Heat Wave(62)

I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to give up everything I’ve worked so hard for here. I don’t want to fuck up like I’ve fucked up before.

Even if it means shutting down the attraction I have for Logan, the feelings I’ve acquired, I have to do it for the sake of my new life.

Fuck, it’s not fair. But I should be used to that, too.

When I’m done at the gardens, I head across to Haena Beach and then walk back to the hotel along the shore, ready to face my new decision.

And the first thing I have to do is find Logan.

Of course, now that I’m actually looking for him, I can’t find him. He’s nowhere to be found during the day, and no one seems to know where he went. Only Daniel thinks he might be in Hanalei at Tahiti Nui but I’m just about to start my shift, so there’s no way I can verify it until afterward.

“Charlie,” I say at closing, as the two of us are washing up over the sink and Johnny starts turning off the restaurant lights. “Can you do me a favor and drive me to Hanalei?”

He looks both relieved and surprised. I bet he thought I was going to ask him about Kate. “What, now? Sure.” He pauses. “With me? You want to grab a drink?”

I think that over. Charlie wasn’t part of my plan but maybe it would be a bit weird—and definitely out of character—for me to have him drop me off. “Yeah, at Tahiti Nui,” I tell him. “I just feel like getting out of here.” I pause. “You think Kate will mind?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “If this is all a rouse to get me to talk about Kate, you can forget about it, sweet thing.”

“Not a rouse,” I tell him. “Your business is your business.”

“All right then,” he says warily.

It’s not long before we’re finding a parking spot in Hanalei. It’s late, so aside from Tahiti Nui and the bar beside it, everything has shut down for the evening. It’s kind of nice, actually. I love Hanalei—it’s the prettiest town on the island with the striking green mountains behind it and the smart-looking shops—but in the day it can get pretty busy.

Charlie and I head into Tahiti Nui, which has live music tonight in the form of a man and a guitar poised in the corner. It’s pretty crowded, considering it’s only open for another hour, but I manage to spot Logan sitting at the end of the bar, palming a beer.

“Hey it’s the habut,” Charlie says, looking over. “Should we say hi?”

I nudge the empty table beside us. “Sit here, I’ll go get us drinks.”

Charlie seems okay with that and takes a seat. “Are you paying?”

I sigh. “Yes. Just sit tight.”

Tahiti Nui is one of the cooler bars I’ve been too. It’s like a Tahitian dive bar, except it’s not dirty or gross. The locals love it here and it has a really laid-back vibe and a lot of history within the thatched walls. Lots of celebrity’s pictures are on the walls, including George Clooney’s, since scenes of The Descendants were shot in here. Plus, their pizzas are to die for.

I’m practically in Logan’s face before he even notices me, and when he does he barely moves. Just keeps his elbows on the table and side-eyes me.

“What are you doing here?” he asks flatly before taking a sip of his beer.

“Looking for you,” I tell him, trying to take the edge out of my voice and failing.

“Why?” He says this in such an “I don’t give a shit” manner that I can feel my blood pressure rising. I’m going to need a drink, stat.

“Why? You know why.” I lean in and lower my voice. “We need to talk about what happened last night.”

“No we don’t,” he says, clearing his throat. He signals for the bartender to give him another and then glances at me. “Guess I should have been a gentleman and ordered one for you too.”

“Gentleman?” I repeat. “That’s a stretch.” And when the bartender gives him his drink I put in an order with her for two Longboard beers, sliding a few rumpled bills on the counter.

“You’re not here alone?” he asks, looking around the bar.

“No, I’m with Charlie,” I tell him.

“I see,” he says, staring me dead in the eyes. “And you needed him here so you could talk to me?”

The bartender gives me my beers. “I mean it,” I tell him. “We need to talk. I’ll be right back.”

I quickly squeeze my way past the patrons and find Charlie at his table.

Talking to a girl, of course.

I give her a quick smile even though I have no idea who she is and give Charlie his beer. “I’m just going over there for a minute,” I tell him and point in no particular direction.