Page 17 of Pallas & Kawehi

Again, he was glad that the mini-golf location was dark because when he bent his knees to line up his club, it was more than a little painful, but he had to make a good show at golf no matter how hard he was.

Thank goodness his swing was smooth and when the ball bounced off of that corner, he let out a sigh and stood up.

Kawehi was ready to go, holding her hand out to him. “Come on, let’s see how much trouble you’re in.”

He didn’t want to tell her that she was messing with his head and his heart.

Sure, he’d said they’d be friends, but he was way over that line already. Just seeing her smiling at him. Holding her hand out to him.

He wanted to take that hand and bring it to his face. He wanted to lean into her touch and kiss her palm. Rub his cheek against her hand and see if she shivers at the scratch of his stubble.

If she liked that, he’d love to feel her hand in so many other places.

And he wanted to touch her all over too.

“Come on,” she laughed as she came back to take his hand in his, “you can’t be that afraid of me kicking your ass. Come on.”

He went with her because he couldn’t not go with her.

They got up on the side of the green and walked around the corner so they could see the first hole.

Pallas shook his head. “I think I’m really going to be in trouble.”

She let go of his hand to walk toward the hole, doing a little shimmy with her hips. When she turned around, she gave him a knowing look. Planting her feet on the green, she looked down and focused on the hole like she was on the LPGA tour. A quick tap of the club and PLINK her yellow ball disappeared into the hole. “Two!” She jumped up onto the walkway and did a little celebratory dance. “Your turn.”

His shoulders were shaking with laughter as he walked down to the green. “You keep that up and I’m going to win just so I can take you dancing.”

“Whoa, no.” She waved a hand at him. “I am NOT a dancer.”

He gestured at her. “You certainly looked like one just a few seconds ago.”

“Ha Ha,” she huffed. “That’s not funny.”

He planted his feet and looked down to line up his shot. “I’m not trying to be funny, Kawehi. I’m serious. If I win, I’m taking you dancing.”

“Well,” she folded her arms and leaned back against one of the structural posts in the room, “when I win, we are so NOT going dancing.”

He didn’t like the sound of her voice. It was tight. Almost to the point of being painful.

There was a story there and he was going to get to the heart of it… as her friend.

It didn’t hurt that he wanted more. Well, it hurt him, but that was beside the point.

He settled into his stance and drew back the club. When the head of the club connected to the ball, he knew it was a good stroke.

He didn’t even wait for the ball to sink into the cup, he turned around and looked at her with a grin and watched her reaction when his ball banked off of two walls and then sank down into the cup.

PLINK.

Yes.

“What? How did you-”

“It’s just math.” He smiled.

“Right.” She sighed. “Math.”

Pallas shrugged at her. “Your turn, I believe.”

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