Maile heard Axl choke beside her.
She reached out an arm and hit him in the gut.
"Hey!"
"Shut up, fuzzball."
She wasn't looking at Axl, but U'ilani's eyes widened before she turned away.
"Anyway," her friend looked like she was trying not to burst out laughing, "Shawn pulled your bag off the carousel along with ours. I offered to bring it over to you and, uh... see the big guy Shawnie was talking about."
Maile turned her head to look at the 'big guy' and saw Axl grinning.
Maile glared at him when he turned to look at her. "You look like you ate shit."
U'ilani laughed and then proceeded to nearly choke on that laugh.
Maile moved over and gave her a few pats on the back until she got herself under control.
"He's a brute, but if he did something really stupid Kawehi's man is his boss. He'll kick his ass."
U'ilani stepped back and held up her hands in surrender. "As long as you're safe with him..."
"You mean, is he safe with me?" Maile snorted a laugh.
"Uhh..."
Maile looked own when U'ilani put her hand on Maile's arm.
"Are you really okay?" She slanted a sideways look at Axl. "If not, Shawnie can drive you home."
Maile froze at the sound of a growl at her side.
She turned slowly and when she looked up at Axl's face, she saw how red his complexion was.
"What's up with you?"
Axl reached past her and grabbed the handle of her suitcase. "You ready to go?"
She heard his tone and her jaw tightened up.
Maybe it was fanciful thinking, but she felt like her expression was really close to his. 'That's probably pissing him off.'
"Yeah. I'm good."
U'ilani made a gesture with her hand, like an old phone handset. "Call if you need us."
"I've got it."
Somehow as Axl rolled off her suitcases, grumbling his words, the wheels sounded extra loud on the concrete floor.
Maile leaned in and pressed a kiss on U'ilani's cheek and then the other. "Really, he's an ass, but Pallas would end him if he did anything. Don't worry."
U'ilani nodded. "Okay. As long as you're sure." She turned her head, looking back at the carousel.
Maile could see Shawn standing with the rest of the Velasco family. Shawn gave them a big bright smile and lifted his chin, tossing his highlighted hair back from his face.
She shook her head. "Tell Shawn to dial back the testosterone a little. I doubt the women and some of the men down here could resist."
