Page 161 of Hawaii Can Suck It

My chest warms—because Reece’s moms Helen and Vera have been living here in Maui all year to make this happen. Helen—a retired architect turned house-building warrior queen—oversaw the entire framework, from the first beam to the last nail. And Mama started a community arts program for the kids in Lahaina, including Keoni and Nalani, who I see running around in Dare4Change shirts, acting as if they own the place.

Swear to God, the way Keoni’s been talking about becoming a YouTuber like Reece? I’m about to start offeringSo You Wanna Be a Good Human on YouTubeseminars. These kids want more than fame. They want to change the world. That’s what Reece has done—whatwe’vedone.

Helen beams at me. “You need anything? I’ve got a clipboard and a mean stink-eye for anybody messing with the schedule.”

I laugh, but before I can answer, hands loop at my waist and spin me. “Hey!” I yelp as Reece plants a kiss on me that has my heart cartwheeling.

“Mom, Mama,” Reece calls over my head. “Can you please tell my gorgeous girlfriend to stop working so hard?”

Without missing a beat, Helen crosses her arms and smirks. “No can do, son. Maybe you need to work harder.”

Vera winks. “She’s doing just fine without you slowing her down.”

“Wow. Betrayed by my own mothers.”

“Someone needs to keep you humble,” Helen says with a cheeky smile.

“Oh, I know who the boss is,” Reece replies.

“Well,” I say. “Technically I work for you, so you’re still the boss.”

“Only on paper,” he says, smiling. “We both know who really runs this operation.”

“The Blazeinator has arrived!”

Blaze charges in, a Golden Retriever on two legs, rocking his usual over-the-top ensemble. He’s got on a neon-purple pineapple button-down that’s both too tight and too bright, paired with hot-pink board shorts and a backward trucker hat proudly declaring,Blaze Mode: Engaged. He doesn’t need a Dare4Change shirt because he got the logo tattooed on his forearm.

“Yo, my dudes! Let’s get started. I need two double cheeseburgers. Stat! Cam, did you tell Reece the surp—”

I grab the front of his shirt and yank him toward me, nose to nose. “Blaze. Stop talking.”

Too late. Reece is laser-focused on me. “What surprise? What’s going on?”

I shrug innocently. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

He stares me down, but I’m immune to the Reece Dare Glare now. I reach up and give his pouty lips a quick peck. “You’ll find out soon enough. But right now, I need your talented fingers to cut a ribbon.”

The crowd is gathered outside Paradise Burger Hut. Families are lined up with excited kids, volunteers are hustling, handing out water bottles, while the media focus their cameras on us as if we’re the returning King and Queen of Hawaii. I lift the livestreaming phone, angling for the perfect shot, to show our global viewers all the burger-fueled magic.

I scan the crowd and wish Katie and Petra were here. My besties. My hype squad. The ones who encouraged me to go for my documentary dreams.

But they’re cheering me on from the livestream, rapid-fire commenting inside jokes and inappropriate emojis while off living their own ridiculously exciting lives. We may not be standing side by side, but they’re here, in every all-caps text, every unhinged voice memo, everyholy crap, I’m so proud of youmessage flooding my screen.God, I love them so much.

“Welcome, beautiful spirits!” Kai steps forward, raising his hands, and suddenly everyone falls silent—because when Kai speaks, the whole island listens. Or maybe they’re admiring his glistening abs, which are fully on display in a sarong that’s riding so low on his hips, I’m worried his python is the only thing holding up the fabric.

“Today, we celebrate the rebirth of Paradise, both the restaurant and the community spirit that binds us. Family and community are the threads that weave our lives. Without them, we drift aimlessly; with them, we stand strong, our roots intertwined and unbreakable in ways no storm or flame can ever truly erase.”

I feel a lump form in my throat at the unexpected depth of his words. Beside me, Reece squeezes my hand, and I know he’s feeling it too.

“And so”—Kai’s voice rises dramatically—“after this sacred ribbon-cutting ceremony, I invite you all to join me and my fellow warriors on the beach for a special performance we call ‘Rising Wood: Erecting New Foundations for Tomorrow’s Pleasure.’”

Aaaand we’re back to standard Kai programming.

“Did he just—” Reece whispers.

“Make rebuilding homes sound like a euphemism for group sex? Yes, yes he did.”

“The man is nothing if not consistent.”

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