“I’m not asking for forever,” Keoni said, trying one last time. “Only for tonight.”
Lou shook her head. “I can’t give that to you.”
“That’s it, then? This is goodbye?”
She nodded. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t move to wipe them away. Keoni hated to see her cry even more than he hated the thought of this being goodbye. He grabbed Lou around the waist and pulled her against his chest so hard that he felt a pain sear through his sore ribs. He crushed his mouth to hers, thrusting his tongue between her teeth. She gasped in surprise, but her lips parted as she kissed him back hungrily.
Keoni abruptly ended the kiss, leaving them both gasping for air. He took a step back, and glared down at her, taking in the delicate features of her face one more time. Her blue eyes were wide, the lashes fringed with unshed tears. Her mouth was parted, and pink from the crush of his brutal kiss. The dimple that winked in her cheek when she smiled was nowhere to be found.
“Goodbye,” he said.
Not waiting for Henry, Keoni stormed out of the house. He yanked open the door to his car, got in, and sped off toward the Keaukalanis’ house, where he would wait helplessly to find out if he had killed another one of his best friends.