Page 12 of Pallas & Kawehi

He narrowed his eyes at her comment. “I would think it would be better to find out that you’re over the limit before you get in your car instead of hoping that the police don’t pull you over for a traffic stop.”

“But responsible and fun are like warring factions,” she explained. “Still, it’s a rule I won’t change. If you want to drink in here, I get to make sure you’re safe to drive, or we get people rides from local taxis if they don’t have a ride share app they can use.”

“What about a League on certain nights?”

Her soft laughter told him part of the story.

“Not a big thing around here?”

She shook her head. “It used to be, but that was a different generation. At least that’s what my uncle says.”

He was starting to put together a picture in his head and he didn’t like what it looked like.

“Someday, though.” He could hear how she put a hopeful spin on her words. “I’d love to see this place hopping in the evenings. But right now it’s just a family work crew at night. I was really surprised that my uncle snuck out of here when he did. He normally waits until I’m ready to go before he leaves.”

“I think he knew that I wasn’t going to leave you here alone.”

He saw the surprise in her eyes.

“I’m not about to leave you alone to close up.”

He could tell that she was hesitating to speak. He had a feeling he knew why.

“I think they both knew that I was interested, Kawehi, in you.”

She drew in a breath and held it.

“I’m not going to push you for anything. I didn’t know that you were married.”

Kawehi looked down at her bare left hand. “I haven’t worn the ring since he left, but I’d understand if you felt… whatever you’re feeling. I don’t really tell people about it. I don’t even know why I dropped it on your shoulders. Please feel free to ignore all of that, okay? We can justfinish up and you can leave. I don’t need you to stay while I clean up. I’ve done it for years. I-”

“You need to take a breath,” he smiled and demonstrated a deep breath for her.

She copied him and when he let out his breath, she did too. “Thanks. I just feel like my life is stuck in neutral and I can’t get out. If I’d met you before-”

Kawehi looked away and he knew he’d love to find her husband and kick his ass for leaving her in a bind.

“I would have liked that too.”

She looked back up at him in shock.

“I mean it, Kawehi.”

She looked back down at her food and nodded. “Life sucks.”

“It can,” he agreed, “but sometimes you meet people who make it suck a little less.” He picked up another bite of food from the bowl. “I’m hoping you think I’m one of those people.”

“I know you’re one of those people, Dom.”

He looked at her and felt his breath catch in his throat.

Everyone he knew in Hawaii called him Pallas. His family called him Domenico.

But Kawehi, she called him Dom.

Yeah.

“And you’re one of those people for me too, Kawehi.”

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