Page 81 of Big Island Summer
“You’re very welcome.”
“I can repay you in gossip, if you’d like.” She grinned mischievously as she pried the lid off of her pint of double chocolate.
“Spill the tea.”
“Tea is my specialty.”
“Stop stalling.”
Juniper put a huge bite of ice cream into her mouth and widened her eyes theatrically. A moment later, she winced.
“Brain freeze!”
“Serves you right,” Lani cackled.
“Gossip’s a bad habit anyway,” Emma said.
“Spoilsport.”
“You’re a bad influence,” she teased.
“Oh, whatever. The coconut wireless runs these islands. It’s a part of our culture.”
“You’re gonna want to hear this one,” Jun said. “It’s about my dad.”
Emma’s laughter cut off like a faucet. “What about him?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to gossip.” Jun batted her eyes and ate another bite of ice cream.
“You’ve gotten bratty since your mom died,” Lani said.
“Leilani!” Emma gasped.
Juniper cackled. “You did not just say that!”
“I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em.”
“You’re extra weird today.”
“I’m high on life, little lady! Now give us the gossip.”
“My dad’s in looove,” she said, dragging out the word in a two-note singsong.
“Seriously?” Lani sobered and glanced at Emma.
“What are you talking about, Jun?”
Juniper shrugged, deliberately nonchalant. “He fell for his landlady.”
“Ethan andFern?”
“Yep.”
“The yoga teacher?” Lani asked.
“Yep.”
“That tracks.”
