Chapter Twenty-One
Only Ali and Kaia were in Ali’s room when Mei arrived with a case of seltzer. She popped the tabs on two cans and handed one to her sister. “Where are the guys?”
“Still getting food.” Ali set down her seltzer. “So Luc and I were chatting, and we thought you and Alexandre should go explore the island. We’ll stick around here with Kaia.”
“But I want to spend time with you!” Wasn’t that the point of the trip?
Plus, she couldn’t be alone with Alexandre.
The months away hadn’t dulled her attraction.
If anything, Alexandre looked better than she remembered.
Even though it was winter, he was sun-burnished and toned, as if he’d spent a lot of time outside.
He moved with more confidence and ease. Every time their eyes met, her cheeks flushed and heat flooded her body, before Joey’s angry words chilled her blood.
You’re ruining everything we have so you can fuck Le fucking Prof!
It was a relief to deal with Livin instead of facing Alexandre.
“We can all get breakfast and dinner and do some day trips,” Ali said. “But don’t stay with us at the kiddie pool all day.”
Mei nodded. Her sister had a point.
“Luc’s also convinced that if Alexandre never leaves the hotel, he’s just going to work. Like he has been. Like you’ve been.” She shot Mei an accusing look.
“Then you shouldn’t have brought me! What am I supposed to do? Not work?”
“Yes. And if you won’t do it for your own sake, at least do it for Alexandre. He’s been so good with work/life balance. Or, he was, until he found out about that zebrafish conference.”
“Oh yikes.” Now that Ali mentioned it, Alexandre had been working this whole time, too. Was that her influence?
“He never worked on weekends. He’s even been dating.”
“He has?” So Alexandre was dating, just as she’d assumed months ago.
“Yeah, but he hasn’t met anyone serious.”
Everything would be easier if Alexandre had a girlfriend. Still, a zing of relief ran through Mei.
“You’ll be doing us a huge favor if you tear him away from that zebrafish stuff.”
“I can do that.” Mei’s mind raced. She hadn’t researched anything about O‘ahu. What the heck should she do with Alexandre? Something that doesn’t involve stripping off his clothing and pushing him into bed. She drained her seltzer to cool her face.
The door swung open. Luc and Alexandre walked in, each carrying a brown paper sack. The mouth-watering scent of fried seafood filled the room.
· · ·
After dinner, Mei slipped out to the balcony. She breathed in the humid air and took in Waikīkī’s glittering lights. Someone rustled behind her, then Alexandre was by her side. Even with his scruffy cheeks and rumpled shirt, Mei’s heart quickened.
“Looks like the rain stops tonight,” he said. “Are you up for hiking tomorrow?”
“Sure!” Then Mei paused, imagining the types of hikes Alexandre typically did. “As long as it’s nothing too crazy. I don’t feel like falling off a cliff.”
Alexandre laughed. “We won’t. I was thinking of Ka‘ena Point, which is the westernmost tip of O‘ahu. There’s a coastal trail along the north side of the island that should be pretty flat. We might even see whales and seals.”
“Perfect.” Ali and Luc are right. We both need this hike.
It almost felt like a date.
· · ·
After breakfast the next morning, they drove north in a rental Prius. With the windows down, a balmy breeze filled the car. Behind the wheel, Alexandre was once again clean-shaven and wearing olive-green hiking shorts and a gray moisture-wicking T-shirt. Mei regarded him with a little smile.
He turned to her. “I’m so glad we’re doing this.”
For a second, Mei thought he might take her hand. But the moment evaporated as one raindrop splattered onto the windshield, then another. “Oh no!”
Alexandre flicked on the windshield wipers and glanced at his phone. “We’re twenty minutes away. It’s not supposed to rain on the trail.”
Mei eyed the gray clouds covering the sky. “Let’s keep going.”
They drove on. Fog shrouded the landscape, but Mei could tell they were somewhere rural. Tall grass and leafy trees lined the road.
Alexandre pulled into a small parking lot. Outside, only a few raindrops fell. Dark clouds drifted east, revealing a calm sky. As the fog lifted and the view rendered in Technicolor, Mei gasped. Green volcanic mountains loomed before her. Blue waves crashed over the rocky coast.
According to Ka‘ena Point State Park’s welcome sign, they’d be hiking along a railroad route that ceased operation in 1947. The trail was a little over five miles, out and back.
Alexandre let her lead. Low-lying plants with purple and white flowers flanked the dirt trail. Wild grass covered the coastal plain. To her right, the cerulean sea stretched on to the horizon.
The trek was slow going. Three days of torrential rain had saturated the ground. Deep puddles and mud slicks overtook parts of the trail.
“Sorry it’s so messy.” Alexandre grimaced apologetically at Mei’s dirt-caked sneakers.
“It’s fine.” She’d given up on keeping her sneakers, or herself, clean. Mud streaked the back of her legs.
The sun blazed in full force. Sweat ran down Mei’s back.
Her legs hummed with exertion. Figuring out how to cross the muddy stretches fired up her brain.
Off the coast, monstrous waves slowly gathered, then crested in walls of white foam.
So this is what life feels like. Mei snuck a glance at Alexandre.
A sheen of perspiration covered his neck and forearms. His lean shoulder muscles undulated beneath his thin shirt.
The view was just as appealing as the wild coastline.
When Luc had taken Alexandre skiing to awaken him to his depression, did he feel the way she did now? Was she in the same place he was then?
They stopped to admire the ocean.
“How are you feeling?” Alexandre passed her a granola bar.
“A little tired,” Mei admitted. “I was working since five this morning and still have more to do.”
Disappointment flashed across Alexandre’s face. “Do you want to start heading back?”
Mei sipped her water. Should they call it a day? There was no sign of the nature reserve that marked the end of the trail, and they’d already seen a lot. Alexandre wouldn’t be thrilled, but Mei knew he’d stop for her.
She studied the way forward. The sun illuminated the lush green mountains. Off the coast, another massive blue wave broke with a glorious splash. I want to continue, Mei realized. Not just for Alexandre. For me. She lifted her chin. “Let’s keep going.”
A slow smile spread across Alexandre’s face. “Lead the way.”
They continued down the trail. A few minutes later, they reached a larger, muddier section than they’d encountered before. Water streamed over the swampy ground. There was no other route than through.
Mei was too short to leap across. “You go first.”
Alexandre scrutinized the ground, then picked out a rock barely visible in the mud. With a quick bound, he used it as a stepping stone to get to the other side. He turned around and held out his hand. “I got you.”
With his help, Mei could jump onto the first rock without falling. She gripped Alexandre’s hand. His steady touch filled her with wonderful heat. She flashed him a smile as he helped her to the other side.