Chapter 1 – Magnum's POV
Armed with his paddles, Thomas Magnum cleaved the water at a steady pace, making his frustrations melt away with each stroke. Wearing his usual Tigers cap, shorts and his grey 'Navy Seals' tank top, the P.I lead his boat further and further away from Robin's Nest.
A month has passed since Higgins had told him she wouldn't be leaving for London.
Normally, this memory should be a pleasant one for him and in some ways it really was. After everything he had been willing to do for her to stay in Hawaii, he finally got his wish. Juliet would remain right here, she wouldn't marry anyone and they would still be partners. It had been quite a win for everyone.
Except maybe for the small fact that, in order for her to get another visa, Robin had left her the entirety of Robin's Nest. She was now the owner of the greatest property of the island, including all its employees. That meant him, too.
Naively, Magnum thought that, since she had already been running the estate as majordomo for the last few years, it wouldn't change a thing.
Boy, was he wrong!
Nothing was the same anymore. Or rather, it was like before. Like the first time they met when their relationship was based on contempt, annoyance and Higgins was trying to teach him lessons through passive aggressive gestures.
At first, she had joked that technically the red Ferrari was now hers and she would change the license plate from Robin2 to Higgins2, which she did. Magnum thought it was a funny joke and he really didn't mind as long as he could still drive it.
But she didn't stop there. All she could do to annoy him, she did. It was like she did it on purpose to get a rise out of him. Like, sending workers to the guesthouse for a remodel of the living area at 7AM or changing the gardener's schedule so he now mowed under his windows at dawn. Basically, he couldn't ever sleep past 7AM.
He went as far as he intended to with his boat before turning around to come home.
He sighed. All these changes were not why he was sulky. They were just petty annoyances that kept reminding him their relationship had changed, and not for the better.
What bothered him the most was that she now didn't work on cases with him anymore. Last week, he tried to ask her for some background checks and some location data for a client, and she treated it like she used to before they were partners, as if he was asking for a favor and she didn't have time for him.
His own P.I work was starting to suffer from her absence. It took him twice as much time to solve a case without Higgins' help.
He finally joined the beach in the allotted time for his practice and jumped in the water to drag his boat on the sand. There, he saw Kumu in the middle of her morning exercises which put a smile on his face. At least some things were still the same.
« Morning, Kumu. »
« Aloha, Thomas. », she panted.
« Have you seen Higgins this morning? », he asked, willing to pay the majordomo a visit.
« She was in the study when I left an hour ago. »
« Mahalo. »
He started to walk away when the older woman addressed him again.
« Be nice to her, Thomas. »
He scoffed.
« I'm always nice, Kumu. »
He headed towards the main house, and as he did, walked past the dogs who watched him indifferently but didn't move to chase him. Apparently their training sessions together weren't a total waste of time.
When he entered the study he saw Higgins asleep at the desk, her head on her folded arms, next to her open laptop. Magnum frowned, it was odd to fall asleep at 8AM.
He sighed. She must have pulled an all-nighter and crashed in exhaustion. He was proven right when he recognized the clothes she was wearing as yesterday's outfit. He sat in the armchair across the desk, wondering whether he should wake her up, carry her to her room or let her sleep here.
He observed her. She looked so peaceful, also softer and younger while in slumber. Magnum could stay there, watching her, for hours. Her relaxed features made her look even more beautiful and Thomas felt his heart lurch in his chest at the sight.
He knew she was a gorgeous woman the moment he laid eyes on her, even with her stern expression and her acerbic manners. But the more he got to know her, the more he thought she was beautiful on the inside too. Her tough persona was only the result of too much hurt and being forced to hide herself during her spy career.
Looking at her now, he physically felt the ache at her pulling away from him. He had been feeling that way ever since she told him she would marry TC instead of him. He had been willing to do anything to keep her in Hawaii and to see her reject his help to go to his best friend had hurt him more than he had let on. What did TC have that Thomas didn't to make a better fake husband for Juliet?
On top of everything, she had been distant since going to TC and he missed her, her posh accent, her smile and how she made him strive to be more than who he was. He even missed her lectures and disapproving looks.
But no point in mulling things over right now. Nothing would ever change if he didn't come and talk to her about what was troubling him. Like he had once told her, it wouldn't be fair to her if he wasn't honest about how he felt. But judging from her slumped form, she would be in no shape for such a conversation at the moment. She needed sleep.
He rose up from the armchair to come kneel next to her. He stroked her back softly, trying to rouse her so she could go lie down on her bed and be more comfortable. She groaned but didn't open her eyes.
"Higgy.", he whispered. "You need to go sleep in your bed."
She hummed but didn't move.
"You want me to carry you?", he asked, already worried about her answer.
She still didn't utter a word, just a grunt.
Magnum slipped one arm under her knees and placed his other against her back before he rose from his crouching position. He waited until he got her settled in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, and her weight evenly distributed before he walked towards the stairs.
She mumbled his name against his neck but didn't move further than that. Magnum thought she must be really tired not to knock him down for carrying her.
He was in the middle of the stairs when he registered something else. Not that she used to weigh a ton before, but right now she was as light as a feather, even in sleep. She must have lost some weight in the last month.
Worry settled in his chest as he crossed the threshold of her room and deposited her gently on her bed. He took off her shoes and noticed, now that she was lying down, that her collarbone was more prominent and her thighs had lost some muscular mass. He pulled her sheet over her body.
Something was going on with her and he was determined to find out what.