Page 7 of Soulmates

“Just send me somewhere, Brenda,” I said. “Anywhere.”

She thought for a moment. “Have you been to Kauai?”

I shook my head.

“Well, if you want to get away from it all, I know the perfect spot. It’s low key, isolated, and beautiful. I went there last year with a friend, and we had a blast.”

“Sure, whatever.”

Brenda swiveled and faced her monitor, her fingers clacking loudly on the keyboard. A few minutes later the printer next to her spat out a sheet of paper.

“Okay, here’s your itinerary. You leave tomorrow, HawaiianAir from LAX, nonstop to Lihue. Do you want me to reserve a car for you?”

“No, that’s fine. I’ll just take a cab.”

“Alright. How about drinks tonight, before you go? We could meet at your place…”

“You’re a doll, Brenda,” I said, smiling. “Perhaps next time.”

My cab driver Keith had been blabbering on about some cool, popular spots on the island, but I completely missed what he was saying.

“How much further?” I asked.

“Almost there, brah! Just up da kine street.”

He turned into a small road that snaked upwards for half a mile, then I saw it - a grand circular drive leading to a large white house that resembled something straight out of the history books.

“We here!” Keith announced, screeching to a halt.

“Thanks,” I said, paying the fare plus a generous fifty percent tip.

“Eh, thanks hah! Call me if you need a guide, okay?” Keith said, handing me a business card.

“I’ll let you know,” I said, getting out and watching the cab pull away. I started up the walkway, noticing for the first time the young woman sitting on the curb. I took the sight in - long cascading brunette hair that sparkled in the fading sun’s rays, a faded Quicksilver tee shirt hugging a tight body, and cutoff shorts that showcased tanned and well-toned legs, but it was when I looked into her large, brown, innocent eyes that I stopped, actually physically stopped in my tracks and stared, my heart leaping out of my chest and coming alive for the first time in a very long time.

I was staring at the face of an incredibly beautiful island goddess.

Holy shit, I thought, thunderstruck by the mirage in front of me.

Holy fucking shit.

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