Chapter Twenty-Five
The last day of the year was also the last full day of vacation, and Mei was determined to make the most of it. She and Alexandre drove to the North Shore, admiring the pastoral views as the sun dappled the rolling fields at the foot of the mountains.
They beach-hopped along the coast. At Kūkae‘ōhiki Beach, they spotted two green sea turtles nearly camouflaged among the dark rocks. At Waimea Bay Beach, they sunbathed on the vast expanse of golden sand, watching surfers paddle out, then ride the waves back in.
For lunch, they stopped at one of the North Shore’s famous shrimp trucks. Mei was set on getting their specialty, butter garlic shrimp, but paused when she saw they also offered Cantonese salt-and-pepper shrimp.
“Let’s split both,” Alexandre said.
They sat side by side at a picnic table, laughing and getting their hands messy while peeling the fresh shrimp.
After the meal, they drove along the coastal road.
At times, the ocean lay just on the other side of the asphalt.
They passed narrow beaches with choppy blue waves and impossibly tall palm trees.
Inland, waterfalls cascaded down craggy green cliffs.
As they approached the wetlands where they’d volunteered, Mei thought about the delicate plantlings they’d placed in the ground.
They’d drink in the fresh air and grow stronger each day.
Mei smiled to herself. She was doing the same.
They ended their drive at Ka‘ōhao Beach.
Mei found a quiet spot on the white sand, under a low palm tree.
She and Alexandre lay on their towels, facing each other.
Mei took in the strong line of his jaw, his intelligent eyes.
Her fingers itched to run through his tousled hair. Not yet. But maybe soon.
· · ·
An hour later, Ali, Luc, and Kaia joined them. Luc and Alexandre took Kaia for a swim, leaving Mei and Ali on their towels.
“I can’t believe it’s New Year’s Eve,” Mei said.
“Right?” Ali luxuriated under the sun’s rays. “We’ve never spent it anywhere warm. This should be our new tradition.”
“Seriously. But next time, I’m paying. I owe you.”
“Oh please. You don’t owe us anything.”
Mei nodded, though she’d try to return Ali and Luc’s kindness as soon as she could. She gazed at the sun glittering on the water, then cleared her throat. “So I’m thinking that maybe—just maybe—it might be time for me to leave Livin.”
“Really?” Ali whipped her head toward her. “How did you decide that?”
Mei took a minute to sort through her feelings.
“At Livin, I like being busy. I feel accomplished every day. But being here made me remember what’s really important.
It’s not killing myself to be the top marketing employee.
It’s spending time with you, Luc, and Kaia.
And Alexandre.” Mei hoped her tone didn’t change when she said Alexandre’s name.
“And it’s being healthy and present enough to enjoy those moments. ”
Shame welled up as she recalled the state she was in before this trip: Holing up in her filthy apartment. Skipping Thanksgiving. Avoiding people who cared about her so she could give everything to a company that didn’t love her back.
“Livin hasn’t been a healthy place for a while,” Ali said. “It’s time to go.”
“How do you do it? Work full-time and have a kid? And make sure your sister and brother-in-law aren’t burnt-out disasters?”
Ali waved off her last remark. “Have you ever heard the rocks and sand analogy?”
Mei shook her head.
“Think of filling a clear vase with rocks and sand. You’d put the largest rocks in first, then the pebbles. Then you’d pour in the sand.” Ali let a handful of powdery white sand slip through her fingers. “The biggest rocks are your priorities. Everything else falls around them.”
“I just have a hulking, Livin-sized rock that takes up the whole vase.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Your big rocks change over time. Before I was a mom, Luc and you were my biggest rocks. Now Kaia, Luc, and you are.”
Mei’s cheeks burned. How had she let work eclipse everything?
How had she thought of Livin as a bigger rock than her sister?
Joey’s face drifted into her mind. Maybe if she hadn’t been so consumed with work, she would have realized their incompatibility sooner, saving them months of anguish.
Mei watched Alexandre pull Kaia on a pineapple-shaped float. Her heart gave a little pang.
“You have your priorities right,” she said to Ali. “Mine are all screwed up.”
“You’ll straighten them out.”
“I just need to figure out where to go next.”
“Back to food marketing? Somewhere more exciting than Daisyland?”
Mei shrugged. Not a single job seemed appealing. “I have to see what’s out there. And update my résumé. I’ll do it in the new year.”
“Tomorrow,” Ali cracked.
“Ha ha.” But she was laughing, too. “New year, new job.”
She spotted Alexandre splashing in the water with Luc and Kaia. His eyes met hers. The corners of his mouth curled up.
Mei smiled back. And maybe a new love, too?
· · ·
For the last dinner of the year, everyone went to an udon restaurant. Over steaming bowls of noodles in rich broth and crispy platters of shrimp and vegetable tempura, they toasted the trip and their hopes for the new year.
Afterward, they headed back to Alexandre’s room.
Kaia vowed to stay up until midnight but dozed off at eleven.
After tucking her into the spare bed, Mei, Ali, Luc, and Alexandre tiptoed out to the balcony.
Under a crescent moon, waves rippled in the ocean.
Just before midnight, Luc popped open a bottle of champagne and poured four glasses.
“One minute to go,” Ali said.
Mei leaned her head against her sister’s.
Scenes from the year flashed before her: Joey proposing in their shiny new apartment.
A hurricane-drenched Alexandre running to her at Livinpalooza.
Joey crying hysterically when she ended their relationship.
James introducing Erika to the marketing team.
Ali announcing their trip to Hawai‘i. Coming back to life in this beautiful place.
A year of pain. And joy. And hopefully growth.
“Ten seconds!” Luc called.
They counted down together. “Five…four…three…two…one! Happy new year!”
Fireworks lit up the sky in bursts of red, gold, green, and blue. People on balconies cheered. Ali and Luc embraced with glee.
Mei turned to Alexandre. Desire shone on his face, but his hesitation was clear. Mei knew she had to make the first move. Every nerve ending thrummed, anticipating his lips on hers.
Without taking her eyes off him, Mei wrapped her arms around his neck. A slow smile spread across his face. He pulled her close. Electricity shot through Mei. She brushed her nose against his. He brought his face to hers. As Mei’s eyes closed, she noticed Ali and Luc breaking apart.
Mei jumped away from Alexandre. She ran to hug her sister.
A moment later, Kaia wandered onto the balcony, rubbing her eyes. “It’s New Year’s? You didn’t wake me!” she wailed. Chandeliers of golden sparks rained down in the sky. “Ooh.”
Everyone laughed and gathered at the railing. With Alexandre beside her, Mei barely registered the fireworks. She was all too aware of the buzzy heat emanating from him, making her whole body hum.
After the last firework faded into the night, Ali yawned. “It’s way past Kaia’s bedtime. And ours.”
Mei grabbed the champagne. “There’s still half a bottle. You sure you don’t want a top-off?” Her eyes slid to Alexandre.
He raised an eyebrow. Then that mischievous smile pulled at his mouth. “I could go for one.”
Mei refilled their glasses, biting her lip to contain her giddy laughter.
“We’re good,” Ali said. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Mei waved as they walked out of the room.
The door closed. Mei’s eyes met Alexandre’s. For a moment, they stood frozen. Only the sound of their shallow breathing filled the space. Then Alexandre took a step toward her. Mei leapt onto him.
Her lips found his. Her hands ran through his hair. For a second, Alexandre seemed stunned. Then he pulled her in. His tongue brushed hers. His hands roamed down her back, as steady and assured as she’d imagined. Mei snuck her hands under his shirt, her fingers tingling as they devoured his skin.
They toppled onto the bed.
Mei giggled. “This is so ridiculous.”
“It is.” Alexandre’s lips trailed her jawline. “But I don’t care.”
She wrapped her legs around him, feeling him hard against her.
Too much clothing lay between them. Mei unbuttoned Alexandre’s shirt and attempted to rip it off. They laughed when his arm got stuck. He sat up to untangle himself, while Mei yanked off her sundress. Her bare skin against his was more than she could bear.
She grabbed his shoulders. He ran his hands over her breasts, making her sigh and arch against him.
Joey’s angry face suddenly floated before her. You’re ruining everything we have so you can fuck Le fucking Prof.
Mei stiffened. Not this. Not now. She drew in a breath and faced down her glaring ex-fiancé. Sorry, Joey. We had problems long before Le Prof.
Alexandre pulled back. “You okay?”
Mei nodded.
He touched her cheek. “We can stop.”
Mei took in Alexandre’s concerned expression, the care in his touch. “No. I don’t want to.” She wrapped herself around him decisively.
Alexandre kissed her gently, slowly. Mei relaxed into him.
Their kisses deepened, driving any hesitation out of her mind. Mei undid Alexandre’s shorts. She ran her hand over his erection, feeling him suck in his breath. He paused at her underwear, his eyes meeting hers. Mei helped him pull them off. A moan escaped her as his fingers slipped inside her.
Alexandre smiled at her arousal. He kissed down her neck, moving to her stomach, then in between her legs. Mei’s breath caught at the feel of his tongue, then melted into the delicious sensations flowing through her.
“Do you have a condom?” she asked.
Alexandre retrieved one from the bathroom.
Back in bed, he pulled her close. His hazel eyes caressed her face.
“Remember during the hurricane, when you asked whether it’s possible to be one hundred percent sure about anything?
At the time, I said no. Now I know I was wrong.
I’m one hundred percent sure about you.”
Mei stroked his face. “I am, too.” And she was.
Alexandre kissed her, then looked at her again. She nodded.
Mei inhaled when he entered her. When their eyes met, Mei nearly burst into giggles. They were finally naked together and it felt so right. Alexandre seemed to feel the same way. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.
She sensed Alexandre taking her in, noting what made her sigh with bliss or move with more urgency, as if committing it to memory. Of course he is. Not many of the men she’d been with had cared so much about her pleasure.
Then Alexandre kissed her deeply, bringing her solely back to him. She took his hand and guided it between her legs. Mei touched herself with him, smiling at his change in arousal.
Then she was climaxing. She gasped and panted, clutching at Alexandre. A minute later, he was breathless too, gripping her just as tightly.
They lay together nose to nose. Alexandre kissed her, filling her with radiating joy. As Mei drifted off to sleep, her head nestled against Alexandre’s shoulder, him holding her close, all she could think was, Finally.