Chapter Six
August – four months later
Naomi was trying her best to calm herself down. Today was the start of the rest of her life – a life that she intended to lead without fear, as an independent strong woman focused on her career.
Her flight was about to land in Honolulu and she reflected back on the last four months. Her time at home with her father had been strained; he did not approve of her coming all the way to Hawaii to finish college rather than going to a more prestigious school like Stanford or Columbia. He was unable to understand her reasons for coming here.
He was convinced that it was because of Steve, which was not far from the truth. But that was not the only reason. Her reason for coming here was that she had felt peace on this beautiful island for the first time since her ordeal. She felt hope and a cleansing, along with real friendships that she had maintained despite the distance.
In the last four months, she had regularly spoken with Mary and Steve, even Danny and Kono. They would call her and from time to time just to chat and she cherished those times. But most of all she enjoyed Steve's calls; they were not overly long and were usually just her talking and blabbering. He really was a very serious man; but the fact that it was usually him who called her made her feel like she was liked even if Steve was not very chatty.
The captain announced their descent and they were instructed to buckle their seatbelts. Naomi felt the excitement in her; Steve was coming to pick her up since it was a Saturday and he insisted. She had tried not to impose too much on him, but he had refused, although she did win her argument when he insisted that she would stay with him. She had informed him that she had an apartment organized along with a couple of other students.
She again thought back to her father, he had threatened to cut her off, and she had very politely told him that she had used her trust fund left by her maternal grandfather to pay for her college tuition and that she intended to support herself that way until she could get a part time job. She was going to lead the life of a student and the only way she could gain her independence was to make sure she did not let her father control her finances. Her father had nothing to do with her trust fund therefore she had finally showed him she did not need him. Naomi felt bad at the way they had parted, but she was sure he would come around once he saw how well she was doing.
She made her way to baggage claim when she spotted him. He was as handsome and sexy as she remembered, maybe even more than before. He looked amazing in just a plain white cotton shirt with his sleeves rolled up, blue jeans and converse sneakers. She noticed even more grey in his hair as if he had been under a lot of stress lately. He wore his ever-present diving watch and a frown as he scrolled through his phone.
As if sensing her gaze on him, he lifted his head, his gaze zoned in on her and his frown turned into a toothy grin. He almost jogged coming closer and without any warning, he lifted her into a tight bear hug. Her arms automatically went around his neck to balance herself, and they both laughed. God, she had missed him, although he did not laugh much.
One he set her aside, he took a good look at her, and "You look good. Its good to have you back".
"You don't look so bad yourself" she smiled up at him.
"Okay what does your luggage look like?" he asked as he dragged a trolley toward the conveyer belt. When she spotted her stuff she pointed it out and together they loaded up the trolley.
"So how did your dad take it?" Steve asked as he pushed her trolley into the car park. She knew exactly what he meant.
She sighed sadly, "Not very well. He actually threatened to cut me off, before I reminded him about my trust fund set up by my grandfather" they had gotten into the truck and were headed toward the exit. "But I am going to be positive. When he sees that I am doing well, and that I am independent, hopefully he'll come around".
Steve reached for her hand, "For your sake I hope he does" she noticed he didn't sound too convinced but she decided to let it be.
They chatted as they drove, everything from Danny and Grace and the fact that Danny was still struggling to fit in.
"I seriously do not understand how Danny can not like this place?" she laughed.
"He is a strange man".
Steve drove them to Manoa, where she had managed to get an apartment with another girl.
"Do you know your roommate?" he asked as they parked outside a colorful three storied building.
"No, I found this place through Gumtree and I spoke to the girl on the phone and we've been doing the whole skype thing. She seems pretty alright" Naomi was too busy helping Steve get her stuff out of the back of the truck so she missed the expression on his face.
"You should have told me who she was and I would have done a back ground check on her".
She laughed and looked at him, noticing his frown, "Oh come on Steve. The last thing I need is for you to act like my father" she realized she was being unfair on him so she softened, "But thanks for the offer. I promise if I notice anything strange, you will be the first thing to know".
He looked at her and his frown was firmly in place, "You better".
"Aye, Aye Captain" she mock saluted him.
"Very funny, kid. And I'm not a captain".
Just as they were nearing the steps leading into the building a tall, willowy blonde woman, who looked like a model came into view. She was wearing exercise gear and even though she looked sweaty, she looked great. Naomi recognized her as her new roommate Kat and also noticed the appreciative look Steve gave her. Naomi did not want to think of her new roommate as someone whose eyes she wanted to scratch out!
-X-
Steve observed Naomi glaring at Kat, her new roommate as they were carrying her stuff up the stairs. The apartment was on the third floor and he noticed Naomi was getting a little out of breath.
Kat on the other was like an electric chatterbox hooked into a high voltage socket; she was high energy, talked more than he had ever heard anyone talk in a ten-minute timeframe, not even Danny. And she was annoying as hell.
Being a fully functioning red-blooded male he could not ignore the fact that she was hot, but she was very annoying. And when he noticed Naomi glaring daggers at her, he smiled to himself. At least now he knew for sure that she had feelings for him.
"Oh this is nice, just like the pictures you emailed me" Naomi said as she looked around the small but cheerful room that was both a living room and an open plan kitchen and dining area.
"I'm glad you like it. You can do whatever you want to do with the room, add any pictures or posters you want or any home decor things you want to make this place feel your own" Kat said helpfully, "Come and see your bedroom".
She led them to a bedroom with French doors leading to a small balcony that looked onto the main street. "There's no furniture in the room. Where are you going to sleep?" Steve observed. It was a large and airy room with the walls painted a pristine white.
"I can sleep on the couch tonight and get some stuff later. There is no hurry" Naomi said as she walked around the room. She opened the balcony doors and walked out, "Oh look at this stuff here" she exclaimed as he followed her.
Steve looked at the rusted old outdoor chairs and table. At some time they have been nice, even pretty but it looked like junk now, "Seriously? This stuff?"
Naomi smiled indulgently at him, "Yes, this stuff. All it needs is a coat of white paint and voila!"
"You should probably come back to my place before you get some furniture. I have a spare room, and Mary is still staying with me" Steve felt silly, but for some reason he wanted her to be comfortable and he did not like the thought of leaving her here.
"There is a lovely furniture store close by if you want to get some stuff" Kat volunteered as she watched them. Steve noticed her lingering glances and was a little uncomfortable under her scrutiny.
Steve asked Naomi, "You want to check it out? Maybe we can pick up some stuff for you".
"Alright. But only of you're free. You've already done so much".
"Hey don't worry about it" Steve caught her hand in his and led her to the front door, "Let's get to the store and pick out some furniture".
As he'd expected, Naomi went for some of the most feminine furniture. What he had not expected was to see her so excited about second hand furniture. Because of the way she was always dressed, Mary had even pointed out that all her clothes belonged to some high-end designer or the other, he had imagined her to be used to the finer things in life. She certainly was used to the finer things in life, but she was not spoilt.
She picked out a queen sized light mint green wrought iron bed frame and mattress to go with it. She also picked out what she called side tables that would go with the bed, but in his view they didn't, they were white and wooden.
They organized for the stuff to be delivered that evening, and then left the store. Naomi had a big smile on her face, "That was the most fun I have ever had shopping".
That was surprising, "I thought furniture shopping was considered boring".
"Oh Steven, for a girl any shopping is always fun".
Steve felt silly but he had to admit, he did have fun shopping for girly furniture with her, only because he saw a different side to her. When she had been here before for her vacation, she had seemed very unsure of herself, uncomfortable with him and very shy.
She was still shy but she was more comfortable with him. When he touched her she no longer stiffened and did not hesitate to reciprocate any affection. She had hugged him at the airport as if she had missed him as much as he had missed her, which felt great.
Steve had never thought himself to be a boyfriend kind of guy, but with Naomi he could see himself as being in a steady relationship. Earlier his life had been unsettled, he never knew when he would be shipped off and whether he would return or not, and that uncertainty had kept him from forming lasting relationships with women in particular. But now, he was in a different place.
It was not that he was in any hurry to marry, although he had nothing against it. Naomi was still young, she had to finish college and he had the feeling that if he demanded too much off her he would be pushing her away.
He knew he would not be comfortable with a woman who was overly clingy and too demanding, after al he was used to his freedom. But he knew for one thing that Naomi would not be that way, and even if she did need any attention from him, it would be because she genuinely needed it. She had experienced something in life that he had no personal experience with. And for the first time in his life, he wanted to be there for a woman in whatever capacity she needed him in; whether be it lover or even just a friend.