Page 53 of Keeping Kama

Cheeks burning, Leia said, “You don’t have to say that.” Forcing herself to cut into her pie, Leia shoveled a bite into her mouth.

“I know,” replied Bane. Leia stole a glance in his direction. Locking eyes with her, Bane said, “I wanted to.” Without looking away, Bane took another bite of his pie.

Dang. Her nerve endings tingled. Was Bane always this smooth? This confident? But then Leia remembered he left her high and dry, and she cried for a month over his rejection.

Smugly, Teresa wiggled in her chair triumphantly.

They finished eating their pie in silence. Once done, Teresa insisted Bane and Leia go sit out on the lanai while Mila and she did the dishes to catch up.

After they settled into side-by-side wingback chairs, Leia and Bane stared out at the serenely perfect view of the ocean.

Itching to end the million questions whirling around in her mind, Leia leaned on her armrest, cradling her chin. “Bane, tell me what really happened with your ex-wife.”

Shifting a bit, Bane brought his leg up, resting his ankle on his opposite knee. “I could always count on you to not beat around the bush.” Turning his face from the view to Leia, Bane met her gaze.

“I know. You always told me how much you liked that about me.” Leia gathered her hair and swept it over one shoulder. “But enough with the compliments, I must know, what happened.”

“You mean after I skipped town and didn’t even dignify you with a conversation before I left?” Bane raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry about that. It was such a chicken way to leave. I completely regret it.”

Waving him off, Leia said, “We agree, you were an idiot.”

Bane burst out laughing. “Finally, we can agree on something.”

“You’re avoiding the question.” Leia tapped the top of her armrest with her fingertips. “Why did you and your wife get a divorce?”

“Because I never got over you.” Bane threw up both his hands. “Obviously.”

Leia tsked, “Again, avoiding the question.”

“I know,” said Bane. He ran his finger around in a circle on top of his armrest. Exhaling, he continued, “She decided she didn’t want kids even though when we married, she told me she did. I thought I could live with it, but it ended up tearing us apart. I tried for a lot of years to come to terms with what I wanted and she wanted would never line up. Finally, after years of fighting, we decided it was best to part ways with one another. We divorced. She stayed in Idaho, and I moved back here.”

With no eloquent words to say, Leia simply said, “Wow. Okay then.” Nodding, Leia turned back to peering out at the view. “I can’t believe you ever left this place.”

“I know,” Bane exhaled, “again, being an idiot comes into play here.”

The sun sank lower, hovering on the edge of the water. Taking a deep breath, Leia drank in the tangy saltwater air as memories of those years in college with Bane came roaring back. He had broken her heart when he left her for Idaho with zero explanation. Today with the softening lens of time, Leia no longer felt the same way. Everything happened for a reason, and the life experiences Bane had in Idaho were part of his story.

“It sure does.” Pointing out to the ocean, Leia raised an eyebrow. “How could you ever leave a view like this?”

Bane shifted toward her, making his shoulder touch hers. “I won’t ever leave it again.” He made a cross motion over his heart. “Promise.”

Honestly, it didn’t matter to Leia either way. Their relationship ended for a reason.

“Okay, so you say you’re staying in Hawaii,” Leia scooted an inch away from him. “I think our relationship ran its course. You ditched me forIdaho.” She raised an eyebrow and shot him a pointed look. “Idaho.”

“I’m different now,” replied Bane. “I’m not the rash decision maker I once was. And I wouldn’t hurt you again.”

“Ahh.” Leia tsked. “People don’t change … not that much.”

“I disagree. You’ve changed. Teresa told me you run marathons now. You always refused to go running with me when we dated,” said Bane.

Blue turned to black, the sky painted a canopy of stars. Leia stared up at them. “That’s completely different. Becoming interested in a certain type of exercise is vastly different than changing one’s entire decision-making process,” said Leia.

Crossing his arms, Bane replied, “Idaho taught me a lot of things. My failed marriage even more. I’m different now. Promise.”

Leia pulled her gaze from the twinkling diamond stars to Bane. “I know you’re looking for something Bane, but it’s not me. You don’t know how much I wish it was, but it’s not.”

Forming his hands into fists, Bane lightly tapped both his armrests with his fisted hands. “Because you’ve got your guy in Los Angeles?” asked Bane.

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