Page 24 of Pallas & Kawehi

Feelings.

She just didn’t want or need to fall all over again.

Nick had done a number on her heart, and she just had no idea if she was smart enough to know when her feelings for a man was the real thing.

“Kawehi?”

She looked up and saw her uncle standing beside her. “Sorry, Uncle.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. “No need to be sorry, Kawehi.”

“I do. I listened to Nick, and he had my head turned around so much that I didn’t know which end was up. And I don’t know why he walked away.”

“What about that guy? The one from the other night?”

“Domenico?”

Her uncle smiled. “That one. He’s a stand-up guy.”

She smiled back at him. “You like him.”

“He’s a good one.” Her uncle picked up the bowl he’d finished preparing. “He’s not like the other one.”

“I want to believe that, Uncle.”

He shook his head. “You already do, Kawehi. You already do.”

He gave her a wink and walked to the back of the kitchen, leaving her to take the Won Ton Min out to Maile.

She was laughing at herself almost immediately. It was funny. She was funny.

Funny and stupid.

Her uncle was right.

He had always been right.

She didn’t just want to believe that Domenico was a good guy. She knew he was.

Still, she was having a hard time trusting her feelings.

And that was all her own problem.

Something she would have to figure out.

She walked out from the kitchen and set the bowl down in front of her cousin. “So, how is work?”

“Deflection,” Maile gave her a knowing look and reached for the yellow mustard and soy sauce.

Kawehi looked away. “Deflection because I really don’t like that mustard.”

Maile laughed. “Your loss. This stuff is delicious.”

“Look at it this way, Cuz.” Kawehi offered, “Since I don’t like it, it’s more for you.”

“Whatever.” Maile snapped apart the chopsticks and used the ends to stir the yellow spicy mustard and soy sauce. “Now, tell me about this guy.”

“No.” She took a step back. “I’m not talking about this.”

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