Page 28 of Blue Hawaiian
“Let me see.” Connor checked his phone. “The rest of the Blackwood clan—except Brody—arrived late last night, so this morning there’s a family brunch at the Banyan Tree restaurant, at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Blackwoods only.”
“No loss there.” In her present state, a formal brunch with the Blackwoods sounded excruciating.
“Then at one, tee time at the Ka’anapali Golf Course, followed by cocktails.”
She grimaced. The few times she’d tried golf, she played terribly. Gabi had only taken up the sport after Marc had given her a full set of clubs for her birthday.
“Are you going?” she asked.
“No. I’m not ready to face my dad yet, so I made other plans. I’m doing the Road to Hana.”
She’d read about the Road to Hana on Gabi’s list of recommendations. It covered fifty miles of the island’s eastern coast, on a winding route that included six hundred curves and crossed fifty-nine bridges. Along the way were black-sand beaches, bamboo forests, and waterfalls. The only reason Gabi hadn’t included it in her itinerary was because the full trip—there and back—took seven hours minimum.
“I hate to kick you out of here, but I need to take off soon,” Connor said. “I want to be on the road by nine, plus I need to pick up lunch.”
“You’re going by yourself?” That seemed like a lonely undertaking during a family vacation. Then again, he probably wanted to avoid his father for as long as possible.
“No one else was into it. Unless you want to come?”
“Are you sure?”
He wanted to spend the day with her? After the way she’d treated him? Maybe he truly wanted to be friends again. The idea appealed to her. If she joined him on this expedition, they’d have a chance to reconnect, without their families interfering.
“Absolutely,” he said. “As long as you’re up for some hiking and maybe a dip under a waterfall. But we won’t be back until dinner.”
“Sounds like fun. But I don’t think Gabi would appreciate it if I took the day off. She’s probably still pissed about last night.” Hadn’t Gabi asked her not to get drunk? In typical fashion, she’d already broken one of her promises.
“She might not have noticed. Most of the group was hammered by the time we got back.”
“But not you?”
“Not anymore. I’ve made too many dumb-ass mistakes when I’ve been drunk. Besides…I was sort of…”
“What?” The words came out with more force than she intended. “Watching out for me?”
He gave her an apologetic grin. “Not my business, but…”
His protective streak should have annoyed her. Instead, she found it endearing he cared. “It’s fine. I’m glad I didn’t do something I’d regret.”
Like sleep with Lance.
“So—Hana? You in?” he asked.
She considered her responsibilities. Though her mom was flying in at four, she was planning to catch a ride with Brody. But even if Jess was off the hook for airport pickup duty, Gabi might have other expectations for her.
“If Gabi isn’t going to the Blackwood brunch, I should see if she has something else planned. Or if she wants me to run errands. I don’t want to let her down.”
Connor perused his phone again. “You’re not on the morning’s itinerary. The only thing I see isGabi and Luisa: 10 a.m. kitesurfing lessons.”
She was a little hurt at being excluded even if kitesurfing sounded like a wreck waiting to happen. “I’m free all day?”
“Sadly, no. You’re listed on the golf outing. I didn’t realize you played golf.”
“I don’t. Not even a little.”
“Come with me instead. Wouldn’t you like to see more of Maui?”
Exploring the island with Connor was bound to be more fun than flailing around on a golf course. But wasn’t this scenarioexactlywhat Gabi wanted her to avoid? She was about to turn him down, but she couldn’t do it. This might be her one chance to rebuild their friendship, in a setting where no one else was around to pass judgment.
