Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
Remy
I should probably move out of this doorway and say hi to Leilani, but I can't. And not just because Max and Dad are in my path, arguing over who caught the biggest fish today.
No, it's because Leilani is standing in my house (okay, my parents' house), smiling so sweetly and looking so stunning that I don't know what to do with myself.
She looks like she belongs here. The way she's fanning herself with Dad's Guitar World magazine. How one of her elbows is casually propped on the island kitchen counter. How she takes a sip of her wine like this is her kitchen.
My brain twists, trying to process it all. Namely, what's she doing here? And is she trying to get in good with my family?
And, most of all: I've been thinking about her all day, out on the water. Now she's here, in my parents' kitchen. That's kind of magical, actually.
Oh, right. Wait. We're just casual. Stop it, Remy.
Ma walks over and squeezes her shoulder. She whispers something in Leilani's ear. There's that gorgeous smile. Leilani nods, then her gaze slides back to me.
My heart pounding, I walk over. Better stuff my hands into the pockets of my shorts, because all I want is to hug her.
"Hey, you," I say, grinning.
"Hi," she says softly. My hands are itching to touch her hair. But I keep them in my pockets.
"Remy, do you want a beer?" my sister calls out.
"Uh, sure," I respond, not taking my eyes off Leilani. I study her face. "Fancy seeing you here."
"I didn't mean to surprise you like this. Sorry if it's awkward." All around us, my family is talking, laughing, and hopefully ignoring us. (But probably not, since they're… my family).
"Why are you apologizing?" Nat hands me a beer and I take a long pull. I don't like this sudden tension between me and Leilani. Don't understand it, either.
Her shoulders lift. "I ran into Natalia in the grocery store. She asked me to come over. I didn't want you to think that I was trying to weasel my way into meeting your parents or anything. I know about our arrangement."
The corners of my mouth lift into a smile. "Of course, I wouldn't think that. I know you're all about the arrangement."
"I'm pro-arrangement," she says, giggling.
"Long live the arrangement." I wink at her.
She waves her hand dismissively in the air. "I mean, why would I want to meet your parents? Not that I didn't want to, or have anything against them. But I wasn't planning to ever meet your parents. It's not like we're getting married or anything. Goodness."
"Right?" I guffaw loudly.
She takes a huge gulp of wine and I think I catch a glimpse of Ma snickering.
When Leilani rests her hand on my bicep, it feels like I have a shower of fireworks in my body.
"I thought I'd come because Natalia was so persuasive.
You know how she can be." She squeezes and I nearly implode.
"And because she made your mother's food sound so appealing.
I can't resist lasagna and…" she flutters her small hand in the air, "and the other dish your mom's making. Smells delicious, doesn't it?"
I guzzle my beer. Why did my stomach feel so funny when she said that she didn't care if she ever met Ma and Dad?
"Yeah, Natalia can be like that. She doesn't take no for an answer.
And my mom's dinners are pretty darned good, as you'll see.
Makes the best Italian-Puerto Rican fusion food in all of Florida.
We've been trying to get her to open a restaurant at the resort for years, but she says she wants to cook for family only. "
"Cool, cool." Her nodding is a little too enthusiastic.
We both swallow our drinks and eye each other.
Lately when we're together, it's just the two of us.
We talk about her business, watch movies, sleep, eat.
Do stuff. Kiss. We're good at us. But in a room full of my whole family, with her laughing at Dad's jokes, well that's a different kind of together.
It's as if this is my first day with legs.
I don't know where to stand, how to move, even how to pronounce words.
Which is weird since I'm normally so smooth with women.
"Hey, uh, want the grand tour of the house? This is where I grew up," I stammer.
"Sure, yes, that would be nice," she says quickly.
As I'm calculating how long it will be before Ma serves dinner, Tate, Isabella, and Steve materialize next to us.
"Oh, I'm down for this tour. I want to provide my own version of events while you narrate.
" A laughing Tate tucks Steve under his arm.
"Let's show Leilani where you and Damien used to pretend to be WWE wrestlers in the garden first. Or show her that photo album of you at the mermaid park in Weeki Wachee when you were like thirteen.
You made us get pictures of you with all the mermaids. See how dreams come true, little bro?"
Leilani lets out a genuine, sparkling laugh and pinches my side. I groan, loudly.
Over the next couple of hours, I watch as Leilani charms my entire family. While appetizers are passed around, she chats with Dad and Ma. They both love the idea of her mermaid bar. Then again, who doesn't?
As Nat serves the lasagna, Leilani sits in between me and Lauren. She ends up talking to her more than me. Apparently, they already have plans for some big social media push for Mermosa. They have an entire calendar laid out, one that Isabella, Nat, and Kate have helped with.
"I'd love to get you in the water, Mrs. Hastings. Wouldn't you like to slip on a mermaid fin?" Leilani leans forward and peers at Ma.
"That's an incredible idea," Lauren says. "I think I could sell those photos. Maybe to a women's magazine, or like AARP. To show that women are still sexy and adventurous after fifty."
"Damn straight," Dad growls.
Leilani claps her hands. "I love it!"
Plans are made to fit Ma with a mermaid tail. That morphs into the idea of a private swim with all of them, and an underwater video. Right before my eyes, the woman I've been hanging out with forms a mermaid girl gang with all the women in my family.
My chest tightens. I adore her and all, but what happens when this is over? What if she wants to move on and be alone? Or, heaven forbid, date some other guy? My family will blame me. They'll think I drove her away. I'm already the jester of the family.
And the idea of Leilani eventually wanting something more and dating another guy makes me crack open another beer in despair. I sit morosely, listening to all of them talk about mermaids and swimming and the best days of the week to launch a new business.
Everyone has an opinion. Except me.
Max, being the Type A businessman that he is, has some tips and ideas for her. Of course, he does. Know it all.
"I thought you were her mentor." Max jabs my ribs with his elbow.
"I'm supposed to be, you jerk," I grumble.
Over dessert, Leilani gets into a deep conversation with Tate and Isabella about wild monkeys in Florida.
I had no idea that Leilani knew so much about monkeys.
Or primates. She seems to be up on pending research of wild monkeys at the University of Florida (which impresses Tate, I can tell), as well as trends in conservation (which pleases Isabella), and has photos on her phone of a monkey in a tree near a north Florida spring.
"There's a place called Monkey Island, where they all live," she says to Isabella, who is bowled over by her knowledge. "It was near the mermaid park where I worked."
"No way," Isabella cries, delighted.
Plans are made for a road trip to see the monkeys. "Remy, you need to come with us," Natalia says.
I shrug and sip my beer. Doesn't Leilani's controlling ex live up north? The thought sours my mood further. And how did I not know that my friend-with-benefits is a primate expert in addition to being a mermaid?
Max glances at me and smirks. "You're pretty quiet today, brotato."
I shrug. I don't know why, but something about this afternoon isn't sitting well with me.
Or, maybe it's sitting too well with me.
It's adorable how she's getting on with my family.
But I also worry because she's so cozy with my family.
Now I'll have to manage their expectations because they're bound to think we're serious.
Or they'll be upset when Leilani and I finally end it. Which will be a long time from now, I hope. Because what we have is special. Unique. As rare as those wild Florida monkeys, as far as I'm concerned.
Talk turns to Tate and Isabella's wedding plans, and my shoulders tense.
They're insufferable with it. Lauren chimes in with what she wants at her wedding, which makes Max mention that he'd like a bachelor weekend that includes an artisan cigar rolling lesson. Tate nods enthusiastically. At least Damien and Kate had the decency to do something casual and quick that didn’t involve us much.
I roll my eyes. "I guess I'm going to be busy as the token bachelor party planner over the coming months," I say.
Tate, grinning like a cat that just ate a sardine, looks at Leilani and then at me. "Well, perhaps not. From the looks of things, you might be joining our ranks."
I let out a snort. "Yeah, right? Me? I'm the bachelor of the family. I'm happy just the way I am. Me and the bass boat. Doing laundry every week here at Ma and Dad's. Nah, I'm not a good catch at all."
Everyone at the table laughs with me.
I glance over at Leilani who has a smile pasted on her face. I think it's one of agreement. But I'm not entirely sure. I reach over and ruffle her hair. "Right, beautiful?"
She stares at me for a beat, then nods slowly. "That's right. We wouldn't want to disturb the confirmed bachelor in his comfortable habitat."
"Exactly," I say, getting to my feet. "Anyone want another drink?"
Truthfully, I'm already a little tipsy. But since I don't have to be anywhere, I can just crash here. Maybe Leilani can hang with me. I just want her near.
Since dinner and dessert are over, everyone gets up from the table and filters out.
Tate, Isabella, and Dad go into the living room to watch some European soccer game.
Max and Lauren, ever the responsible ones, clean up in the kitchen.
Ma is heating up Steve's dinner in the microwave.
Nat's on her phone texting someone about a jewelry show, swearing under her breath.
That girl has always had a mouth like a trucker.
Leilani offers to help Max and Lauren. They wave her off.
"We don't let guests do the cleaning," Max says.
I take this opportunity to grab my beer and Leilani's hand. Leading her upstairs, I take her to the second floor deck. Outside, it's hotter than blazes, a stifling, Florida summer evening. Still, the humidity feels soothing on my skin after all that tight, dry air conditioning.
"Ahhh," I sigh. "That's better. Sometimes air conditioning gets to me. I think I'm just so used to the elements from being on boats so much. I'm a wild, seafaring dude, not fit for indoor living, you know?"
Leilani looks at me with a skeptical expression. She leans on the rail and looks out at the yard, and I admire her as I come up to her from behind. She turns to face me.
"I love this little romper thing you're wearing." I tilt her face up to mine and kiss her. "I've wanted to do that all day.”
She kisses me with soft and pliant lips, and I taste the beer on my tongue and a hint of vanilla ice cream on hers. I swear, I will never tire of kissing this woman. Then she looks at me with those huge eyes.
"Well, I'm going to get going." I don’t even try to hide the shock on my face but she continues. "I've got an awful lot to do for the bar. And I still have to make a few lists for the coming week."
I lick my lips. What? Crap. I wanted to hang out more with her tonight. I haven't gotten my Leilani fix yet. Still, I want to respect her time. Her bar is opening within a few weeks and she's probably freaking out.
"Do you want me to come home with you?" I ask. "I'm the one who's supposed to be your mentor, no matter what Max told you at dinner. We can talk about business... stuff."
She laughs softly and runs her hand through my hair, which makes my scalp tingle pleasurably.
"I know you're my mentor. You've been a huge help.
I'm sure Max was just trying to be helpful too.
No, I should go. I need to get some sleep, and I really want to spend some time with my planner. You know how I am."
Leilani has this thing with her lists and notebooks and planners.
I don't quite understand it, but admire her organizational skills.
She's quite adorable when she makes those lists, fully focused, with a slight frown.
I suspect that making the lists is a way to calm herself and quell her anxiety about everything she needs to do.
"Okay," I say, kissing her on the forehead and swaying a little from all the beer. "I guess I'll have to live without you for a night. It'll be hard."
She gives me a little shrug and a sad smile. "Will it though?"
We stare at each other without blinking. I think she's trying to tell me something, and I'm not entirely sure what. Maybe because I'm a little drunk, or perhaps this is one of those female cues I've never been good at reading. I blink stupidly.
In the interest of harmony, I'm just going to let it slide.
"See you later," she whispers. She brushes another kiss across my lips and murmurs something about saying goodbye to everyone else inside. Then she walks off the porch, leaving me alone in the humidity.
I sip my beer.
See, this is why I adore her, why I think our relationship is so special. She's casual and understands me. And I understand her. We're not attached at the hip, like Lauren and Max or Tate and Isabella. Leilani has her own things going on, and I respect her free time. Just as she respects mine.
We have our arrangement. Long live the arrangement.
And yet, as I stand on the porch, sipping my beer, I wonder why I feel so lonely and miserable now that she's gone.