"Hapa," he answered. "That means half."
Lexie saw him look over at her. "Or some combination, I don't know exactly. But a few of my ancestors are Chinese Hawaiian, so it's mixed up in there. And maybe a couple of other things in there somewhere."
Someone at another table called Mia over for their check and Lexie relaxed a little without Mia's watchful eye.
"Sorry about Mia. She's been determined to get me to date someone, I think she saw me with you and assumed-"
"I'm okay with her questions. She cares about you. It's a good thing."
His smile warmed her from the inside out.
"It was great when they hired me from time to time. I didn't have it in my schedule for a second full time job and classes. It was hard enough to balance the one and school, but a part-time job where the food is amazing? I was in."
The curtain opened and Cesar stepped out with two plates.
He lifted his chin in greeting to Kaleo. "I hope you'll come back and try some of the other dishes, but I understand you picked what Lexie did to get out from under my daughter's microscope."
Kaleo took the plate that Cesar handed him and breathed it in.
Lexie smiled and when he opened his eyes he looked right at her.
"This smells amazing."
Lexie laughed softly, her shoulder shaking with laughter. "It's going to taste even better."
After they started eating, their conversation eased quite a bit and while Mia stopped by their table a few times to get them refills and later, the check, she held off asking personal questions.
Thank goodness.
Her 'short' dinner was officially a long-er one, but she was trying hard not to let it weigh on her. She'd been head-down in her books for so long she wasn't even sure she remembered how to have a normal friendly conversation.
And yet, here they were.
It felt too good to end as quickly as she'd intended.
Kaleo leaned in, using his spoon to point toward the bowl on the tray. "What was this again?"
"It's shrimp chowder. The veggies are great in it, but those bites of shrimp? And the hit of cayenne?"
He smiled at her. "I'm going to have to introduce you to chili pepper water. I'll see if my aunt can ship some over to me."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Chili pepper water?"
"It sounds... blah, but the taste is incredible when added to food. Especially beef. I'll have to make it for you."
Lexie wasn't sure if he meant it the way her heart was starting to hope that he did, but she knew that he was waiting for her to say... something.
"I... I think I'd like that."
The words were easy enough.
The best and the scariest part was that she meant them.
Looking for a diversion to distract her own thoughts, she grasped on the first idea she could.
"Oh, hey... do you want to show me what places you're looking at for apartments? Maybe I can tell you something about the neighborhoods or maybe I can answer some questions?"
She wasn't sure if he heard her nerves in her voice.
