Page 29 of Pallas & Kawehi

"Who can?" She laughed. "I'm not the kind of person who's needy or clingy. That's not who I am, Dom, but I've been hurt and I'm trying to work my way through it."

"You're still being hurt, Kawehi. I don't... I don't want to get your hopes up, but I feel like I should tell you that I've talked to someone on base who might be able to help us find your husband."

The call went silent on her end, and he wondered if he'd overstepped somehow.

"Us?"

He heard the question in her voice, but he thought he also heard something like hope. "Yeah. Us. No matter what happens between you and me, you deserve to find Nick and at least serve him with papers so you can get your life back on track."

Pallas heard her sniffle, but nothing else.

"Kawehi?"

"I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't- I don't know what to say to you. I don't know how to thank you."

He closed his eyes and wished that he could hold her tight and comfort her. "I can't promise that everything will work out with him and your divorce, but I want you to know that you have me on your side."

"One day," she sighed, "you're going to get tired of trying to help me."

"No." He was sure of that answer. "I'm not going to ever get tired of helping you. Isn't that what friends do?"

"Friends! Yes." He was pretty sure she was putting a little too much 'happy' in her voice. "Of course. We're friends."

"And that's a great thing," he smiled as if he was looking right at her with her eyes on him, "because being friends is probably the best way to start a lasting relationship. My parents and grandparents started out that way."

She'd gone silent again and Pallas felt bad that he hadn't explained it the right way from the beginning. They were still learning how they communicated with each other.

"I meant it when I kissed you," he told her. "I want more with you. I want everything with you, but I'm not about to force the issue in any way. Just know that I'm here for you as a friend because that's what you need me to be right now."

"My cousin's going to be so upset. She thought you were my boyfriend." Her laughter was filled with relief.

"Well, I'm going to be that, too. Like at the beach. I might not be able to stop myself from holding you. Or maybe if I'm lucky, you'll need someone to put sunscreen on your back."

"I think you'll be in luck then, Dom."

"I think I'm lucky right now. I'm glad you texted me."

"And I'm glad you called."

He heard her sigh and then the soft click of a switch.

"Are you in bed?"

She hummed softly before she answered. "Mmmhmm. I'm so exhausted I didn't even get under the covers. I just stretched out on top of everything."

"In your work clothes?" Yes, he was probably pushing a little by asking the question, but that soft, dreamy voice of hers had his heart pounding in his chest and blood rushing down to-

"No. I changed clothes while we were talking." She yawned and he barely stifled his own in turn. "I didn't want to miss a minute of talking to you."

"You sound like you're about to fall asleep on me." He grinned at the idea.

"That sounds like heaven." She sighed and he had a feeling that she was talking about it in the physical sense. "I bet you'd be a really good pillow."

"That sounds like fun. I wouldn't mind being your pillow."

"Yeah?" Her laughter sounded almost like a soft sigh. "Well, don't complain when your arm falls asleep. I'm a heavy sleeper."

He had a feeling that her mind was tumbling her thoughts around in her head. "I wouldn't complain if I had you in my arms. I think I'd be tempted to sleep in if you were around."

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