"The three of us have done this many times. Nate's the newbie," Makani said.
"Am I being jumped into your gang?" I asked, smiling.
"You're from the mainland; you can't join," Makani said, teasing me.
"So is Abby," I complained, not really knowing whether that was true or not. I'd never actually asked her where she had been born, I realized.
"She's an honorary islander. You're a tourist," she said.
"Abby, help me out here," I said to her, laughing.
"I think a nice game will help break the ice between us," she said smiling. "Truth or dare."
"We can't play that; we're adults," Makani said.
"Makani, I dare you to swap seats with Nate," Abby said to her, smirking, obviously egging her on.
"I pick truth," she said to her friend, crossing her arms.
"Tell us what your first impression was of Nate when you met him," Keno said out of the blue. She glanced at him before looking at me.
"I thought you were cute," she said, shrugging. That got Keno's attention.
"Are you serious?" he asked her.
"You wanted an answer. That was it. Truth or dare?"
"Tell me why you left me," he said to her. This was the most intense I had ever seen him.
"You've never known what I wanted," she said spitefully.
"Guys, now is not the time," I said, standing.
"Isn't that why you got us here together? So we would talk?" Keno demanded.
"Keep talking like that, and you'll get yourself kicked out," I told him.
"Makani and I are going outside; come join us when you're done," Abby said, standing. She took Makani's hand and they left by the back door.
"What the fuck is wrong with you, Keno?" I asked angrily.
"Have you and Makani been talking?" he asked suspiciously.
"Do you fucking hear yourself? Get a grip."
"I told you I couldn't do this," he said, slumping back into the sofa.
"Just apologize to her – to both of them – and we can have a normal night," I said.
"I shouldn't have asked her that," he sighed. "I'm just digging the hole deeper and deeper."
"Yeah, you are. Now get up and go talk to her so you can fix this,” I said. He got up and we went to the back door. I pushed it open, seeing Abby on the porch.
“Where’s Makani?” Keno asked. Abby pointed towards the water. I could see a dark figure that I guessed was her. She looked like she was sitting on the sand right at the water’s edge.
“She’s really upset. She was worried about what was going to happen tonight. If you’re going to be jealous and mean, then don’t go over there,” Abby said.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have blown up like tha