Page 19

What is it a fandom for, anyway? Mean people?

The point is, I need to protect myself. For now, this house is my safe space. I’ve set the boundaries with Gio, so moving forward, everything will be fine. He knows I won.

End of game. Right?

“Gio will be fine,” I say.

I snag a piece of pineapple and lift my gaze, but a fast-moving shadow catches my attention beyond the slider doors. When I squint, something else scurries in the opposite direction in the evening twilight.

“What was that?!” I shoot to my feet, abandoning all snacks.

At the slider door, I cup my hands on the glass and press my face between them to block the glare of the lights behind me. That’s when the entire crazy scene on the pool deck comes into focus.

“Oh. My. God,” I say.

“What? What is it?” Amelia rises from the sofa, grabs a bamboo candlestick, and grips it over one shoulder. In her new stance, she’s ready to send anyone who messes with us on a ride to the moon.

Outside, the silhouette of a small pig scampers across the deck and takes a flying leap into the swimming pool. I open the slider at the same time Piggie Smalls makes a splash, disappears under the water, and surfaces like a fishing bob. His short piggy feet kick double-time, swimming. Then something bumps my shins.

“Lars!” I shout, and stare down at the goat. A pack of tiny goats race between my legs, and I bobble where I stand.

Behind me, Amelia screams.

I expect to find her being mauled by barnyard animals. Instead, she’s on the floor, doling out kisses and snapping photos. I should have known. Seeing she’s fine, I step outside. In the glowing pool, I find Jaz swimming with Piggie Smalls.

“Hey, Sophia!” She waves.

“Thought we’d drop by and bring you some fresh banana bread.” Tina appears from the back gate, wearing a capped sleeved jumper with a beautiful Hawaiian print. As she nears, her crystal earrings glint in the rising moonlight. Her thick salt-and-pepper hair hangs over her shoulder in a long braid.

She hands me a brick of bread neatly wrapped inside a large green leaf and secured with twine. A pale yellow plumeria flower sits on top of the present. The bread warms my palm. I raise it to my nose and sniff.

“Mmm, smells delicious.” I lift my gaze and smile. “Thank you.”

Amelia appears at the door with a goat under each arm.

“Tina and Jaz, this is my friend Amelia. Her friends run the Sunset Shrimp food truck in Waimea.”

“Ahh, best pineapple-and-garlic shrimp on the island.” Tina nods with approval.

“Let’s sit down. We just opened some pineapple wine,” I say.

“I never say no to wine. It prevents premature aging,” Tina says.

“You don’t drink enough then,” Jaz yells from the pool.

Tina laughs at her joke but flashes her the evil eye. I hide my smile.

Amelia returns with a glass for Tina. I move the snacks outside so we can sit around the firepit on the sofa sectional.

“Tell me, why do you need a car? Sightseeing?” Tina asks before taking a sip.

“She’s here to track down an old flame,” Amelia says as she rubs noses with a goat.

“Amelia!” My face heats, and I shift in my chair. I give her a condemning look.

“I didn’t know it was a secret.” She offers me a sheepish grin.

“I didn’t want to look crazy in front of our guests.” I gesture.