Page 80 of True Abandon

Lani and I raise an arm to the sky and down before spreading them out and bringing them into our hearts. We turn to the side, and dip our hips.

With our left arms bent and right hands drawing back in, Auli’i explains, “He tells her they are firmly united and never separate like a never-fading lei. He asks her to come back with him to where they belong.”

As my hand raises to my forehead, I flow into the step that has my other arm extended as I turn in a circle in step with Lani.

Auli’i speaks. “He is lonely. He says, ‘When it’s right, we will go back.’”

My breath hitches at the sight of Jax. His shining eyes have glazed over and softened. His body relaxes, and a slow smile builds across his face.

Jason plays the verse again, and I do whatever I can not to look in his direction again.

At the final chord, Lani and I take a bow.

Jax gives a strong clap. His mouth is now ignited into a grin that shows pride. His stare penetrates me over the glowing candlelight, completely sincere. When he gives me those eyes, it’s easy to forget why I hated him for so long. With that look, he’s burrowing a hole straight into my soul, and I may just morph myself into a flower and latch onto him for eternity.

I shake my body and get rid of the thought quickly.

Lani and I sit back at the table. I take a long drink of my water when I notice Auli’i staring at the eye on Jax’s forearm.

“Every tattoo tells a story,” she says. Her fingers brush the image. “Is she looking into the past or the future?”

Jax grins. “Both.”

She pats his arm, and her eyes crinkle on the sides. “I like you. You’re a good man. I hope you come by again soon.”

“I will,” he says and rises from the table.

I stand as well since we came together. “Dinner was wonderful. Let us help clean up,” I offer.

“No. You two go home,” she says. “Lani and Jason will stay.”

The two love birds on the other side of the table halt mid stride. They had risen as well and were on their way away from the table.

With a firm hand and matching stare, Auli’i motions for them to sit back down. “You may have thought having friends to dinner would distract an old woman, but not for long. Now, it’s your turn.”

Their mouths collectively drop at the serious, grandmotherly tone Auli’i has just taken on.

“Have a good night,” I call out as Jax and I walk around the side of the house toward the car.

While Auli’i is a gentle soul, she does hold a high standard for her granddaughter and who she dates. Jason is in for at least an hour of questions and introspective conversation.

“Do you think he’s okay?” Jax asks when we get in the car.

“Jason will be fine. You seemed to pass with flying colors.”

“I didn’t know I was under investigation.”

“Auli’i has become a surrogate grandmother of sorts to me. I’ve only known her a short time, yet we’ve bonded—that sounds weird.”

“No. It makes sense. You can know someone for years or just a few days, but it only takes a moment for your souls to connect.”

I inhale a quick breath as I pull the car onto the street and drive toward the Kauai Princess.

I turn on the radio, and the two of us talk about the different music we like. I haven’t listened as much as I did in New York, but I have a new-found passion for, Jason Mraz.

“You like that guy?”

“He has this disarming quality. Like, I’m just this little guy with a big guitar, and I’m going to let it talk for me because I’m too shy to actually approach you.”