Chapter 10
Pid was becoming increasingly worried. Monica had warned him that she wasn’t great in social situations, and she hadn’t lied.
Everyone had gathered at Duke’s, and things had started out well enough.
Kenna had the night off, and she was able to sit at the table with them and enjoy the meal instead of waiting on their group.
Elodie and Lexie were there, as was Ashlyn.
Carly hadn’t shown up, which Jag was visibly upset about, but generally, everyone was in a good mood.
Except for Monica.
She was sitting next to him in the middle of the rectangular table, sipping ice tea, and mainly concentrating on the food in front of her. She’d greeted everyone, but otherwise hadn’t said a word since.
Elodie had tried to include her in the conversation, but since talk had centered around the plans for the luau wedding in a few weeks, Monica didn’t have much to offer.
Pid had caught the concerned glances his friends threw his way, but he’d given them a small shake of his head, and they’d turned their attention back to the conversation.
The day itself, before arriving at Duke’s, had gone extremely well.
Monica had smiled more than he’d ever seen so far, and she’d even agreed to let him take a selfie of the two of them at the lookout at Puu Ualakaa State Park.
It was a picture Pid knew he’d treasure forever.
Her eyes were closed and she was laughing, the dimple that did him in on full display.
Her blonde hair was blowing around her head in the wind and a few strands were entangled with his own.
She looked like a woman with no cares in the world, and it was how he always wanted to remember her.
They’d had an amazing day, and she’d even insisted on buying him a hula girl for the dashboard of his minivan.
He had no intention of defiling his precious vehicle with the obnoxious toy, instead planning on putting it on the windowsill over his kitchen sink, where he’d still see it every day and think of her.
He liked Monica more than he ever thought he would.
He hadn’t spent as much time getting to know a woman as a friend as he had her.
And for his part, that friendship was slowly morphing into more.
He looked forward to seeing her when he got up, and delayed saying good night each evening for as long as he could before going to his bedroom alone.
But the woman he’d gotten to know over the last couple of weeks, and during the last several hours, wasn’t the same one sitting next to him right now. She was grim faced and didn’t seem interested in engaging with anyone.
“Want to see the beach?” he asked after their dishes had been taken away and they were waiting on dessert to be served.
“Sure,” she said quietly.
“We’ll be right back,” Pid told the group.
“We’ll be here,” Elodie joked.
Pid held Monica’s chair as she stood and put his hand on the small of her back as they headed through the restaurant, toward the stairs that would lead them to the stretch of sandy beach.
Once they were away from the bright lights and noise of the restaurant, he asked, “You okay?”
She sighed. “I told you I’m not good with people.”
“You’re fine with me,” he countered. “And when you’ve been around the guys, you’ve been relaxed.”
“I don’t fit in,” she said softly. “I’ve never fit in. I don’t know what to say to add to the conversation, and the last thing I want to do is say something awkward that will make everyone think I’m a freak.”
“Mo,” Pid said, stopping and turning her to face him. He put his hands on her shoulders. “All you have to do is be yourself.”
She shook her head. “That’s what I’m afraid of. Monica Collins isn’t very interesting.”
“Bullshit,” Pid said. “You have a great sense of humor and you have more compassion in your little finger than most people have in their entire bodies. You just need to relax. Stop worrying about what you say before you say it. The women in that restaurant aren’t going to judge you. About anything.”
“I’ll try.”
Without asking permission, Pid pulled her close.
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her in a long heartfelt hug.
He felt her relax against him and couldn’t help but sigh in contentment with the way they fit.
Her cheek rested against his chest, over his heart, and she grasped his shirt at his sides as she stood quietly in his embrace.
“Feel better?”
She nodded. “My meal was delicious.”
“You’re gonna love the hula pie too. Promise.”
After another moment, they walked back toward the restaurant. The pies had been served while they were gone. Pid didn’t hesitate to fork a huge bite into his mouth as soon as he and Monica were settled again.
Everyone laughed at his over-the-top enjoyment.
“I don’t know what they put in this thing, but it’s got to be some sort of illegal substance,” he said with his mouth full.
In contrast, Monica took a dainty bite, but he heard her moan in appreciation as she experienced Duke’s hula pie for the first time.
“Told you,” he said as he nudged her arm with his shoulder.
“You did,” she agreed.
Pid watched as she took a breath and turned to Elodie, saying quietly, “Stuart mentioned you’re an amazing chef, and he wasn’t wrong. Those dishes you brought over were delicious. What’s your favorite thing to make?”
It was the right thing to ask. Elodie beamed and immediately launched into a discussion of some of her favorite dishes. And while Monica didn’t exactly participate much in the conversation that followed, she was paying more attention and nodding at some of the things the others said.
Pid was proud of her. It was obvious she was still uncomfortable, but she was trying. It was all he could ask for.
When Ashlyn asked what he and Monica had done that day, he told them all about their leisurely drive and how glad he was that the weather had cooperated for pictures at the scenic overlooks.
“You should bring her up to the North Shore so she can meet Baker,” Elodie said with a grin.
“Baker?” Monica asked.
“He’s a retired SEAL. He’s hot. And he surfs!” Elodie explained.
“Hey, watch it. I’m gonna think you like him more than you do me,” Mustang grumbled.
Elodie leaned over and kissed her husband on the cheek, patting his chest. “Never.” Then she turned back to Monica. “He’s mysterious and a little scary, but my God, the man isn’t hard on the eyes.”
“Jesus, El,” Mustang said with a roll of his own.
Pid saw Monica’s lips quirk into a small smile. He’d never been so glad to see that in all his life.
“Elodie’s right,” Kenna added. “I thought I was gonna pee my pants when he leaned in and said in a deadly tone, ‘No one fucks with the SEALs,’” she mimicked, shivering dramatically. “He’s like James Bond without the accent, and way more good-looking.”
“Which one?” Ashlyn asked. “Because there have been a lot of men who’ve played James Bond, and they’re all pretty damn good-looking.”
“Nope. None of them beats Baker,” Lexie threw in.
“All right, can we stop talking about how hot Baker Rawlins is,” Jag whined.
All the women giggled.
“El’s suggestion isn’t a horrible one,” Mustang said when the ladies had gotten themselves under control. “With Baker’s connections, and since he still has his hand in the pie, so-to-speak, he might have some insight into the guy Monica’s been looking for.”
Pid nodded. He should’ve already thought about that. “You’re right. I’ll see if I can make the arrangements, and I’ll talk to Huttner about it as well. He may already have spoken with Baker about everything that’s been going on.”
“True,” Mustang agreed.
“Um, if this guy is as scary as he sounds…maybe we can just call him?” Monica said.
It was Kenna who leaned on the table with her elbows and pierced Monica with a look.
“Baker is scary, there’s no doubt about that.
But the man is good at what he does. He met with a freaking mobster to make sure Elodie was safe from anyone else coming after her.
And he vowed to do whatever it took to find Shawn’s son to make sure I’m safe.
He’s got a core of integrity that’s shocking in its intensity.
He’s one of the good guys, no matter how he might come across. ”
Lexie’s phone rang before anyone could say anything else. She didn’t bother getting up from the table, just apologized and said, “It’s Natalie. She wouldn’t be calling me this late on a Sunday if something wasn’t up.”
Everyone quieted as they listened to Lexie’s side of the conversation with her boss at Food For All.
“Hey, Nat, what’s up? Oh my God, seriously?
All right, I can head out there right now.
I’m down in Waikiki, so it’ll take me twenty minutes or so to get there, is that all right?
Good. The cops are there now though? Okay, I’m glad.
I will, thanks. No, enjoy your vacation, I’ll call once I talk to the police and find out what the damage was. Right. Okay, talk to you later. Bye.”
“What’s going on?” Aleck asked as soon as she hung up.
“Natalie said the alarm was tripped at Food For All down at Barbers Point. She asked if I could go check things out and let the police know if anything’s missing.
She said no one was hurt, obviously, since we’re closed.
The front window is smashed to pieces though, which most likely set the alarm off. ”
“Right. We’re going,” Midas said.
“I’m coming,” Ashlyn said. “I want to make sure they didn’t mess up my organization of all our supplies.”
“I’ll take you,” Slate told her.
“I want to go too,” Elodie threw in. “I want to check on my kitchen.”
“If you guys are going, so am I,” Kenna insisted.
“Fuck. Looks like we’re all headed to Barbers Point,” Jag said, standing.
“I’ll take care of the bill tomorrow when I come in to work,” Kenna told them.
“Wrong. I’ll take care of the bill when I drop you off at work tomorrow,” Aleck insisted.
“Whatever,” Kenna said with a roll of her eyes.
Pid took hold of Monica’s elbow as they stood. “You okay with heading down to the food pantry and seeing what’s what?”
“Sure,” she said. “I’m interested to see the place after hearing Lexie and Ashlyn talk about it.”
The confirmation that she had been listening to the conversation swirling around them over dinner was reassuring. Pid had a feeling it would take her a few times of hanging out with all of them to get comfortable, but he suspected it would happen.
The entire group headed for the exit. Pid wasn’t sure what they’d find down at the food pantry, but he couldn’t help but hope it was a completely random break-in and nothing connected to the trouble any of the women had been through.
The last thing any of the SEALs wanted was for Elodie, Lexie, or Kenna to suffer anything they’d already survived, all over again.