Chapter 9 #4
Lowering my hand from my chest to my belly, I realized that in seven-ish months, we’d have a fourth person living here, too.
“Haven’t seen you in a while.” Skipper approached me. “You’re looking good, Lu.”
I gave him a half smile. “That’s what happens when you spend all your time on the water and not here bonding with your new brothers.”
He shrugged. “The Nomad’s gotta roam. At least, that’s what Paniolo keeps telling me, anyway. ‘Boots on the ground’,” he mocked, cracking a smile. “I guess in our case, it’s more the ‘rudders in the ocean’, but same thing. Keeps me from being here unless I have news to share.”
My posture straightened. News? “Do you?” I asked hopefully. “Is it Nishi?”
Skipper made a face. “I’m not supposed to say. Club business and all that.” I was about to demand he tell me anyway, but then he said, “So you have to promise not to tell Paniolo I told you, too.”
I nodded, in too much of a hurry to hear his news to tell him that Aloiki would have told me anyway, just with less dramatics. Although, Aloiki had been keeping true to his promise to only tell me information when he was inside me. It was a wonder I wasn’t more pregnant.
Skipper came close, bending his head down to me before whispering, “I found the remaining Bloody Scorpions. They’re on the Valley Isle.”
The Island of Mauī. “What are they doing there?”
“Not sure yet. From what I’ve seen, there’s not many of them left. Maybe half a dozen.” He leaned in closer and I got a strong whiff of salt air from him. “That’s what I came to find out. Now Paniolo wants me to head onto land and trail them.”
I would think Spirit would be the better man for that job, but I didn’t want to hurt Skipper’s feelings by saying that out loud. “And you think they’ll know where Nishi is?”
“Worth a shot. If one of them knows, I’ll find out for you.” He lifted a hand to my shoulder. “I swear, Lu.”
I nodded, grateful. Each day I lost just a little bit more hope that she was still out there and that Aloiki would find her in time to bring her home. I hadn’t realized I’d closed my eyes until I felt his hand squeeze my shoulder gently.
He lowered his hand. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. Really, it’s been since you stopped returning my calls and texts after moving to the Mainland. Do you want to have a cup of tea with me before I head back out?”
I winced. I hadn’t been in the mindset to talk to anyone, let alone Skipper while he was mourning Aaleah. “I’d love to,” I told him honestly, “for old time’s sake. But unfortunately, I have to find Aloiki.” The pregnancy test was practically burning my palm.
Skipper shook his head, stepping back slightly. “I still can’t believe you went back to him. Not after how he treated you.”
My back stiffened. “Excuse me?”
“You deserve better, Lu. You always have. He’s not good enough for you!” He slapped a hand against his chest. “I could have made you happy.”
I was so taken aback by this that I had no idea how to reply and just stood there with my jaw hanging open in shock.
Skipper rushed up to me, crowding me. I took a step back but my back hit the wall. “I still can,” he urged, his voice low and hurried. “Come away with me, Lu. We can hop on my boat and you’ll never have to see Aloiki again.”
I was trying to shake my head, but the disbelief that Skipper was even having this conversation with me had my brain all discombobulated.
“I love Aloiki.” It seemed to be the only argument I had, the only thing that made sense in this moment.
Skipper slapped his palm against the wall behind me. I jumped. “You think you do, because he’s brainwashed you. I would never force you to sleep with other men, Lu. It’s disgusting that he degrades you so much. I would treat you like a queen.”
I tried to make my mouth work, but it was suddenly extremely dry. Clearly, Skipper did not understand that there was no force in the past when we’d had extras in our bed. I was a more than willing partner.
“Give us a chance, Lu,” Skipper pleaded. “It could be so good between us. If only I had met you first, things would have been so different.”
I was so confused, but I needed to leave. I needed to get away from this conversation. “I’m flattered, Skipper, really, but my answer is no. I love Aloiki and he loves me.”
I took a step to the side opposite the arm he had raised up against the wall, blocking me in on the one side.
“Stop!” he yelled, snagging me around my forearm. “He’s going to get you killed—”
I was halfway across the kitchen when he yanked me back to face him. Startled, I stumbled and dropped the pregnancy test. It clattered to the floor, and I swore the sound was louder than a church bell.
We both stared at the plastic stick between our feet on the old linoleum floor. When the construction crew was done with the bunkhouse, I wanted to ask Aloiki if they could upgrade our kitchen.
Slowly, Skipper let go of my arm as he squatted down to retrieve the test. Like he was in a trance, he stood. My heart was pounding inside my chest so loudly that I barely even heard his question.
“You’re pregnant?”
I swallowed hard. I felt like crying, but not because I was ashamed of my baby or hurt from him pulling on my arm. I’d wanted Aloiki to be the first to know.
Unable to speak, I nodded my head. In retrospect, the question really was rhetorical. Of course I was pregnant. Everyone knew what those two lines on the test meant.
Skipper’s head suddenly shot up like something had just occurred to him. “Who’s the father?”
The front screen door slamming closed had me jumping where I stood. I turned, and found a very pissed off Aloiki directly behind me.