Kahala resort, Dolphin Quest
While the trainer filled her and her sisters in on how to swim with the dolphins, Elizabeth's mind wandered a bit. Then her eye caught on a certain tall, handsome man in a wetsuit. "Lucas?"
Everyone looked at her and she covered her mouth and blushed, leaving the girls and walking over to him. "Hey," she whispered.
"Hey. Fancy meeting you here."
"Seriously. Are you following us?"
"Yep. That's been my goal the whole time. Break up with my girlfriend and follow a random group of women around Oahu. Not creepy at all."
She nudged him with her elbow and smiled, looking back toward the front where the trainer was helping a young girl into the lagoon.
"I'm excited! I've always wanted to swim with dolphins," she told him, bouncing on her toes.
"Maybe you should have listened to the trainer then," Julie teased, walking over to them.
"How hard can it be?" Elizabeth asked.
"Hi, Lucas. Didn't think you were a swim-with-dolphins kinda guy," Julie mentioned.
"I'm not but my girlfriend would have enjoyed it. Ex-girlfriend," he threw in.
Regardless of that, he had a great time. Dolphins were amazing creatures and it was something he'd always remember.
"Want to have lunch with us?" Vi asked, afterward.
"You should," Julie told him. "Seaside grill!"
"That place is nice. Sure, I'll go."
"Great."
Elizabeth walked back from the bathroom and wondered what she had missed.
"Lucas is going to lunch with us."
"Oh. Alright, lets go change and we can meet there? Say an hour?"
He nodded and walked toward his hotel room to shower and change. Why not go to lunch with the ladies? He didn't have another thing planned until evening so he was free.
"Wow he is looking nice," Julie said, nudging Elizabeth as Lucas walked over.
She couldn't deny it. Yes, Lucas in a polo and khaki shorts and flip flops was enough to make her heart palpitate and her fingers itch to touch that very soft looking beard on his handsome face.
"Beth?"
"Sorry, what?"
"Lucas said hello…you just stood there. You having a stroke?" Julie teased.
"Shush. Sorry. Hi, Lucas."
"Hey. Thanks for inviting me, ladies."
"What can I get everyone?" a beautiful native waitress asked, walking up to their table. "Should we start with drinks?"
"Pineapple Mojito?" Vi ordered.
"Oh yes, me too," Elizabeth told her.
"Mango madness smoothie," Julie said.
"I'll take a Corona," Lucas ordered.
"Can we get Veggie Samosas and Nachos for appetizers?" Julie asked, rubbing her still flat tummy. "Baby is hungry today."
"So what do you have planned for the afternoon, Lucas?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am actually planning on taking a nap in the hammock."
"That's all?"
"Yeah. Tonight, I'm heading back to Waikiki Beach to see the…"
"If you say fireworks, I swear," Elizabeth laughed.
"Fireworks."
"Why not? I mean, we apparently scheduled all of the same things for the entire trip. Might as well see the fireworks too."
"If it bugs you that much, I'll pretend we don't know each other," Lucas told her, a serious look on his face.
"No, it doesn't…I'm just…nevermind. I didn't mean anything by it."
When the waitress brought their drinks, Lucas grabbed his and walked off toward the water which was very close.
"Beth, that was kinda rude."
"I wasn't trying to be. I swear."
Elizabeth got up, taking her mojito and walked toward him. She stood next to him, facing the water. "Lucas, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."
"I don't," he shrugged, taking a long drink of his beer. "I just wonder what's wrong with me."
"Nothing."
"Something must be. At the risk of sounding whiny, first Janette doesn't want to spend time with me and now you. I feel like I must be giving off some vibe that repels women."
"Of course you aren't."
He raised his eyebrows at her and then looked back at the water.
"Lucas, I want us to be friends. I mean, after we both go home, I'd love to keep in contact."
"Friends."
"Yeah. If you want to. If you don't, I get it."
"Why?"
"Why…"
"Why do you want to be friends?"
"I don't have many, honestly. Plus I've never been to Michigan so that will give me a place to visit." She was mostly teasing about that last part.
"Friends," he repeated. "Okay." He could do friends.
"I really didn't mean anything by what I said. I am sorry that it came across that I didn't want to be with you. Quite the opposite, actually."
He turned and looked at her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. I've enjoyed our times together."
"I'm sorry too. I guess I'm a bit sensitive right now."
"No need to apologize. Let's go eat some nachos before Julie eats it all."
He laughed and they walked back to the table.
……
That evening, Girl's suite
"That's what you're wearing?" Julie asked Elizabeth.
"What's wrong with it?" she asked, looking down. She wasn't wearing rags. She had a jean skirt that made her legs look great and a tank top with her bikini top under it. She felt casual and comfortable.
"Nothing, but don't you want to knock his socks off?"
"Lucas? No. This isn't a date, Julie."
"Even though that's true, why not catch his eye?"
"I'm comfortable in this. I'm not trying to catch his eye."
"Suit yourself."
"I will."
….
Waikiki Beach
As casual and comfortable that Elizabeth felt, it still made him take note. Nice tan shoulders and arms. Even nicer toned legs. Cute little painted toenails. He smiled and then tried not to blush, giving away his attraction. He couldn't be attracted to her. He just broke up with Janette. It wouldn't be right.
"Hey, friend," she said, bumping him with her hip.
"Hi. You look cute," he blurted. Crap.
"You too." Her eyes got big.
"Pretty sure that was flirting, friend," he laughed.
"You started it!"
"Would you believe that my mouth said the words without my brain's permission?"
"Maybe…but only because its happened to me." Many times.
There was a stage to their left for the live music that was going to start. It would play for about an hour until it was dark enough for the fireworks.
"I'm going to get something to eat," Lucas told her. "Want anything?"
"Sure. I'll go with you."
She turned around to ask Julie and Vi if they wanted anything but they were nowhere around. She texted them to see if maybe they were in the bathroom.
"We are watching from further down," Julie sent back. "Enjoy!"
Elizabeth knew what her sisters were doing and in turn, her cheeks were now red.
"Elizabeth?" Lucas said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"They don't want anything. Let's go."
"Okay."
"Are you warm? Your cheeks are red," he pointed out.
"I…" she started, looking up at him. Wow, he had beautiful eyes. "Um, no, I'm fine."
"I fly home in two days," he mentioned as they stood in line at the food truck.
"Really? That's soon."
"Well, I've been here almost two weeks so…its time to go home and face an emptier house. Plus, I need to get back to work."
"I'm sorry, Lucas. That stinks. The house part."
"It does. I mean she moved in almost a year ago. I was going to propose on this trip, if we successfully reconnected. Guess that's not happening."
"How do you feel about that? I mean, it may be a stupid question, but now that you know what you know…are you relieved? Or sad?"
"Not stupid. I guess partly relieved, partly baffled that I didn't see it coming. How can I miss that she was so unhappy she would move out?"
She honestly didn't have any idea what to say so she just touched his arm and squeezed, letting him know she was there. It was the best she could do.
"I'm glad you are here, Elizabeth. With me. Watching fireworks alone doesn't sound fun."
"I'm glad I'm here too."
When they got up to the window, he ordered fried rice and shrimp kabobs and she asked for a pulled pork sandwich. As she reached in her pocket to get her money, he stopped her. "I got it, Elizabeth."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to." He was grateful to have found a friend in Oahu of all places.
"Thank you."
As they stepped aside to wait for their order, they heard a voice behind them. "Luke?"
They turned. "Hi, Janette."
"Hi." She looked at Elizabeth and then back to Lucas. Then she put her hand out to shake Elizabeth's hand. "I'm Janette."
"Elizabeth. Nice to meet you." Even though nice was the last thing she thought when thinking about the woman.
Elizabeth looked at the man that had his hand on Janette's hip, keeping her close.
"Aren't you the bartender at the Kahala resort?" Elizabeth asked. It was petty but she was feeling protective of Lucas. She wanted to potentially make Janette a little uncomfortable.
"Uh, yeah. That's me."
Elizabeth nodded and then looked up as Lucas handed her her sandwich. "We should get going. Don't want to lose our spot."
"Sure," she said, smiling and giving Janette and her companion a wave. "Nice to meet you."
"Lose our spot?" she asked, laughing.
"I just wanted to get away from them. Not sure it could be more awkward."
When they got back to the beach, they sat down in the sand and dug into their food. "Oh my goodness," she mumbled around her pork. "So good."
He took a bite of his fried rice and nodded. "Yeah. Amazing. Want to try mine?" He held out his kabobs and watched as she gently slid a shrimp off the skewer and popped it in her mouth.
"Mm. Thanks."
The band was playing various Christmas songs for the next half hour or so. As it started getting darker, the band played "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Lucas stood up, offering his hand.
"I love this song. Would you like to dance?"
She smiled and accepted his help. "I'd love to."
As they swayed, they were mostly quiet, until Elizabeth sang along, not able to stop herself. He looked down into her blue eyes and listened as she killed it. Amazing singer was now added to the list of qualities he admired about her.
Amazing singer. Cute toes. Great legs. Beautiful eyes. Kind and funny. Smart.
"Lucas?"
"Hm?"
"The song is done."
"Oh." His cheeks turned pink and he was grateful that the darkness hid that. Or at least he hoped it did. "You have an awesome voice."
"Thanks. I used to sing in the church choir when we were kids. I loved it."
"Play any instruments?"
''Piano and I tried to learn the guitar but it was so hard."
The fireworks started so they sat back down, leaning back on their hands, shoulders touching.
She kicked off her flip flops and he watched her toes wiggle. Those cute toes. He was a goner.
He didn't know how this was going to work. They didn't live near each other. A relationship that was separated by so many miles couldn't work. He would have to be happy with a friendship.
He would have to make the next two days count.
