Page 74 of The Wrong Fiancée

In the quiet, the jungle took over, the sound of the waterfall blending with the rustling leaves and distant bird calls. The sunlight filtered through the canopy, turning everything golden. It felt like time had slowed down, like nothing else mattered except for this, except for her.

After lunch, we lay on the stone and looked up at the sky, which was now not as bright as when we got here. The sun wasn't directly atop us but was sliding into the waters, and soon, itwould be dark. I knew we had to get back before that. We had a forty-plus-minute hike to go.

I reached for Elika's hand and clutched it. "This is heaven," I whispered.

"What, hiking through the jungle and jumping into secret waterfalls?"

"And making out with you in the secret waterfall," I teased and then added somberly. "But, it's more than that. Do you know what I mean?"

She squeezed my hand. "Yes, I do."

I didn't have to explain, I realized, as joy unfurled inside me. She knew. It wasn't just about today or this picnic by the waterfall. It was about all of it—the way the past seemed to loosen its grip on us, the feeling that we were starting fresh, and the certainty in my heart that this time, it would last. I'd been trying to find the right woman like my brothers had, and ended up with the wrong fiancée—but now, finally, I had the right girlfriend.

"We used to come to Kauai, my mother and I, from Waikiki. She had some friends here," Elika told me. "She didn't have a family. She was an orphan. She met Daddy and thought she'd have one, and she did for a while. Uncle Sam, Daddy, and Mama were friends, tight. But then he met Ginny, and they brokeup."

"Was that because Ginny thought Sam was sleeping with your mother?"

"Yes." She sighed. "Which was such nonsense. Uncle Sam grew up with an asshole father—mine didn't even have that. His mother had been bitter about being the discarded woman. Mama was a bright star—she was the reason Daddy found happiness, and Uncle Sam adored her like a sister."

She sat up and looked down at me. "Mama had tried to get to know Felicity and Sean, but Ginny wouldn't allow it. Have you met Sean?"

I nodded. "A few times."

"He's a good egg." She wrapped her arms around herself. She looked ethereal in her tan swimsuit, her half-dried hair curling. "Sends me memes." She chuckled. "When he's here, he comes andhangs with me. Of course, he makes sure neither Ginny nor Felicity know. Uncle Sam does, but he's so…."

"Weak?" I supplied when she trailed off.

"Yes." She shook her head sadly. "Ginny made him leave his family—his only family, mind you. Grandpa didn't have other kids…at least that we know of. And the way she spoke to me…I never understood how he could stay with a woman like that…who's so cruel and petty."

I turned to my side and rested my cheek on the palm of my hand, my elbow propped up on the fluffy towel so I could look at her.

"You mean how I could be with Felicity?"

"No." She was sincere. "I'm sure Fee showed you whatever she thought you wanted to see."

I pondered that for a moment. "Is that who she is?"

"Yeah." Elika gave me a sad smile. "She…ah…has several personas that pop up based on what she needs to acquire."

"You must think I'm a total numbskull to have fallen for her."

"Yes," she agreed with a laugh. "I hated seeing you with her." The laughter disappeared from her voice. "That day…you know which day I'm talking about?"

"The day you saw us having sex?"

She looked away.

"It was the last time we had sex."

She snapped her head back. "That was like weeks ago."

"I know."

"Why?"

I hadn't known then, but I could look back and see now. "Because I realized I was in love with you. I fought it, Elika. Didn't admit it for the longest time. I…maybe I was a coward like Sam. I didn't want to rock the boat. But what I feel for you is stronger than any need I have to keep the peace."

She tapped my nose. "You'renota coward. You get lost once in a while, but then we all do. I've been allowing Noe to walk all over me for years. I was a wuss, too."

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