
"Hey," he reached into the back pocket of his slacks and pulled out his handkerchief, "you don't have to say a word if you don't want to."
Moving to her side, he offered her the handkerchief, but she tried to wave it away.
"I don't want to get it dirty."
Smiling gently at her, he let out a breath. "If it does then we're in luck," he explained, "I know how to do laundry. It'll be fine."
She balked at the offer a second time, but he decided to change his tact.
"Then why don't you trust me to worry about getting this dirty and you just tell me what's going on?" He noticed the smile that touched her lips. It wasn't a bright one, but it was a smile.
Vince reached up his hand and gently swiped a tear from her cheek.
"I don't want you to cry," his words were true and came from the aching pain around his heart.
She looked up at him and he could see the tears pooling in her eyes. "I'm not a pretty crier."
Vince shrugged. "Who is?"
He watched her face change into a thoughtful look as she thought it over. When he shrugged, he dabbed at the tears on her eyelashes.
He marveled at how gorgeous she was. There truly wasn't a part of her that wasn't beautiful and that included her soul.
"I'm sorry, Cora. I really am. I thought we were having a sweet moment outside."
Vince was drawing his hand away from her face when she caught it with her own.
"We were." She shook her head. "And I ruined it. I know I did. I just got inside my head more than I should."
He searched her eyes as she continued on.
"When you talked about memories and going back to Chicago, I felt it like a punch to my gut," she rushed on, "and please don't think I'm saying that as if you hurt me. It was a dose of reality that I wasn't prepared for. Out there, under the stars, your hand in mine... for a moment, I let myself forget that this all started as a... as a crazy thought. I guess, the thought of going back makes it feel like it is just that crazy. Like this is just a few days."
Her chin dropped down and her shoulders lifted in a long, slow breath.
He heard the words she said, and he understood what she was feeling. He just didn't know what he should say.
But he had to say something.
"Cora?" He swallowed and felt his throat work hard over the knot stuck in it. "Look at me, please?"
She looked up at him and the tears were back.
"I didn't know if I should say anything, but I'm hoping this," he wiped at her tears, watching the little changes in her expression, "isn't something that stays here in Hawaii. I'm hoping that by the time we leave here, you'll want to give me a second date."
She blinked at him, looking a little like a deer in headlights.
The cutest deer he'd ever seen.
"A... second date?"
He shrugged. "You asked me out first. I'm hoping you'll let me return the favor."
She smiled at him and then shrugged a little. "I'll let you know. But," she sighed and stifled a yawn, "so far, so good."
He looked over at the clock beside the bed and winced. “What’s the time difference between Chicago and Hawaii?”
This time she yawned, and he barely resisted copying. Yawns really were contagious.
After a thoughtful moment, she answered him. “Four hours now.”
“Now?” Vince was concerned that one or both of them might be a little too tired for this.
“Hawaii doesn’t change time with Daylight Savings.”
“Does that make it hard to call your brother?”
She thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. “No. Cam’s not big on phone calls or FaceTime. He’s a terse text message kind of guy.”
He didn’t want to say it, but he could see that about her brother. Vince got up and pointed at the door. “You want me to go outside so you can change?”
She yawned and lifted her arms over her head to stretch.
Vince had to work to keep his eyes strictly on her face and not the way her blouse stretched over her breasts. “Would you think I’m weird if I just wanted to put my head down on the pillow and fall asleep like this?”
He shook his head. “No. Go ahead.”
Smiling in a half-dreamlike state, Cora leaned over and put her head down on the pillow.
Vince got up and took out his sleep clothes and went into the bathroom to change. When he came back out, he put his used clothes in his duffel and turned to look at the bed. They hadn’t really talked about who would sleep on what side of the bed, but Cora had made the decision for them when she’d laid her head down.
She was fast asleep, her arm hung over the edge, lined up along the far side of the bed.
Smiling to himself, he laid down on top of the covers knowing that he’d be too hot under a blanket.
When his head was finally on the pillow, he looked over at Cora and smiled to himself.
He might not have made it to Maine, but he was happy right where he was.
“‘Night, beautiful.”
She sighed softly in her sleep, and he was out a moment later.