“That’s far,” Steven said. “I mean, LA is closer to Hawai’i than Nashville, but still far. Do you miss your family? You can't exactly drive home for the weekend.”
He looked wistful. But then when he first started college his parents still seemed like they’d loved him. It wasn’t until he got signed that everything fell apart.
“I do miss them. My parents passed away my freshman year. My brother still lives in LA, but I don’t like going back. Sorry, don’t mean to trauma-dump," Kai added.
“It’s fine, and I’m so sorry to hearthat,” I told her.
“Yeah, that must be hard,” Steven agreed.
“It’s okay. We have a lot of family on the islands. Lots of well-meaning aunties and uncles to feed me and take me places.” Kai grinned.
“Isn't it a little late for spring break?” I asked.
“Yes. The whole semester was delayed because of the volcano going off. There was Pele’s Hair and tephra all over campus. They had to shut everything down and clean it up. So, they just pushed everything back,” Kai explained. “The semester ends later, too. But it’s all good. Safety first.”
“What’s Pele’s Hair? Something from volcanoes I’m guessing?” While I liked volcanoes, I hadn’t heard about that. But I was more familiar with the volcanoes in Washington State, where I was from. Though I knew thattephrareferred to rock fragments.
“Thin strands of volcanic glass. Pele is the goddess of volcanoes, and it’s calledPele’s Hairbecause, well, it looks like her hair is everywhere. They’re really interesting and look cool, but they’re sharp. You have to be careful picking them up since they break easily and you don’t want to breathe that in. They sometimes mess up the pool filters, and float around after eruptions, making the ground sparkly, but this was major. Like inches deep mats of them were everywhere on campus and they were worried about the air systems and water,” Kai explained.
“Okay, I can understand that being a safety hazard,” I replied.
Steven looked around the busy bar. “Did you just randomly decide to come to Nashville forspring break or is there some specific reason? Are you here with your friends?”
“No. This is the aunties’ annual trip to Nashville for line dancing and country music.After my spring break went terribly wrong, Auntie Kiki literally marched me onto the airplane. They’re paying, so why not? It beats moping on campus. They keep wanting me to meet alphas. Now them pushing me to come to the bar after dinner tonight makes sense,” Kai explained.
“You weren’t expecting us?” I wasn’t prepared for that plot twist.
“No. They told me to give it an hour. I figured I’d have a drink or two, then go up to the hotel room, and order ice cream. But this is fine. Tomorrow, they’re going to a country music museum, so if you want to show me around and save me from that I would be very grateful. Then we’ve done our duties.” Kai nodded.
Steven looked at me.
I nodded. “Good plan.”
Yes, taking them out tomorrow would certainly fulfill the bet. Maybe, we’d have dinner or coffee as well for safety. Then we could go about our lives without Marilyn breathing down our necks.
“How did your spring break go terribly wrong?” Steven waved the server over, his beer empty.
“I’m going to need another drink if you want to hear that story.” Kai finished off their drink.
“Okay. I’ll buy you a drink,” Steven replied.
A server came back over and took our orders.
“You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to,” I assured.
The server brought us more drinks.
Kai took a sip, shoulders slumping. “My friends went on the vacation I planned and paid for without me–and my ex traded in my ticket, without my knowledge, to take his sidepiece, which is why he’s now my ex.”
I listened in horror as Kai told us about their trip to Bali that had been meticulously planned and paid for–and all the promises to get paid back.
And how their now-ex filled their spot with the omega he’d been cheating with.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe someone would do something so shitty,” Steven told her. “Your auntie is a legend for that.”
“Right? She takes no shit,” Kai agreed.
“Are you safe? Do you live together?” I rubbed my bearded chin, worried. While yes, Kai had every right to do that, I was afraid he’d retaliate.
