“I’ll call Bea, we’ll take care of it,” Amy May said instantly, and all of my love for my friends filled me up.
I knew I could count on her, I thought. Then I felt a pang in my chest.
“I miss you.”
“Hey, you’ll be back before you know it,” she replied softly. “Enjoy your time in paradise with your sexy man and the twins. How’s the family?”
“They’re great, although I haven’t met Alani yet. His mom wants me to give her grandbabies.”
“You do have the hips for it.”
When Cade walked in the door, I was laying on the bed laughing. He leaned against the doorjamb and grinned down at me.
“Amy May says hi,” I said, turning the phone around so he could see her.
“Hi, Cade,” Amy May called. “I wish I was there with you guys.”
“Next time,” he promised, and I heard Amy May gasp, then let out a shout. “You coming outside?”
I nodded, then sat up and turned the phone around.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I told Amy May, but she was distracted with telling Jason that they needed to save up for Hawaii. “Bye.”
“Bye, Lila,” Amy May replied, and I hung up.
“Want a beer?” Cade asked as I walked toward him.
“Yeah, I’d love one,” I replied, then put my hand in his and let him lead me out to join the bonfire.
We sat around the fire, beers in hand, laughing while Elin entertained the group with stories about CB. It was a beautiful evening, warm but breezy, with the sweet scent of plumeria perfuming the air.
I watched Cade, his body relaxed and his smile easy, in a way I rarely saw back at home.
His parents were obviously taken with the twins, and I could tell that Elena and Elin had already fallen a little bit in love with them as well.
A car screeching to a halt interrupted our easy moment, and I shifted to look around Cade’s body to see what was going on. I’d been quite content snuggled into his side. When I peered around him, I saw a dark car speeding back up the hill, and a lone figure bounding toward us.
“There she is,” Cade said as he stood up and sauntered over to who I could only assume was Alani.
“Aloha ahiahi, big brother,” I heard her say sweetly, her voice soft and sincere.
I got to my feet as I watched their embrace.
“Alani, this is Lila, Elin, and Lena,” Cade said proudly, turning so that I could finally see his sister live and in person.
She was gorgeous. The most beautiful being I’d ever seen. Her long, black hair cascaded down her shoulders in fat curls. Her skin was the same color as Cade’s, toffee with a hint of caramel. And her face was angelic. You could see Cade in her features, but where he was sexy as sin, she looked delicate and pure.
“I’m so excited to meet you,” Alani squealed, before releasing her brother and rushing into my arms.
“Oh,” I huffed out when her arms enveloped me.
She is stronger than she looks.
“It’s good to meet you too,” I managed when she pulled back to smile up at my face, then I had to add, “You’re absolutely gorgeous.”
“Aww, thanks,” Alani replied, then turned to hug Elin and Elena.
When she moved on to her parents, I noticed Elin watching her with wide eyes and a slack jaw.