Page 75 of Try Easy

Keoni’s head snapped up, and he said, “You don’t know that.”

“We need to stay positive,” she said. “There’s no good in worrying over something that we don’t know is true yet. It’s better to stay hopeful, don’t you see?”

Keoni didn’t see it the same way. He didn’t want to get his hopes up only to be devastated by bad news. It was better to prepare himself.

“The ocean is cruel and as uncaring as the gods,” Keoni said. “It takes what it wants.” Keoni’s throat was thick with emotion, and he had trouble putting a string of thoughts together. “It takes…” he started, but couldn’t continue when the image of Eddie’s lifeless body floating on the waves of Sunset Beach flashed through his mind.

Keoni hung his head in his hands and dragged in a painful breath.

The ocean had robbed him more than once. How much more would it take? How much more could one man be expected to give?

Keoni felt Lou’s hand on his back. She put her arm around his shoulder and rested her cheek against the top of his head. Her touch was firm and warm, and Keoni knew he should resist it. He knew he shouldn’t rely on her, but she was so strong. She offered him comfort, and he took it. Pulling her into his arms, he held her close. Pressing his face into her soft breasts, he heard the steady beat of her heart.

“Don’t give up,” she said, hugging him tightly. “Promise you won’t give up yet.”

Keoni nodded into Lou’s chest. He inhaled deeply, smelling Miriam’s coconut soap on her skin. He forced himself to calm down. Lou was right. They should stay hopeful as long as they could.

“I promise.”

Lou squeezed him tighter, giving him her strength. Keoni held on, wrapping his arms around her slim waist and pulling her closer. What was he going to do without this woman? He felt a wave of despair wash over him. He couldn’t bear to say goodbye to her. Not now. Not with Bones missing.

“We should get to the Keaukalanis’,” Henry said. “I told the Coast Guard to call there first.”

Keoni released Lou and stood up from the stool. His mind was whirring with what they should do next. Then he realized there was nothing they could do except wait. It was going to be hours of torture. He straightened his shoulders and raised his chin, preparing himself.

“K’den,” he said.

He took another deep breath and nodded, determined not to show how miserable he felt as he met Lou’s eyes. He would stay positive, and Lou would help him. Bones’s parents would need his strength.

Keoni reached for Lou’s hand and laced his fingers through hers. Thank god she was here. He couldn’t do this without her. “Thank you,” he said.

Lou smiled sadly, tears swimming in her eyes. “Of course,” she said.

“Let’s go,” Keoni said, releasing her to grab his keys off the counter. He was nearly to the door when he realized Lou wasn’t with him. He turned around to look at her, and when he saw the stricken look on her face, he knew. “You’re not coming,” he said.

Lou shook her head.

Keoni strode back across the room and stopped in front of Lou. He was aware that Penny and Henry were staring at him, but he didn’t care. He humbled himself in front of all of them. “I need you,” he said. “You can’t leave now.”

Tears slid down her cheeks. She bit her lip and shook her head again. “I have to go, Keoni. My flight leaves in a few hours.”

“Forget the flight. Get another one. Stay with me, please,” he begged, not caring if he looked like a fool.

Lou’s eyes darted to Henry and Penny, who were openly staring, then back to Keoni. “Let’s go outside for a minute, okay?”

“No,” Keoni said, stiffening. He couldn’t believe she would do this to him. She knew how Eddie’s death had almost killed him. “I don’t want to go outside. I want you to come with me. Give me one more night.”

Lou tilted her head back to look up at him. Her face had gone so pale that the freckles stood out on the bridge of her nose.

“I have to go home,” she said. “We have to say goodbye.”

Keoni gritted his teeth. She may as well have slapped him across the face. “I guess you got what you wanted, didn’t you?” he demanded. “A vacation fling?”

“Keoni, don’t be like this. I would stay if I could, but I have to get home. I have a job, and a family.”

“And a man.” Keoni spat the words out. “Don’t forget about him.”

“I haven’t,” Lou said in a dangerously quiet voice.

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