Page 37 of Try Easy

Keoni could tell by her stiff shoulders that something was wrong. He went out onto the deck to join her.

Lou heard the door open, turned around, and saw Keoni. She stared at him for a long moment. Her jaw was tense, and her eyes were hard. She looked mad as hell, and Keoni didn’t think for a minute it was because she was hungry. Lou was mad at him; he could feel her anger from across the deck like a slap in the face.

“What did I do?” he asked, coming to stand in front of her.

Lou was barefoot, and she had to raise her chin to look at Keoni.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” she said.

Keoni studied Lou with narrowed eyes. “I thought we had plans,” he said.

Her chin raised a little, and her eyes hardened. “No,” she said. “We don’t.”

Keoni ran his tongue over the cut on his lip and shrugged. This was a mistake.

“You’re right,” he said, taking a step back. “I’ll go.”

When he was halfway to the deck, Lou called his name.

“Don’t go,” she said.

He turned around and looked at her.

“I’m not good with games, Lou. Tell me what you want, and I’ll do it. You don’t want me here, no hard feelings. I’ll go.”

Lou crossed the wooden deck until she was standing in front of him. “That’s the problem,” she said. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I didn’t want to come anyway. This isn’t really my thing—playing tour guide, eh?”

Keoni turned to go, but before he could take another step, Lou reached out and grabbed his wrist. She tugged him closer.

“Don’t go,” she insisted.

Their eyes locked. Full sentences were conveyed even though neither one of them spoke a word.

“I’m here now,” he said. “I might as well stay.”

“Unless you have something better to do?” she asked, cracking a smile.

Keoni shook his head. The problem was, he couldn’t think of anything he’d rather do than spend the day with Lou.

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