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He didn’t believe himself much either.

He couldn’t do much to cheer up other people when he had a hard time mustering up the energy to get out of bed some days.

When they got down to the bottom of the road at the intersection of Pali and Kalanianaole, they only had a few seconds to wait before the light was going to change.

Riptide turned to look at him and managed to catch his eye.

Buck couldn’t really escape it.

“I think you should ask her out.”

What?

Buck frowned at the suggestion and turned slightly in his seat.

“What makes you say that? I just met her today and you didn’t even meet her at all.”

The light changed to green and the Jeep moved forward following the car in front.

“I don’t know her,” Riptide agreed, “but this is the first time I’ve seen you take interest in anyone. Why not give it a try?”

Why not?

Well there were a whole bunch of reasons why not.

Mainly that he wasn’t even sure he’d be staying in Hawaii or the military. The doctors hadn’t given him their final decision yet.

What would happen if she said yes and he left Hawaii to go back to Wisconsin?

What would happen if she said no?

Neither option was good for him.

Maybe it would be better to avoid the issue all together and avoid her like the plague, so he didn’t have to worry about hurting her or himself.

Yeah, that sounded like a plan.

Avoid seeing her entirely.

And wallow in your god damn self pity, he reminded himself.

Yeah, that was going to work.

THREE

MARI

When she let Ebi out of the car carrier back home, you’d think the finicky feline had been locked away for months instead of less than an hour.

Ebi shot out of the carrier as if she'd been launched by a cannon, then she scrambled across the wooden floor, her nails scratching at the smooth planks.

Only when she’d come to a stop did the cat heave in a breath as if to say she’d been struggling to breathe.

If there was an Oscar for cat actors, Ebi would be in contention for it.

Mari took off her shoes and set them on the little stand beside the door and walked a couple of steps. She stopped beside the portrait just a few feet inside the door and blinked back the tears that always came when she saw her parents.

It was the last photo they’d taken together. An anniversary photo at their favorite restaurant.