Page 76 of True Abandon

The walking entertainment has now moved to the opposite side the deck, and I can hear the whistling tune through the loudspeakers. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is on. Around here, it plays at least twice a day.

The air is pungent with sunblock and pineapple. The loud splash of the waterfall hitting the surface, coupled with the jumps and dives of guests makes the atmosphere loud and boisterous. A group of teenagers walk by me on their way to the beach, followed by a salamander looking for cover.

Birds of Paradise is bustling with lunch customers. Couples line the open-air windows as they share conversations. I peek into the restaurant as I make my way toward the beach where a volleyball game is underway.

In the corner of the court, serving the ball is Jax.

He’s wearing board shorts and a t-shirt, which I assume is to protect his back against another day in the sun. His hair flies wildly from side to side as he serves and plays the set along with another man on his team. They get the point and give a double high five. It’s so Top Gun, it’s kinda sexy.

His partner serves again. Jax goes into pure athlete mode, maneuvering around the court to keep the ball from touching the ground. I can’t help but notice the way his back muscles bend and flex with each movement. His forearms are corded with strength as they glisten in the sun.

His head swivels in my direction, and I give a little wave. No sooner does his face ignites in a magnificent, pure-white smile does the ball come flying from over the net and smacks him upside the head.

“That’s game!” someone on the other team shouts.

Jax rubs his head and looks at the net in bewilderment. He turns to apologize to his partner, another tourist I assume, who just shrugs it off and gives him a knuckle pound. When he glances back up at me, I shrug.

“Hey,” he says as he approaches me.

“You want some ice for that?” I thumb toward the Birds of Paradise restaurant.

“No, I’m fine. You look nice today.”

I smooth out the skirt of my paisley dress even though it’s wrinkle free. “Thanks. I see you got back okay last night.”

He runs his hand through his hair to position it in place. “Yeah, Uber works in all fifty of the states. Who knew?”

“Me, I knew.” I try not to roll my eyes at myself for the lame joke. “You look like you’re having fun. I see you found a friend to play with.”

Jax’s volleyball partner takes a seat on a lounger by the pool next to a woman.

“I was going to have you come and play as a requirement of our agreement, but then I remembered the deal’s off which is for the best because contact sports never was your thing.”

“I can play sports,” I defend and then realize it’s pointless. “Okay, fine. I suck at most sports. But you’d be pleasantly surprised to learn I’ve played softball a few times. We had a company team at my last job. I was decent.”

“That I would’ve loved to see.”

“Next time I’m sliding around the diamond, I’ll invite you.”

“I’ll be there,” he confirms, and we fall into a moment of silence.

“I was thinking—” he says at the same moment I throw out, “I wanted to ask you—“

“You first.” I offer him an awkward smile.

“Do you have plans tonight?”

“That’s what I was going to run by you. I’d like to head out early. I’m having dinner with Auli’i, Lani’s Tutu.”

He waggles his brows. “Hula lesson?”

“No, not tonight. She’s meeting Lani’s boyfriend. I’ll be there for moral support.

He raises his pierced brow. “The grandmother needs moral support?”

“Lani’s nervous. She’s never brought a boy home before.”

“That guy Jason was pretty cool.”