Page 73 of Resorting to Romance

“I know she’s your friend. We’re friends too. I guess I just thought it was only going to be the six of us.”

My aunt Connie is married and lives a block from here. My other two aunts are single. Phyllis was married, years ago. Joan never married. She’s my soul sister. She’s the most reserved and quiet of my three guardians. Warm and loving—and eternally single. The main difference between Joan and me is that she has a sister to grow old with.

“Well, I invited Alana. The life of a movie star is incredibly lonely at times. I get worried about her up there in that big house all alone.”

Well, when she puts it that way.

“Is she the only guest?”

“You and Kai.”

“And? …”

“Maybe a few other people for dessert.”

My aunt’s home is large for an island home in this section of town. It’s nearly twice the size of the houses on either side of her, but it wouldn’t even fill half the square footage of the inn. Yet, she somehow manages to squeeze in a Hollywood-sized crowd at her famous dinner parties.

“I didn’t realize this was an official party.”

“It’s not official.”

“But it is a party?”

Phyllis simply smiles at me. My earlier estimation was right. This is a circus and Kai and I are the sideshow. My aunt may as well have sold tickets to the bearded lady and the world's smallest human. At least she plans to wait until dessert to open the flaps to our striped tent. Dinner should be mild in comparison.

Alana walks into the dining room. “With this one, it’s always a party.” She tips her chin toward my aunt.

“Truer words have never been spoken.” I nearly groan.

But I smile at my aunt. She’s beyond description with her Meryl Streep looks and her flowing kaftan over her white silk tank and white dress slacks. Her silvering hair flows down her back. She’s got gold bangles going up one arm that jingle every time she moves. And she’s barefoot, with toes painted a brilliant hot pink. Her lack of footwear is a product of the environment, a secret peek into the contrast between her stint in Hollywood and her upbringing on an island where flip-flops pass as formalwear.

“Thank you, girls. I’ll take that as a compliment to my flamboyant personality and charm, along with my intriguing personal history and the fact that I hung with A-listers back in the day.”

“All of that,” Alana says with a soft laugh. “And more. Honestly, if you ran the local bakery, you’d still be you. You’re the draw.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear!”

Phyllis sweeps Alana into a hug and pulls back with her hands on either side of Alana’s biceps. She gives her an appraising look.

“Are you eating? Don’t let those producers or your agent tell you to starve yourself. Ridiculous, abusive standards, those are.”

“It’s the job.” Alana’s face is resigned.

“And your life is worth more than that job. You’re not merely a product on a shelf. You’re a human being. Don’t let them keep you in a corner.”

Alana laughs at my aunt’sDirty Dancingreference.

“Get some charcuterie in this girl this instant,” Phyllis orders me.

I nod, eager to have Kai here for some reason. I shouldn’t be. Once he’s here, the scrutiny will commence. Alana’s an actress. Phyllis was on the big screen in her heyday. Will they be able to tell we’re putting on a show? I’m not a trained actress. At least the inconvenient and inappropriate feelings I’ve been having for Kai will fuel my performance.

As if I conjured him up, there’s a knock at the door just as Alana and I step into the living room. Joan opens it, and my breath catches. Kai’s eyes find mine and a soft smile pulls at his full lips. We were on the phone for hours last night. We haven’t ever really had long conversations by phone before. In person, sure, after he finished a job we’d sometimes sit with lemonade on the porch or in the main room of the inn catching up on life. But this was different. At least, for me it was.

I had called Kai after everyone was in bed and the kitchen was shut down for the night—just to thank him again for the surfboard. We got to talking about Noah, his birthday party, and my plans to let Brad see Noah in a casual way this week. Then we talked about Kalaine and Bodhi returning. I teased him about Shaka … and the conversation just kept going, neither of us willing to end it.

We’re two single adults. Friends. I enjoy Kai’s company. He’s easy to be with. And recently, there’s this hum I can only describe as:more. It’s a dangerous hum. One I should muffleor mute. But I can’t seem to resist the tug, and it’s only growing louder the more we indulge in this charade.

“Hello, everyone.” Kai steps over the threshold.

---