Offsides, p.15
Offsides, page 15
Gia watched, listening to Kai’s daughter comment on mistakes when she made them, then the explanations of each movement, a little overwhelmed by the girl and how similar, and how different she was to her father. She was starting to understand why it always seemed so hard for Kai to be away from her.
“Here’s my favorite part,” Keola said, pointing to the screen when the music sped up and she moved to the center of the stage, leading the other girls as they moved their hips and feet and arms all at the same time, smiles brilliant and wide, hair thick and long, swaying in the open breeze that hit them around the outdoor stage.
“You’re so talented,” Gia told her, returning the smile Keola gave her as the video ended and she hopped off of Gia’s lap to return to her own seat. “So, who do you get your moves from?” She looked at Keeana and Kai, lifting her chin to the couple across from her. “Mom or Dad?”
“Dad,” Kai said just as Keeana said “Mom.”
“Neither of them,” Keola answered, rolling her eyes when her parents booed her. “They both think they’re so cool but if you ever see them dance, I swear, you’d die.”
Gia laughed, nodding to the girl for solidarity’s sake. Keola was beautiful and sharp as a tack. Gia liked this kid and wanted to hear everything she had to say. The girl ignored her father when he offered to demonstrate his dance moves and focused on Gia. “My friend Makana is the one who wanted me to take hula with her. She has all brothers who make her practice rugby and football with them. She wanted to do something fun that she knew they wouldn’t do.”
“And her brothers wouldn’t do hula?”
“Boys typically do fire dance,” Kai explained, grinning at Gia. “Hey…didn’t you know a fire dancer, Gia?” She wanted to smack him for the subtle reminder that he remembered her mention of the fire dancer she’d met the one time she’d been to Hawaii.
Keola looked at her, head moving to the side but Gia deflected, reaching for her glass as she asked the girl, “Do you like New Orleans?”
“I liked the Christmas lights in the park,” she admitted.
“City Park,” Kai told Gia and she nodded.
“It was cold,” Keeana said. “We’re not used to this kind of cold in Maui.”
“Oh, I bet. It has to be a huge culture shock,” Gia told the woman.
“How big of a shock was it for you when you came here from New York?” Keeana refilled their glasses of wine before she sat, moving her feet to the empty chair next to her.
“Massive, when I came here the first time, but that was when I was eighteen.” She took a sip of her wine to chase back the flash of memory that brimmed to the surface when she thought about college and Luka and how the good memories she had with him, weren’t long enough to stay good.
“College?” Keeana asked.
“Yeah. I started at CPU before I transferred.”
“Oh, I know about CPU,” Keola said, abandoning her phone to lean both elbows on the table. “My friend Bethany said Macy McKenzie was in the music program at CPU before she became famous.”
“If she was, that was before me, I’m afraid.” Gia moved her head, a small apology that she didn’t know the famous pop star personally. She figured that Keola was probably familiar with CPU’s other famous alumni given that her father was Hawaiian and a ball player and that Kona was from the same island. “I did meet Kona Hale. Nice…guy.”
Keola sat up straight, her eyes going wide. “Oh, Kona!” She looked at her father, moving her chin in a nod before she glanced back at Gia. “I know Kona. He…”
“Everybody in Oahu knows Kona Hale, keiki.” He stood, grabbing the dirty plates from dinner like he wasn’t interested in the direction of the conversation. Maybe, Gia thought, Kai remembered how she got when he’d mentioned her time at CPU. She hadn’t told him why she didn’t like to talk about the boy who’d left her heartsick, but Kai had to remember that heartsickness had happened when she was in college.
He picked up two more plates and softened his tone before he spoke to Keola again. “Kona’s the poster boy for famous Hawaiian football players. Why don’t you tell Gia what Reese said about next year’s camp?”
The suggestion had the effect Kai seemed to be looking for. Keola launched into all the details of next year’s camp and how Reese promised she’d let the girl in on as many practices as she could manage to fit in while she visited her father in New Orleans.
“But, I hope makuahine will let me stay longer next fall so I can at least play a game,” Keola said, glancing to her mother in a hint that wasn’t remotely subtle.
“You have school,” Keeana said. “So do I.”
“We could just move here,” Keola suggested, frowning when her mother laughed at her.
“And what would I do about my classes and…Dru?” When her daughter shrugged, acting a little put out by the question, Keeana exhaled, the exasperation in that sigh clear.
“You’re in school?” Gia asked trying to change the subject.
“I’m working on my MBA.”
“She’s going to open the best restaurant in Maui,” Kai said, coming out of the kitchen.
“Well if it’s anything like what you cooked tonight, you’ll be a millionaire.” Gia had stuffed herself on Keeana’s glazed ham with pineapple and mango maple syrup, the creamiest roasted sweet potatoes she’d ever had and the most decadent sweet bread dressing. She glanced at Kai, frowning. “I am not complaining, but why’d you make her cook?”
“Are you crazy? I haven’t had food from home in months. Keeana doesn’t mind, do you?” he asked, shooting a glance her way. When she shook her head, Gia got the impression it had taken some convincing to get her in the kitchen.
“Before you leave, let me take you out. I can cook, but there’s nothing in my kitchen that would prove it. But,” she said grinning behind her glass, “we just happened to be in the best city in the world, in my opinion, for really great food.”
“Except seafood,” Kai said, moving his hands up, as though he didn’t want to debate it when Gia rolled her eyes.
“Hardly,” she said, ignoring him when he leaned forward looking like he wanted to argue further. But was curious for reasons she wouldn’t admit out loud about the other mention Keeana had made. “And Dru?”
“Oh, my boyfriend,” she said, not hesitating. She watched Keola leaving the table, the small noise the girl made evidence of her opinion on her mother’s boyfriend. “She doesn’t like how much time I spend with him.”
“He’s a good dude,” Kai said, easing against his chair. Gia smiled at him, understanding the small blessing for what it was. He had told her there was nothing between he and Keeana anymore. He’d even mentioned her having someone back home. Gia just wasn’t sure why he was reiterating the point to her now.
“You had him vetted?” she couldn’t help but ask, clicking her tongue to the roof of her mouth when he looked away, moving his attention at the window as if he wasn’t brave or stupid enough to look at his ex directly.
“What?” Keeana said, mouth dropping open. “You buggah, you did, didn’t you?”
“He’s spending time with you and my pēpē, you think I’m not going to find out what he’s about?”
Gia shook her head, not sure if she should leave and let them scream at each other or sit back and enjoy the show. She had a feeling that the way they spoke to each other and all the bickering was something they’d always done.
“You’re such an invasive…”
“And thorough…”
“I would never have your girlfriends checked out!” Her voice was loud, but she smiled as though she was more shocked than angry. “Well, if you ever got off your ass and got a girlfriend.” Keeana leaned forward, slapping Kai’s pointing finger away before he could defend himself. “Gia, you’re his neighbor. Does Kai ever have girls over? I want to…what did you call it? ‘Vet’ them. Yeah, I need to vet them.”
“There’s only been one,” Kai admitted, moving back to lean against his chair. He folded his arms, his smile lowering as he looked between his ex and Gia. “And…well, you don’t need to vet her. She’s been vetted.”
Gia cocked an eyebrow, keeping her expression neutral, hoping Keeana had taken enough wine that her deductive reasoning wasn’t quite as sharp enough to understand Kai’s meaning. Judging by how the woman grinned, how her smile broadened, Gia doubted there was enough wine in the world to conceal his meaning.
“Good,” she said, looking between them with her glass in her hand, ready to down what remained of her wine. “I think that’s really good.”
Under the table, Gia felt Kai’s hand slip onto her thigh. He didn’t look at her, didn’t watch her at all, and let Keeana steer the conversation onto less argument-inducing topics. But Kai kept his hand on her leg, like they’d never fought, like he’d never seen her Polaroids or been disgusted by her constant adamance that they couldn’t be together. It seemed, to Gia, Kai had all the permission he needed for them to be a couple in the approving smile Keeana gave them.
She wished she could be that easy, that confident about what she wanted to happen with Kai.
It was another twenty minutes before Gia left. She promised Keeana and Keola to take them out for a girls’ only brunch on the twenty-seventh, and they all made plans to spend New Year’s Eve together, watching the fireworks go off from Kai’s view of the river. She looked forward to seeing them again and slipped from his apartment, was nearly to her own door when Kai emerged into the hallway, stopping her before she unlocked her door.
“I like them,” she admitted, not sure why that was the first thing to leave her mouth. But Kai’s smile came so easy when she said that, and he didn’t let her stop him when he pulled her into a hug. Gia decided, for one night at least, she’d forget about the danger of losing her job or the trouble that could come to them if anyone saw them together. It was Christmas night. She’d give herself this small gift.
“They like you,” he said, looking down at her hands, moving her fingers to the center of his massive palm. “They…aren’t the only ones.” Gia jerked her gaze to his face, to the smile that was small, but sure, to the sincere glimmer in his eyes when he stared down at her. “I…hated fighting with you.” Kai pressed his lips together, looking like he wasn’t used to apologizing to anyone. “I was…confused and frustrated and…” He seemed to give up explaining, lowering his shoulders as he moved closer, rubbing his thumb against her face. “I’ve missed you so much.” Gia thought he’d kiss her, but he shook his head and a small line formed between his eyebrows as he watched her. “There are a hundred reasons you’ve given me. There are a hundred I’ve told myself, but this thing, Gia, this you and me thing…it feels damn good.” He stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding her face between his hands. “How can something that feels this…right be a bad idea?”
Gia wanted to explain all the reasons why they shouldn’t be together. Logic was on her side. So was common sense. But for once, the words supporting her argument wouldn’t come. When she didn’t answer him, when Gia, in fact ran her fingertips over his bottom lip, Kai reacted, holding her close, pausing only when the low, accidental mutter of, “Oh, Feeny” slipped from her mouth. He grinned, not commenting before he had his mouth on hers, a slip of his tongue against hers as he kissed her.
She didn’t stop him. Gia didn’t push him away. She leaned into those big arms and that solid weight, she took the heat of his mouth and gave him back her own, hoping he knew that tonight she wouldn’t fight him. Tonight, she would let Kai Pukui take her kiss and hold her because that’s what you do on Christmas—you give away the gifts of your heart.
14
Gia
Wildcard Game, New Orleans
The stadium was empty. The only noises Gia heard was the straggler crew of custodians quietly vacuuming in the hallway and the vendor’s trucks leaving from the loading dock as she walked from the field, toward the locker rooms. Everyone else had gone off to celebrate. They had good reason.
Reese had done it. Made the big score. Managed to fake a kick and landed a touchdown. The first ever by a woman in the NFL. She’d go down in history. She’d become a legend and Gia felt something old and familiar stirring from the deepest well inside her: pride. It had been a long time since she’d allowed the sensation to breach the surface.
It was Reese she thought of as she moved through the corridors, coming to the front lobby that separated the locker rooms and the business offices. In her mind, Gia saw her kicker’s face all lit up and open, bright and beautiful as she ran that ball across the line. The smile Reese wore got bigger, stretched wider when her teammates hoisted her on their shoulders and ran with her around the field, when the crowd joined in among the chaos. Ricks and even Mills had joined them. Their excitement taking over them as they jumped and danced and cheered their new placekicker on for sneaking in that faked kick. Gia had stood from the sidelines watching; proud, overwhelmed, shaken with the same joy everyone else felt. She was in awe of Reese Noble and the change that was coming to the sport Gia loved.
Those were the thoughts that held her focus as she walked toward the elevators, eager to get into her office and field a few emails that had popped up since the game ended. She didn’t think anything would take the happiness that bubbled in her chest from her. How could anything shake this sensation? But then, Gia was a realist. She’d felt the sting life often delivered even at her happiest moments. There always seemed to be a downside to joy; a sort of toll you paid to experience. Maybe that’s what kept her at the stadium and away from the celebrations. Maybe, somewhere deep down, there was an old instinct inside her that warned of pending sorrow.
Stop it, she told herself, coming to the lobby doors, ready to forget those dark thoughts and just enjoy the victory her team had secured and then…she heard the scream. It was guttural and deep; something that shook loose any wells of courage that kept her in control. She knew an anguished cry when she heard one. She’d made the same cry the morning her uncle told her about Luka.
And now, that same harrowing cry came from the other side of the corridor.
Gia ran through the hallways, circling back until she came to the locker room doors, the scream now an aching cry, the terror she felt threatening to choke her as she went inside.
Her stomach dropped when she spotted Kai on his knees, his cell gripped loosely in one hand and a voice screaming his name on the other end. But he couldn’t hear them. It seemed all he could do was curl into himself and cry, like he’d been punched and was unable to stand.
“Kai!” She ran to him, falling to his side and knew he didn’t see her, that her presence likely didn’t register. He was too deep in his grief, in whatever it was that had toppled him. “Please,” she tried, holding his face up so she could see him. His expression was devastating—eyes already swollen and red from crying, lips pulled against his teeth as he sobbed. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” Gia let him collapse against her, let him curl his arms around her waist and wet her shirt with his heavy tears.
It was like a wave Kai needed to ride and Gia let him. She would be that ocean he needed, the movements that guided him away from this pain as long as he needed her. He was her player. She would take care of him. He was hers, if only a little bit, she would hold him.
He held onto her for what felt like forever, fingers digging into her arms, his large body feeling like lead against her. She reached for the cell next to them on the floor, but couldn’t quite grab it, still hearing the crying caller on the line. Gia couldn’t move him, not just yet. She wouldn’t disrupt him from this grief.
The doors behind her opened, and Gia looked over her shoulder, relief filling her when she spotted Pérez jogging into the room. “What happened?” he asked her, his skin pale as he looked down at his friend sobbing against Gia’s chest.
She nodded to the phone and the man grabbed it, jerking when he heard the caller’s voice. “Hello? Si…yes, this is Anthony… Pérez. I’m Kai’s friend…his teammate. What’s going…” He stopped, turning away from Gia, from the sight of the big linebacker weakened by whatever news had devastated him and Gia began to pray that it wasn’t the worst she could imagine. In that dark locker room, with that big man clinging to her like she was a buoy that would keep him from being toppled by the waves, Gia begged God to protect Keola. She prayed nothing had happened to that sweet, precious girl.
Pérez muttered replies, indistinct things Gia couldn’t make out and then he turned, dropping onto one of the benches situated in front of the lockers. He slouched, nodding to himself, face constricting the longer he listened before he leaned forward, moving his elbows to his knees. “Yes,” he told the caller. “I understand. I’ll tell him.” And then he ended the call, his gaze moving straight to Gia.
She tilted her head, eyebrows moving up as she watched him, her patience getting thin, her worry threatening to smother her and the man scrubbed his face before he finally answered.
Pérez cleared his throat, his gaze jumping from Kai, still leaning on Gia, to her face. “There was an accident. Drunk driver. Keeana… she was killed.”
Gia told herself not to cry, she had to be strong, but she couldn’t help the burn that surfaced in her eyes or the heavy moisture that collected in her lashes. “Is…was she…” She tightened her hold on Kai, fighting to keep the tears from her throat. “Where’s Keola?”
Pérez nodded, rubbing his neck. “Injured, but okay. In the hospital.” He motioned with the cell. “That was Kai’s sister, Nalani. She’s at the hospital now and says Kai needs to get back to Maui.”
“Okay,” Gia said, rubbing his back when another racking wave of tears overtook him. “I’ll…take care of it.” She brushed her nails through his hair, silently telling herself she would let go of him. Gia didn’t know Keeana well but had liked her immensely. Kai and Keola adored her. They both looked up to her. This would devastate them. It would break them. Gia remembered how badly this hurt, how deeply those wounds ran and when she did, her stomach dropped again. She’d never wish this sort of grief on anyone, especially someone as devoted as Kai and as innocent as Keola.
