Page 94 of Hula Girl

“Good,” she replies.

We all sit in awkward silence for a minute. I’m giving Hiro the stink eye, silently urging him to once again break up with her.

Hiro clears his throat. “Uh, listen—”

“Let me go first,” she says. “I know you’ll be devastated. But there’s nothing that can be done about that. I’ve met someone else.”

All three of us guys let out an audible sigh of relief with that news.

“I know,” Hannah says, looking at Hiro with unwarranted sympathy. “It’s a terrible way to end things. But, what can you do? If I don’t follow my heart, I’ll be missing out on really living my life, right?”

“Uh, yeah,” Hiro says, eyebrows raised. “You’re right. I mean, I’m sad.” He’s scrambling to project the right tone, afraid of provoking her into changing her mind. “But I just want you to be happy.”

“Aww,” she coos. “You’re the sweetest. I’ll take the rest of this, okay?” She holds up the spam musubi as she stands.

“Of course, yes. Here, take the rest of my plate,” he says eagerly.

She eyes him with a sad shake of her head. “Sorry, Hiro. You can’t win me back with yummy snacks.” Taking a deep breath, she lets it out and shakes her head. “Well, see you around, guys.”

“Yeah, see you around,” Pika says, grinning.

Hiro punches him in the arm.

We wait a respectable amount of time before bursting into laughter.

“Holy shit,” I say. “You dodged a bullet with that one.”

“What a trip, dude,” Hiro says in wonderment.

“That was the best thing I’ve ever seen,” Pika says and goes about mocking Hannah’s sweet, clueless demeanor. “You can’t buy my love with yummy snacks.”

I’m distracted from joining in when my cell phone buzzes with an incoming text.

You’re right, we should talk.

Ava’s reply sounds ominous, setting my nerves on edge. Maybe she’s ready to cut all ties. She doesn’t have time for a text relationship with some guy she met on vacation. Because that’s all it turned out to be, right? With her in LA and me here, what else can she think?

Another text comes through before I have a chance to swallow my pride and truly let her go. This one is a photo.

The image stops my heart.

Which is fitting because it’s a photo of Heart Rock at Nakalele Point. It’s the spot I had told her she’d love the same day she left Maui. I never had a chance to take her there. But, what is she suggesting? I hesitate to get my hopes up that this means she’s planning a trip.

And then another photo comes through that has me standing abruptly and climbing out from the picnic bench.

This photo is a selfie. It’s Ava in front of Heart Rock, a gorgeous smile on her face as she flashes a hang loose sign with her left hand. The left hand that still showcases a sparkling engagement ring.

“Where are you going?” Pika asks.

“I gotta follow my heart, like Hannah said,” I reply, leaving them both calling after me for an explanation.

* * *

I drive way too fast.Especially as I while I do so, I text her back:

Do not move.

But stay away from the blowhole. Seriously. It’s dangerous.

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