Twenty-three

Lelani

“So, what do you think of those Mendezes?” asked Jake. He was driving Lelani back home now. And it seemed to her that he was taking the long route.

“What do you mean those Mendezes?” She tried not to sound as irritated as she felt, but something about the way Jake referred to Gil’s family sounded wrong, almost like a put-down.

He laughed. “Don’t get defensive. And to be fair, I’ve known them longer than you. Remember, Anna and I dated for nearly two years.”

“Before you broke her heart?”

“I think that’s overstating things a bit.”

“Not according to Anna.”

“Well, she’s forgiven me.”

Lelani wasn’t so sure. She felt certain she’d seen fire in Anna’s eyes tonight. Whether it was aimed at Jake or Lelani, she wasn’t totally sure. But it had definitely been there, and it looked like jealousy. In Anna’s defense, Jake had been a jerk, and Lelani couldn’t blame Anna for reacting. Not that Lelani had the slightest interest in Anna’s boyfriend. Oh, sure, he was good-looking and almost charming at times, but from the moment she met him, something about his smooth ways and easy manners made Lelani uncomfortable.

The way Jake had behaved tonight was inexcusable. Lelani had purposely not attempted to stop him in front of the Mendez family—that would have embarrassed Anna. She’d managed to keep a cool distance from him while they were playing pool, although being with him felt like a cat-and-mouse game. Still, her hope was that Jake had revealed his true colors to everyone. Lelani seriously hoped that Anna would rethink getting back together with him. Perhaps Jake’s behavior would help Anna to see Edmond in a whole new light.

Lelani glanced over at Jake. He looked so smug, so confident, like he really thought she was interested in him. Hopefully no one else had gotten that message. Hopefully she hadn’t allowed things to go too far. She hated to think that she had sacrificed her friendship with Anna in the process of exposing Jake. She’d have to set Anna straight when she came home.

“Why so quiet?” asked Jake as he finally exited the freeway. Seriously, had he even been going the speed limit?

“I guess I’m just tired,” she said in a flat tone. “Long weekend … long work week ahead.”

“Anna told me you work at Nordstrom. That must be brutal during the Christmas season.”

“It’s pretty bad.”

“So, tell me, how serious is it between you and Gil?”

“What?” Lelani gave him a sharp look. What nerve!

He smiled in a way that he probably thought was attractive, a way that had probably worked for him in the past. “You can’t blame me for asking, Lelani. I know you guys have been dating for a few weeks. But I get the impression you’re not that serious.”

“What gives you that impression?”

“You.”

“Well, you know what they say. Looks can be deceiving.”

“Meaning you really are into old Gil?”

“He’s the nicest guy I know.” She said this with such a force that surprised her. But Jake’s laugh surprised her more.

“Nice is nice, but it doesn’t always come with fire, Lelani, if you know what I mean.”

“And fire can burn you,” she shot back, “if you know what I mean.”

He chuckled. “Hey, some kinds of burns can feel pretty good.”

She turned and glared at him. This guy was so full of himself, so conceited—how could Anna stand him?

“Sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable, Lelani.” His voice softened now. “I’ve been accused of being a little too straightforward at times.”

“I guess.”

“But I have to lay my cards on the table. Ever since I met you, well, you just sort of take my breath away.”

“I’m sorry.” Her tone was even sharper now, almost hostile. “Maybe you should open a window.”

He laughed. “See, there you go again.”

“Look,” she began carefully. “Anna is my friend and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her, do you understand?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I get you. And I totally respect that. The truth is I don’t want to hurt Anna either.”

“How can you say that and act like—like this?”

“I’ve already decided to break it off with Anna. Not that there’s much to break off, really. I mean when I saw her at the wedding, well, I was feeling pretty down and lonely. And the truth was I had been thinking about her. So it seemed like fate to run into her there. But then after I spent some time with her, and especially being back around her family again, well, it seems clear that Anna and I are a mistake. I have a feeling she sees it too.”

“I hope so.”

“But how about you and Gil? I hate to be blunt, but am I wrong to think that your relationship is not that serious?”

“To put it bluntly, our relationship is none of your business.”

He chuckled. “Oh, yeah, I so like a feisty woman.”

She pressed her lips tightly together and began to count slowly in her head. They were less than five minutes from the house now, if she could just last that long without totally letting him have it. The only reason she wasn’t letting him have it was for Anna’s sake. She felt certain if she didn’t blow him off completely, he might follow through with his plan to break up with Anna. Really, wouldn’t that be in Anna’s best interest? Lelani kept her mouth shut.

“Well, here we are.” He turned and smiled at her as he pulled into the driveway.

‘Thank you for the ride, Jake.” Her tone was no-nonsense and she reached for her bag.

“I meant what I said, Lelani. I’d really like to see you again.”

“I meant what I said too.” But she smiled at him. Just to throw him off.

He looked slightly confused, but then he smiled back. “Cool.”

“Good night.” Then before he could say another word, she hopped out of the car and ran up to the house. “Jerk!” she said as she went inside.

“Thanks a lot,” said Megan. She was standing by the door with a surprised expression and a cup of tea.

“Not you.” Lelani let out an exasperated groan. “Men!”

“What’s wrong? Did Gil do something?”

“No, not at all. I’m not talking about Gil.” Lelani peeled off her coat and hung it. “I’m talking about Jake—Jake the Snake, as Gil has called him, although I think it was Mrs. Mendez who first came up with that fitting little term of endearment.”

“You mean Anna’s Jake?”

“Hopefully he won’t be Anna’s Jake much longer.”

“Huh?”

So Lelani gave her a quick explanation.

“Eeuw. That is so slimy,” said Megan.

“You’re telling me. I feel like I should go take a shower. He is such a sleazeball. How can Anna stand him?”

“Well, he’s very good-looking.” Megan frowned. “Not that it means anything when you’re a slime bucket.”

“I just can’t believe that Anna could fall for someone like that.”

“Love is blind.”

“I guess.” Lelani just shook her head.

“Poor Anna.”

“Yes. And I’m afraid she’s really mad at me now. I just don’t want her to think that I have the slightest interest in that creep.”

“Can’t you just tell her?”

“I’m not quite sure how to go about it. I mean how do you tell a friend that she’s dating a jerk, especially after he’s hit on you?”

“Very carefully?”

“That’s what I’m thinking. I plan to stay up and talk to her when she gets in. Hopefully it won’t be too late.”

“Hey, what about Kendall?” asked Megan. “Isn’t she getting in late tonight?”

Lelani slapped her forehead. “Oh, no, I totally forgot.” She looked at the clock. “And her flight will be landing in about half an hour.”

“Do you want me to go get her?” offered Megan. “I could drive her car.”

“I’d love for you to go,” said Lelani. “But she’d probably be ticked.”

“Well, I know she’s not crazy about me, but a ride is a ride.”

“Except that I made a deal with her. A deal is a deal.” Lelani reached for her coat again. “And as it is, I’m probably going to be late.”

“She’ll have to go to baggage claim,” pointed out Megan. “That might slow her down some, especially this time of year.”

“Even so, I better get going.” Lelani so wished she hadn’t agreed to pick Kendall up. Not only did it mess things up with Anna, but Lelani really did feel exhausted. More than anything else, she just wanted to go to bed. Who knew having housemates could be this much trouble?

“What about Anna?” asked Megan as Lelani headed for the garage. “Do you want me to say anything to her?”

Lelani considered this. “It might just complicate things to hear it secondhand. But thanks anyway.”

“You’re probably right. This is a pretty sensitive issue.” Megan yawned. “Besides, I was on my way to bed with a good book.”

“Lucky you.”

“Hang in there.”

It started to rain as Lelani drove toward the airport. She turned on the wipers and to her surprise, found herself wishing that she was back home in Maui—not under present circumstances, but the way things were years ago, back when she was still a kid and life was uncomplicated. She sighed and cut short her own longing. She’d heard the old quote “You can never go back home again.” The older she got, the more she understood its meaning. You can’t turn back the clock. You can’t undo what’s been done.

Just as Lelani pulled into the terminal, her cell phone began to ring. She hoped that it was Gil. The sound of his voice would be soothing. Instead, it was Kendall.

“Where are you?”

“I’m heading toward the passenger-pickup area right now. Three minutes.”

“Good. I’ll meet you outside.”

Sure enough, there was Kendall in a short skirt, a lightweight cotton sweater, and high-heeled strappy sandals. She was tan and barelegged. If she’d been on a street corner, she might’ve been mistaken for a hooker. As it was, it looked like she was freezing.

Lelani hurried out of the car and started to help Kendall with her luggage. Without saying a word, Kendall got into the passenger seat then slumped down like she’d been deflated. Lelani realized that she was expected to load the luggage alone. She shoved in the last bag, then slammed the trunk closed.

“How are you doing?” asked Lelani as she started to drive out of the terminal.

“Don’t ask.”

Lelani nodded. “Okay.” Actually, that suited Lelani just fine. She was getting fed up with people’s problems and messed-up romances. A little silence was welcome.

“I wish I were dead,” muttered Kendall.

Lelani felt a serious stab of concern and glanced over at her. Kendall’s expression was totally dismal, as if the life had been drained from her eyes. Beneath the veneer of that golden tan, Kendall looked pale and drawn. Or maybe it was just the cold. Kendall was shivering, so Lelani turned up the heat. “Oh, you’ll be okay, Kendall.”

“Okay?” Kendall sat up straight, then turned and glared at Lelani. “How can you say that? How can you possibly know how I feel?”

“Because we’ve all been there, Kendall. Everyone gets their heart broken at least once in this life.”

“Right!” Kendall swore. “I’ll bet you never did.”

“Don’t bet on it.” For a very brief moment Lelani considered telling Kendall her story. But in the next instant, Lelani knew that would be a big mistake. Some stories weren’t meant to be shared—not with certain people, anyway. Maybe Gil was the only one who would ever know the truth.

“Whatever.”

“Just give it time,” said Lelani.

“Yeah, right. The old time-heals-all-wounds thing.” Kendall cussed again.

“Or maybe time wounds all heels.”

“Very funny.”

Lelani shrugged as she entered the freeway. It was raining even harder now, so she turned the wipers onto full blast.

“I can’t believe he didn’t love me,” sobbed Kendall. “I really thought we had something—something special.”

Lelani wanted to ask her why she thought that. Why, after a drunken one-night stand, would Kendall assume that Matthew Harmon should be in love with her? Of course, Lelani wasn’t about to say this. Kendall was in enough pain already. So Lelani just listened as Kendall went on and on about how hard she’d tried, how she would never love another man, how Matthew was only pretending to love his wife because they were such a “Hollywood” couple and everyone expected them to stay together.

“Someday he’ll wake up and smell the coffee.” Kendall blew her nose loudly. “Matthew will realize what he missed out on with me—a woman who’d be devoted to him, who’d do everything possible to make his life nothing but bliss. His little Heidi Hardwick will be too busy, too famous, and too self-absorbed to take care of him the way I could’ve. Someday he’ll figure it out. And then he’ll be sorry.”

Without saying anything, Lelani nodded, pretending to agree. However, she suspected that Matthew Harmon was probably rejoicing over the fact that he’d just dodged a very big bullet.