Page 122 of Stone
Much to my chagrin.
I laughed as I stared at Kekoa’s determined face. “Not to a bar.”
“Nope,” Kekoa said. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Just somewhere I think Tyler would like to see. Since he’s getting into surfing.”
“I’m all down for that.” Tyler jumped up out of his seat. “I’ll put my swim trunks on.”
“We’re not surfing tonight. Maybe something nicer.” Kekoa laughed as the kid shrugged.
“I can do that.”
When Tyler left the room, I headed toward my buddy. “Where are we going?”
“Just somewhere. Christ. Akoni wanted to show the two of you something at his house. I think he did something with a photograph of you winning the competition. I thought it would be nice for Tyler to see.”
“Really? That’s cool. Let’s go.” Why did I have the distinct feeling he wasn’t telling me everything?
He arched his eyebrows. “Change your shirt. Will ya? You look like a slob.”
“You’re the dress police now?”
“Somebody needs to do it.” He hung and shook his head.
I laughed as I headed into the bedroom, my smile instantly shrinking. Another thought about Dani threatened to bring me to my knees. I had to eventually get her out of my mind. How I didn’t know.
I grabbed a clean shirt, even running a comb through my hair.
Tyler was already waiting and I was shocked to see he was in a pair of trousers and a very nice polo shirt. “You’re out-dressing me now. Great.”
“Someone in this family needs to look good. And I look… good.” He spun in a circle and I groaned. Like father. Like son.
Only I doubted he’d ever call me Dad. That was okay. Just having him in my life to whatever capacity was fine.
“I’m driving,” Kekoa told us, already halfway out the door.
“Are we on some timetable?”
“You know how my brother is.”
“Eh,” I admitted. “I do.” Tyler climbed into the backseat and I jumped inside. Maybe it was good to get out of the house even for a little while. Winning the competition had been a pleasant surprise, but not nearly what I thought it would be.
Kekoa laughed as he gunned the engine. With the windows down, the breeze flowing through the truck, the scents of the island filtered through my nostrils. Another reminder that I lived in paradise. I closed my eyes briefly, leaning my head against the seat. To have my son in town, being able to spend time with him was a godsend.
If only Dani could be here to enjoy it with me. What I hadn’t been good at was taking pictures. Maybe I’d take a few tonight and send them to her as a way of breaking the ice.
After a minute or two, I realized the sounds should be different if we were headed to Akoni’s house.
When I opened my eyes, I immediately frowned.
“We’re not headed to Akoni’s house. Where the fuck are you taking me?”
“Relax, bro. Just a pit stop. Nothing more.”
Kekoa had a different tone, one that I knew far too well. He was up to something.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I threw him a look as he shifted gears, not bothering to look at me. That meant he was hiding something.
“Why don’t you just sit back and enjoy, Dad?”
