Good Intentions (Welcome to Paradise) (Volume 2) (13 page)

When I drop her off at Big Kehones, and we kiss briefly, saving everything for later. With that in mind, I smile, knowing the best part of a fight is the making up part and that’s coming tonight. I start to harden at the thought of our reunion.

I go home and crash until early afternoon when Kate comes in and demands that I spend time with her and our parents. I’ve made peace with my dad, but haven’t seen my mother since I barged into their room telling her to fuck off. I need to face her and deal with her head on. So I grumpily climb out of bed and get dressed again. Kate makes a pot of coffee and I join her with a cup on the back step.

She eventually stands and without looking back down at me states, “I’m going to work for Ashford Holdings.”

Surprised by her announcement, I stand up in shock. “What? When’d you decide that?”

“I was offered the job graduation weekend.”

“Does Murphy know? I thought you…loved him and all that stuff?”

She turns, now surprised by my question. “I do love him, Evan. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.”

“But he’s here. Does he already know?”

She looks back out at the view. “Yes, I told him the day I came back to the island.” Her tone turns defensive. “I can’t help the location of the job. It’s in New York. We always knew that’s where the family business would stay rooted.”

Rubbing my forehead, I try to process this new information. “I didn’t think you wouldn’t work for dad. I guess I thought that maybe you were changing your mind on some things since you met Murph. You told me before that this relationship is different.”

“Liam has another semester—”

“Liam?”

“Yes,” she says, putting her hands on her hips. “His name is Liam.”

“I know his name is Liam, Kate. He’s my best friend. But since when did you start calling him Liam?”

She rolls her eyes. “As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, Liam only has one more semester of school left. I need a job now and I’ve been planning to enter the family business since I was ten. You know that’s why I got my business degree. I’ll admit that he’s made me triple guess my decision, but it’s not rational for me to give everything up for someone I’m dating.” She leans against the small house. “I’m thrilled you’ve found Mallory, but you two have more time to figure stuff like this out since you’re both still in school.”

“She’s leaving though.” I say, suddenly remembering I’m supposed to be focusing on the present not the future, but I can’t because I want her and I’m pretty sure she wants me.

Kate adds, “She’s only going to school and would never cheat on you.”

“I’m not worried about her cheating. It’s kind of pathetic, but I worry about other guys being there when I’m not.”

“
Ahhh
, you’re jealous. You’re afraid if you’re not there twenty-four seven that some other guy is gonna hone in on her. Well, lil bro, they might, but it would be immature of you to move up there only to keep that from happening.”

“I guess dad talked to you about my job offer?”

“They talked to me about it in May, but he told me this morning that he finally spoke with you.”

“You’re thinking I should take it?”

“It’s four months, Evan. It’s great experience and decent money.”

I walk a few feet, tucking my hands into my pockets and stare out into the ocean.

“If it’s meant to be, it will be,” she says before turning and walking around to the main house. “C’mon, let’s go be a family for a little while.” She waves me over, hoping I’ll follow. I do, but begrudgingly because I need to settle some things with my mother.

A cheese and fruit tray is set up with a pitcher of lemonade on the table and I walk by, helping myself. My mom pokes her head up from her lounger in the sun next to the pool. “Good afternoon, Evan. I’m glad I got to see you today.” She smiles and her face looks years younger with the simple gesture.

Laying down on the chaise next to her, I lean back, studying her for a moment. My stare is more intense than I intend, so I look away before stating, “Mallory’s important to me. You can’t treat her like that anymore, especially if you want me in your life.”

She sits up, her legs sliding over the side so she can face me. “I didn’t realize it was that serious.”

“You didn’t realize? I think you did
and
I think you saw an opportunity when Kelly came knocking on your door.”

Her hand goes up to shield her eyes from the sun, and she says, “Kelly is quite an ambitious girl all on her own.”

I stand up, pointing an accusing finger at her. “I’m not going to take your shit, Mother!”

My dad, who has been wading in the pool nearby threatens, “Calm down, Evan. You won’t speak to your mother like that. She’s only concerned about your future.”

I look at him in disbelief. “You’re kidding me, right? She almost ruined my relationship with the only person I’ve actually cared about and you were right there encouraging her.” I know I’m supposed to show respect for my elders and all that, but I’m stunned that he can stick so close to his moral code in situations like this. I look back at my mother. “Mallory and I are stronger than that disaster the other night.” I sit back down, fully realizing we are. I’m breathing heavily to relax myself because if I don’t, I’m gonna fucking punch something—in through the nose, out through the mouth, in through the nose, out through the mouth.

Kate interjects, “Evan is right, Mother. Mallory’s a great person and she’s really good for him. He’s changing. You need to recognize that it’s because of her. She makes him happy.”

“Kate, sweetie, it’s like that boy you’re seeing. He’s a great guy, but he’s not your future. Your future is in New York, not this island and certainly not with a—”

“Don’t do this!” Kate yells. “Don’t ruin the happiness we’ve found!
Please
. Please don’t.”

My dad hops out of the pool, grabbing a towel and wrapping himself up, and goes to Kate, bringing her into a hug. “It’s okay, honey.”

“No, it’s not. I feel like I’m having to choose between my family and my boyfriend and it makes me feel terrible that I might choose him instead.”

We all remain quiet as she cries on dad’s shoulder. My heart breaks for her and then I get angry… again. “You’re doing this to us. You’re not allowing us to be happy. Kate will do—”

“That’s enough, Evan,” my mother says. “We’re obviously not going to see eye-to-eye on this, so we just need to drop it. I want to have a pleasant afternoon with my children before I leave.”

Kate’s head pops up. “When are you leaving?”

“I’ve decided to fly back with your father tonight. I don’t like him being all alone in New York,” mother says, pulling her cover-up on over her suit. She cares. That shows how much she cares. She’s likes to be there for him, always in support of him. Her kinder, more caring side that I’ve seen in the past, though rare, is showing.

I can’t help but rejoice inwardly that I can have Mallory back in my bed tonight. This revelation produces a smile that’s hard to hide.

“Yeah, I know you’re all torn up over me leaving,” Mother says, tapping me playfully. “I know this doesn’t matter now, but I sent Kelly away last night.”

As I look at her face, she’s smiling at me, trying to edge me into a better mood. It works slightly when I hear this news. I say, “Mallory is here to stay. You need to accept that, Mother.”

We exchange a brief moment of understanding, a flicker of love flashes across her eyes that I haven’t seen in awhile. We both nod, acknowledging our positions before she gets up, walks over to a chaise lounge on the grass, and settles down into it. My father joins her and as Kate and I stare at the back of their chairs, their hands fall together as a united front.

Kate wipes the evidence of tears from her eyes before looking up and meeting mine. She whispers, “Tell me it’s going to be okay, Evan. I need to hear someone say it.”

I move my hand and take hers in mine. We’re a united front also. “It’s going to be okay, Kate. We don’t have to be with them all the time to know what our hearts feel. That knowledge alone can tide us over when we can’t be together.”

After another hour of hanging around in the pool with my dad and sister, my mother sunbathing slightly away from us, my dad suggests, “Son, you have time for a quick walk before I need to leave?”

I follow him down the stone steps to the beach. We stand calf-deep in the water, throwing sticks and shells out into the deeper ocean.

“I wanted to know if you’ve given the job any thought?”

“A little.”

“Obviously, you and Mallory made up. How’s that going to play into your decision?”

“I’m not going to lie. She plays heavily into it, but I think you’re right. I think it will be good for my resume and I can use the money the following semester to move to Colorado.”

“That’s a yes then?” he asks, excitement coloring his words.

“Not yet. I need a little more time, but I’m seriously considering it.”

He pulls me into a hug, patting me on the back, and says, “I know you’ll make the right choice. And, Evan?” I look at him when he calls my name. “I think you’ll do a great job.”

“I want to make you proud of me again,” I whisper, knowing it’s time for me to grow up.

Two hours later, Zach calls and tells me to meet him and Murphy down at Pray for Sex, a hard-to-reach little strip of beach about forty-five minutes from my house. Mallory is going to ride out with Kate and Sunny after work.

After catching what seems like the perfect set of waves, the boys and I lie on the sand and rest. I smile with my eyes closed, feeling like today has been damn near perfect. I woke up with my girl back in my arms while on the beach, my parents know my stance on my relationship, and I’ve got a good job offer on the table. Life is good.
Fuck, life is great!

What is it with that man? It’s just not right. How can he be built like that, have the face of a model, and still be so romantic? I smile knowing I can’t leave out his skills in the bedroom. Nope. No Sirree Bob, those definitely can’t be forgotten. “
Ridiculous!
”

“What’s ridiculous?” Sunny asks.

“Huh?” I reply, my eyebrows rising as the only form of acknowledgment to her presence.

“Mallory? Earth to Mallory?” Kate waves her hand in front of my face instantly pissing me off.

“Stop, I can’t see!” I swat her hand away, keeping my eyes focused on the ocean… or more importantly, on the man
in
the ocean.

“You can’t see what? My brother?” Kate asks sarcastically.

“You’ve got a little drool on your chin there, Mal.” Sunny swipes her finger underneath my chin and announces, “Got it!”

“
Whatever
.” I continue watching Evan deep out in the ocean with Zach and Murphy as they float on their boards waiting for a wave. He waves his arm in the air and I giggle knowing that’s for me.

“Holy Shit! She’s got it bad, Sunny,” Kate says, laughing again.

“Mucho bad!” Sunny declares.

Zach and Murphy wave and the girls start giggling. I nudge them both with my elbows since they’re on either side of me and I smugly declare, “See! It’s not only me!”

Murphy takes the next wave, standing tall across the top of the water and doing body builder poses for us. We all laugh at his antics. Before he’s even to shore, Zach claims the next wave, cutting across the eight-footer low and steady. He performs two one-eighty degree jumps before taking the nose straight into shore.

“That’s my man!” Sunny runs to meet him.

Kate has already met Murphy in the water when Evan finally grabs the last wave of the set. I wrap my arms around my knees, holding myself back in anticipation. The sun is starting to work its way toward setting and my eyes never leave my surfer on the horizon making his way back to me. The waters are rough with the odd crashing wave this evening, worrying me as Evan falters on his board. He makes a quick recovery and slashes through the water, as if showing it who owns who.

He jumps off into knee deep water, grabs his board, and walks up on shore. I stay seated, still admiring him and all his beauty from this short distance. He bends over removing the leash to his board, and then stands up, making eye contact with me. His expression is playful, and he winks then shakes the water out of his wet hair. It’s in slow motion like on “Baywatch” and completely captivating. When he looks back up, he waves at me and I blush. That Sun God is mine. All mine, and my cheeks burn with the thought.