Good Sensations (22 page)

“Are you seriously kissing your car?”

“Don’t be jealous, baby, you own my heart.” He laughs, then reaches across the console and rubs my thigh. “Always, remember?”

“I’ll try not to be jealous of the car as long as you don’t forget who delivers the goods.” I lean my head back and look out the window at the beach and ocean beyond, remembering the very first time I sat next to him in this car.

“No worries there. I love your goods,” he says with a wink.

The wind blows through our hair, the scent of Hawaiian flowers fill the air, and the ocean captures my attention as we drive toward what I now call the Ashford compound.

After parking in the driveway, we walk down the path to his guesthouse, but stop when we see Ms. Chart running toward us. “Mallory!” She wraps her arms around me and I embrace her back, smiling from ear-to-ear. When she leans back, she holds my arms out and says, “You are just as beautiful as ever. Now, let me see that ring.”

Evan clears his throat... loudly.

“You should probably say hi to him before he gets even more jealous,” I say, giggling.

Turning to him like a doting mother, she cups his face and smiles. “Evan, I’ve missed you so much.” She looks him over. “You look too skinny. I’m going to cook for you tonight. Okay?”

I see him smile, a bit embarrassed and hugs her again. “I missed you too, Ms. Chart.”

An hour later, I’m lying on the bed, the time change catching up with me, when Sunny and Zach barge in. Startled, I jump and yell, “What the—”

“Happy Spring Break!” Sunny squeals and jumps on the bed, tackling me down into the covers.

Evan walks out from the bathroom. “Zach. Dude. How goes it?”

“Shhh! Look,” Zach replies.

Both Sunny and I look up to find the guys watching us, sort of mesmerized.

“Shit, don’t stop on our account,” Zach says, sounding disappointed we’re not goofing around on the bed any longer.

We both grab a pillow and throw it at them. “Pervs,” I shout.

“It’s been too long, brother,” Evan says, turning to Zach and they do their boy club handshake as if nothing happened.

I’m just glad I was dressed. Sunny and I fall back on the bed in a fit of giggles. “I missed you, Mal.”

“I missed you, too. What do you have planned for us?”

“More like what are your plans? Do you even have time to do anything other than wedding stuff?”

“I hope so.”

“Do I get to come along with you? I wanna eat cake and try fancy food. Oh, oh, and what about the dresses? You said I could be a bridesmaid, and I’m totally holding you to that.”

I throw a pillow over her face and roll off the bed. Evan grabs me by the hand and tucks me under his arm. After a quick kiss on the head, he says, “We’re hitting the waves. What’re you gonna do?”

“I’m taking Mallory with me. We’re going shopping and then heading to Big Kehones.” Sunny says, climbing off the bed and scrunching up her face. “This bed smells of sex by the way. Gross.”

Bursting out laughing, I poke Evan in the ribs. “Guess we’ve been busted.”

“Geez, Mallory, you guys couldn’t survive a few hours.” She rolls her eyes, and adds, “Didn’t you just land like three hours ago?”

Smiling up at Evan, I answer for us both, “We’re on vacation. We had to celebrate.”

Shaking her head, she flops down on the couch. “I don’t know how you two have time for school with all the celebrating you do.”

“And on that note, go have fun, babe. We’ll see you later.” I push Evan toward the door with Zach.

“I’m going. I’m going,” he says. “Don’t miss me too much.” He leans back quickly and kisses me before I smack him on the ass. “Later.”

Sunny and I go to a bridal store in Waikiki and I try on a few dresses. Normally I appreciate the challenge of the hunt. But today, shopping for my dress is different, this is special and I feel the importance of finding the
right
dress.

Sunny smiles when I come out dressed in a flowing chiffon layered white gown. “Oh my God, Mallory.” She clasps her hand over her heart. “You look so beautiful and it’s very beachy.”

“I kind of like it.”

“Then that’s not the dress. You should
love
the dress you wear on your wedding day not just kind of like it.” As I spin in front of the mirror, taking in all angles, she asks, “So everything’s still good with you and Evan since you moved in together?”

In the reflection of the mirror, my eyes meet hers. “Better than good. I wasn’t sure how this whole living together thing would go, but now I can’t imagine living without him.”

“You won’t ever have to imagine that. That’s the beauty of marrying young. You have your whole lives to spend together.”

“Don’t make me cry, okay? I’ve become quite sentimental and cry easily these days.”

Glassy tears fill her eyes, but she looks away and wipes them. “Well, we can’t have the bride crying or anything.”

Turning back to look at the dress, I spot tears filling my own eyes despite my best efforts. The sales lady is there with a tissue ready in hand, probably used to seeing a lot of tears in here. A good laugh shared by all lightens the mood.

After I try on a few more dresses, we head over to visit Johnny and Alana at Big Kehones.

“You look great, Mallory,” Johnny says, taking me in. “Life’s treating you good.”

“Thanks,” I return the compliment while hugging him. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

When we part, he says, “You remember Lorelei.”

“Yes, from the booth at the surf contest.”

“It’s good to see you again,” she says with a little wave, sitting on a barstool.

“Likewise,” I say, smiling between the pair.

Lorelei looks at me, her gaze dropping down to my hand and I’m sure the ring. “Evan Ashford, huh?” she asks.

“Yep. Evan Ashford.”

“Johnny tells me he’s a good guy and not to listen to the rumors.”

I laugh. “I was told something very similar when I first started working here. I discovered he’s right. They’re only rumors, not who he really is… okay, maybe there’s a little truth to some of the rumors, but in my book, he’s a keeper.”

After chatting with them for awhile, Lorelei takes off and Sunny goes to get her paycheck from the office. I lean over the bar and ask in a hushed tone, “How are things between you and Sunny?”

Johnny looks over his shoulder and says, “We’re good. I’m happy with Lorelei and Sunny’s happy with Zach. I realized what I had with Sunny was a crush. What I have with Lorelei is much more.”

“That’s good.” Johnny’s gaze drifts over my shoulder to somebody entering the restaurant.

And then I hear, “Mallory?”

I spin on my barstool and see Noah standing there. My mouth drops open, too stunned to speak. My pounding heart brings me back to the reality that Noah is standing there waiting for me to say something.

“I didn’t know you were back on the island,” he says, walking toward me, hesitant but moving closer, his posse heading behind him to grab a table on the other side of the restaurant.

“Noah,” I start to say, “I don’t think it’s such a go—Oh! Um…” He squeezes me tight, effectively trapping me in his grip and lifts me completely off the stool. Wriggling, I tell him to put me down after the awkward embrace. “I don’t have anything to say to you. Not after what happened.”

“You’re not still mad, are you?”

“Mad? What would I possibly have to be mad at? Hmmm… let me think here.” I roll my eyes. “Would it be that you kissed me without my permission and probably would’ve done more if you hadn’t been stopped?”

“How’s your hand? That was one helluva slap,” he says, mocking.

I stand up, crossing my arms over my chest. I’m trying to think of a witty comeback when I’m cut off by Johnny, “Noah, go join your friends. Mallory just stopped by to say hi. Don’t ruin her visit. No one’s looking for trouble or wants to deal with your shit today.” Johnny walks around the bar and stands next to me.

“Look who’s finally grown a pair,” Noah says, eyeing him before looking back at me. “C’mon, give me a minute to explain. Let’s settle this.”

“Settle this? This was settled a long time ago at the luau. You showed your true colors. I just feel stupid for falling for your lies.”

Noah crosses his arms defensively. “Mallory, don’t be such a bitch.”

My hand tingles with anticipation, but I resist this time. “I should slap you, asshole, but you’re not worth the trouble,” I say, waving my left hand in front of him shooing him away like an irritating gnat.

“What the fuck is that?” I’m about to sit down when he grabs my wrist, spinning me around to face him. With my hand held up high, he asks, “Is that a wedding ring?”

Normally, I would deck him for grabbing me like that and sounding so disgusted by my engagement. But seeing the look of disbelief on his face is sort of fun. His distress playing out before my eyes is quite amusing. I smile, proud as I turn my hand to let the light hit the perfect and large diamond. “It’s an engagement ring.”

A smug smile appears on his face like it all makes sense now. “I knew Ashford couldn’t keep you… satisfied. He’s always been a haole chump. And, Mallory, don’t you know that your anger is a fucking turn on.”

“Ashford couldn’t
keep
me happy? First of all, no guy needs to
keep
me anything. Secondly, Ashford is—”

“Man, that’s awesome you found someone else,” he says, gloating. “I bet Ashford was fucking devastated. God, I love that image.”

“Noah, I’m marrying Evan.” I wait for it. It’s coming, but there’s a long pause as he processes what I just said.

Anger flashes across his face, an eerie calm eventually settling over him “Then I guess, best of luck is in order because you’re gonna need it with him.” He starts to walk away, but stops to add, “I used to think you were a smart girl, but you’re just like the rest of them.” He shakes his head in disappointment. “You don’t want a good guy. You just want a guy with money.”

“You know nothing about me, or Evan, so shut your mouth.” I finish speaking right as Sunny walks out of the office. She stops, seeing the confrontation escalate, and hurries to stand next to me. “What’s going on, guys?” She tries to lessen the tension by sounding chipper.

“Or what, Mallory? What are you gonna do if I don’t shut my mouth?” Noah asks, emphasizing the Mallory with a hard edge as if my name pisses him off just to say it.

“Or I’ll kick your fucking ass,” a very familiar male voice threatens.

I peek behind Noah. Standing in the doorway is Evan and Zach.

Noah turns around and spits as if disgusted. “Fuck, Ashford, I don’t give two shits about you. You’re nothing around here, but a bad fucking memory.”

“A bad memory is better than a washed up surfer who was sent home in shame. Now that’s gotta be embarrassing.” Evan crosses his arms over his chest, his stance steady and strong. Zach’s at his side.

I walk to Evan when I see Noah’s crew stand up in case a fight breaks out. “Hey babe.” I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him on the cheek.

“Sunny texted us to join you,” Evan says, a wry grin on his face. “I guess we got here just in time.”

“I guess you did,” I reply, glancing back at Noah.

Noah’s shaking his head, looking down at his feet when he says, “I don’t care enough about either of you to let your stupid insults affect me.”

Evan takes my hand, his fingers entwining with mine, and glares at Noah. “I think you care more than you’re letting on and I’m willing to bet money when you’re lying in bed all alone that this moment will repeat over and over again in your head. Mallory was never stupid enough to fall for your bullshit and that’s going to bother you for a long time to come. But you know what will haunt you even longer?” He pauses and I know it’s only for dramatic effect. “That I got the girl.”

“Fuck you, Ashford.”

I latch onto Evan’s arm, nervous a fight is about to break out. “I want to go,” I say, moving in front of him, with my hands purposely placed on his chest, I look up at him. “Can we go? Please, Evan?”

The hard stare he has on Noah softens when he looks down at me. “Come on, baby. We’ve got a wedding to plan.” He takes my hand and with the other gives Johnny and Sunny a two finger salute before we head out. Without looking back, Evan calls over his shoulder, “Hey Zach, tomorrow, okay?”

“Yep, I’ll be there in the morning,” Zach says and I can hear the relief in his voice that the situation didn’t go any further.

When we walk outside, Evan turns to me and says, “I’m gonna have to keep my eye on you, Miss Wray. You’ve got quite the temper and mouth on you.” He laughs as he opens the car door for me.

“You just keep that in mind,” I joke.

“Oh, I will, but for now, there’s only one thing on my mind and that includes you, me, a bed, and some pineapple.”

Holy shit!
“That does sound good.”

We get back to the guesthouse and Evan disappears into the main house looking for ‘supplies.’

A small knock draws my attention to the door just as it opens. I look up and my heart starts racing. Claire Ashford and I have settled things between us, but I guess my heart hasn’t caught up with my brain.

“Mallory, I hope I’m not intruding,” she says, staying close to the door.

I tug at my T-shirt, trying to look more presentable. “No, it’s fine. Come in.” As soon as I sit on the edge of the bed, my foot starts bouncing, my anxiety of the surprise meeting showing. “I didn’t know you were here on the island?”

“Yes, well, it was last minute. We thought we should make a trip to help with some of the wedding details since it’s taking place here. We—Hugh and I—were also hoping to spend some time with you and Evan.” She shuts the door quietly behind her and walks over to the kitchen bar. “We haven’t seen him since December and three months is a long time to go without seeing your children. Situating herself on one of the barstools, she asks, “I would like you and Evan to join us for dinner tonight if you don’t have plans already?”

“Oh. Um.” I say, fumbling over my words thinking about the plans we did have that I can’t tell Evan’s mother about without sounding like a complete whore. “I’m not sure. I’ll speak with Evan when he gets back. I don’t think we do, but I should check with him first.”