9. Kai

NINE

A lie leads a man from a grove into a jungle.

~ Marcelene Cox

I'm leaving my meeting with the other resort managers when I see someone out of the corner of my eye. At first, I think my mind is playing tricks on me. A second glance tells me I'm right. Mila's standing in front of Horizons with … Brad?

Before I can think through my actions, my feet are moving in her direction.

I should probably turn and walk away, but I feel drawn to her—to make sure she's okay. Maybe I'm also a little curious. Why would they be at breakfast together when Brad believes I'm Mila's boyfriend? I'm not, but a strange rush of possessiveness fills me anyway. Mila's my friend. I replay the way Brad disarmed her yesterday. Thoughts of how it felt to be the man who stood by Mila follow close on the heels of that flashback. She needed me then, maybe she needs me now.

"Kai?" Shaw, the manager of guest services, calls my name.

"I'll catch up with you later," I shout over my shoulder.

And then I'm across the lobby, standing in front of Mila and Brad.

"Hey," Mila says, a look of confusion crossing her features.

"Hi. I was just in a meeting. Managers. All the resort managers. We meet once a week."

"Oh, yes. Your meeting."

Mila acts like she knows about it. Of course she does. We're supposedly dating. She would know these things.

"Right. Yeah. My meeting. That's the one. The meeting. Of managers. Weekly. The one you know about." Shuuuuttt up, Kai.

I smile, hoping it covers the stream of words that just erupted out of me like word lava from an over-informative volcano.

Mila's eyes flare momentarily wide. And then she's nodding repetitively like a bobble-head version of herself.

"Yep," she says, smiling at me. "That's right. Your weekly managers' meeting."

A laugh starts to bubble up at the absurdity of this moment, but then I glance at Brad and remember the depth of what Mila's up against. She needs me. I can't mess this up for her.

I take a cleansing breath and steel my features.

"Good to see you again, Kai," Brad extends his hand, looking far more confident and at home with Mila than he did yesterday when he blindsided her.

I nod at him, not taking his hand at first, but then I do when he continues to hold it out to me.

"So, uh …" I don't even know what to say.

"We were just talking about Brad's request," Mila informs me. "About Noah."

She surprises me, stepping away from his side and moving over so she's next to me. In a moment of genius or stupidity, I'm not sure which, I wrap my arm around Mila and place a soft kiss on her temple.

She smells like coffee and cinnamon and her familiar warmth—home.

The kiss is for show, of course, but the moments my lips meet her skin, I'm thrown off. It's been a long, long time since I kissed anyone. Kissing Mila feels different. Probably because of my dry spell. I shake all those thoughts and force myself to focus on the situation at hand.

"You okay?" I murmur into Mila's hair, truly wanting to know, but also fully committed to this unexpected encore of our farce.

Mila looks up at me. "Yeah. I am. I'm okay now."

My head swims. Is she okay now because she talked with Brad, or because I showed up? Or is she just saying that to make our play-acting seem more convincing?

Brad looks between the two of us. His face is inscrutable. I'm sure it's not easy for him to see his ex-wife in someone else's arms, but I'm not here as his therapist or emotional support animal. I'm here for Mila, and apparently my loyalty to her will take me to great lengths—ones I never imagined I'd be capable of or willing to go to.

"So, I'd better … pack," Brad says, still looking from me to Mila, to the point where my arm rests behind her back.

"Okay," Mila says, and I think she sinks into me just a little more when she says it. "I'll be in touch."

"Thank you."

Brad steps forward like he's going to hug Mila, but when she remains tucked into my side, he steps back, running his hand through his styled hair.

"Okay. I'll be hearing from you then."

"Yes. I don't know when," Mila tells Brad. "I'll text you when I've had time to process everything."

Her voice is steady, but I feel a slight tremble running through her, so I give her a gentle squeeze of assurance on her waist where my hand is resting.

"Sounds good." Brad quickly gives us a curt nod and then he turns and walks toward the bank of elevators on the other side of the lobby.

Mila and I stand together, unflinching, until Brad is safely inside an elevator. Then, I drop my arm.

Just like yesterday, I apologize, and at the same moment the word, "Sorry," comes out of my mouth, Mila says, "Thank you."

"I probably should have left the two of you alone."

"No. It actually couldn't have been better timing. It was fine—meeting with him, I mean. But I was nervous and jittery the whole time. Seeing you helped. Having you here settled my nerves. So, thank you. You're a good friend, Kai. I appreciate you."

"Anytime," I assure her. "I told you I'm here for you. Only, I didn't mean to extend our charade."

"I know. Neither did I. But honestly, I don't mind Brad thinking I'm taken. He says he only wants time with Noah, but he doesn't even know Noah. And … Well, anyway, I just feel better knowing he thinks I'm not an option right now."

The way she paused makes me think there was something else she was going to say before she thought better of it. Did Brad give her the impression he's here to reconnect with her too?

"I don't mind filling that spot for you. It's harmless. It's not like we're telling a bunch of people we're dating. Just your ex. Consider me tribute."

Mila laughs. It's a sweet sound, especially after how tense she obviously was from having to meet with Brad.

"Well, I'd better get back to the inn. I have a couple checking out midday and another couple checking in for the weekend this afternoon."

"Yeah. I have to get to the watersports shack too. How's the water running in the kitchen?"

"Perfect. You saved the day, as always."

"Glad to help."

Mila smiles at me, and then we start walking together toward the main entrance of the lobby.

When we're outside, Mila turns to me. "Oh! I nearly forgot. Were you serious about surfing lessons for Noah this weekend?"

"Of course. If we've got your stamp of approval."

"It's all he's talking about. If I bring him by once I finish cleaning up from breakfast tomorrow, would that work?"

"Around ten?"

"Yes. If that's okay."

"I can't wait."

Mila smiles again, and this time it's the smile I'm used to seeing on her beautiful face—not one tainted by the intrusion of her ex-husband.

We part ways at the street, me crossing to step onto the beach leading toward the watersports dock, and Mila walking to the golf cart corral to retrieve her own cart so she can drive back to the inn.

I'm not even halfway to the dock when my phone vibrates with a text.

Shaw: You and Mila, huh? Can't say I'm surprised.

I stop dead in my tracks. It's one thing to have to pull off a farce for Brad. He won't even be on the island after today, as far as I know. If I tell Shaw the truth, and somehow it leaks to Brad that Mila and I are not actually dating … that would be a disaster. Does Shaw know Brad? They both grew up on Marbella. It's a small enough community. The odds are good that they attended high school together at the very least.

Mila and I are going to need to talk.

I pocket my phone and head to work, my mind preoccupied with who else may have seen us. I was careless. All strategic thinking left my mind as soon as I saw Mila and Brad together outside Horizons. I should have kept my distance. But it's too late now. We'll just have to troubleshoot and hope Shaw was the only one paying attention to our little display.

Instead of walking straight to the shack, I turn, strolling toward the water's edge. I'm in a pair of dress slacks and a button down shirt. These meeting days are the one time each week I dress in anything but board shorts and a surf T-shirt. I shuck my loafers and stuff my socks inside them, letting the shoes dangle from my hand as the sand slips between my toes, grounding me. Staring out at the horizon, I try to consider the best course forward. I don't want to burden Mila. I'd rather come to her with some idea of what we ought to do and what we need to tell Shaw.

I stand there, letting the foam drift over my toes and back out to sea repeatedly for probably fifteen or twenty minutes. Before I walk over to the shack, I pull my phone out and send Mila a text.

Kai: Are you free around lunchtime?

Mila: Yes. Is everything okay?

I wish I had the answer to that question.

Kai: Everything's fine. I just need to run something by you.

Mila: Come on over. I'll make you a sandwich. I just whipped up chicken salad and I have fresh fruit.

Kai: You don't have to feed me.

Mila: I don't mind. Besides, I owe you from the kitchen sink repair. And don't say I don't owe you.

Kai: You don't owe me. But I'll gladly take one of your chicken salad sandwiches.

Mila: Stubborn man. ;) And I'm glad you'll let me cook for you. See you in a few.

Kai: See you then.

I stroll across the sand, smiling. Between Mila and me, I'm sure we'll figure out how to handle Shaw witnessing us in the lobby.

When I open the door to the watersports shack, Ben is behind the cash register.

"Something you want to share with the class?!" he asks, an impish expression on his face.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You and Mila. I thought that should happen. You kept telling me it would never. All that talk about only being friends. Well, I'm glad for you—for both of you. She's a catch, and you're good for her. You two have a solid friendship to build from. My mom always said that was the best way to build a romance. Not that I listened. I had to go all rogue and try to date my enemy … but this isn't about me and Summer. It's about you. And Mila. Man, Noah's going to be over the moon about this."

Ben's babbling rapid-fire and grinning like he's never been so deliriously happy. Each word out of his mouth feels like a BB pelting my skin.

"Whoa. What?"

"Sorry. Does Noah not know? I assumed he would, but of course you might be keeping this quiet from him for a while. You'll want to put some time into this before you rock his world. I get it. Just say the word and my lips are sealed, bro."

"Uh. No. No. Noah doesn't know." Whaaaaaat? I quickly amend that. "Because we're not dating. Officially, that is. We are still friends. And we're not dating. Because we're friends."

"Friends can date."

"Well, we aren't."

"Uh huh. Huh. That doesn't add up."

"And why is that, exactly?"

"Welp. Bree at the front desk just called over to tell me she saw you and Mila and some guy outside Horizons. She wanted to see if I knew anything. According to her, you put your arm around Mila. And then you kissed her temple. And then your arm remained around Mila while the three of you—Mila, you, and this unknown guy—talked. From what Bree said, it all looked very much like you and Mila are together."

"She what? Bree? Who is Bree?"

"She's a girl who works at guest services, but mostly the front desk end of things. I met her through Cam. She's been to your barbecues before."

Note to self: stop hosting barbecues.

"Well, she's wrong. Mistaken. She's mistaken."

"So you didn't have your arm around Mila? You didn't kiss her temple?"

"Why would a front desk hostess call back here to let you know what she saw in the lobby, anyway?"

"Are you kidding me right now?" Ben looks seriously confused.

"No. Not at all."

"It's like the Pony Express. News, my friend. News. This is the way we spread it."

"News?"

Ben just nods. "So, confirm or deny. Did you have your arm around Mila? And, did you kiss her face?"

"That's out of context. And … we're at work … so, I'm done talking."

Ben cups his hands in front of his mouth and announces, "That would be a yes, ladies and gents. Kai Kapule did, actually, have his arm around Mila Mitchell. And he placed a loving kiss on her temple, like the doting boyfriend he is."

No one is here to hear Ben's ridiculousness, but I still find myself telling him to be quiet.

"Bro, calm down. We're not dating."

"So, it's under wraps. Gotcha." Ben makes a zipping motion across his lips, but his eyes crinkle with amusement. "Sort of a secret relationship? Clandestine meetings? You throwing pebbles at her window at night?"

"She lives on the first floor of the inn." I nearly roll my eyes.

"And you know this because …"

"Because I'm over there doing repairs at least once a week."

"Which was the way … you … fell … for … her." He emphasizes each word, punctuating them with an infuriating smile. "It all makes sense now: Why you weren't into Gemma. I see it all. And, don't worry, Kai. I won't tell anyone. I won't even tell Bree what I know. Or Kalaine or Bodhi. I'll be like a vault."

For one ridiculous, out-of-my-ever-loving-mind moment, I consider telling Ben everything. But that moment passes, and I come to my senses. The only person I can talk to about this is Mila.

"How about you inventory those snorkel sets that came in yesterday and add them to the stock list online." I give Ben my serious boss face.

"Gotcha, loverboy." Ben makes that zipping motion across his lips again while wagging his eyebrows playfully at me.

Normally, I'd be amused. This is how we roll out here. We prank one another. We tease. We basically act like junior high boys with one another half the time, only the more grown-up version. If this situation with Mila's ex weren't so serious and concerning, and our need to fake a relationship weren't growing faster than a rash from a man-o-war, I'd be laughing too.

At least I'm getting away for lunch.

Mila and I definitely need to talk.