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“Take her, please. She’s trouble.” Tina tugs Jaz to her side until their temples lean into each other.

An otherwise too-cool-for-this-world Jaz melts. Kind of like Gio. What kind of spell does Tina put on everyone?

“I didn’t realize,” I say.

“Gio, you didn’t tell her?” Tina smacks his gut when he approaches with a plate of shrimp.

He bends over as if the jab affected him, but I know better than to believe he felt more than a tap. His abs are built of armor. Unfortunately, I’ve seen and confirmed it for myself way too many times.

“Tell her what, Aunty? That you’ve been my pain-in-my-ass bonus mom for over two decades, or that you’re my favorite person in the world.”

“I’m your favorite person because I was a pain in your ass.” She cups his chin and blows him an air kiss with puckered lips.

They giggle, sharing conspiratorial admiration. With the expression he’s giving her, it’s clear they share a deep love and respect.

I swallow, my throat tightening. I wish my own mom treated me that way.

“Help yourself to the food and then come sit with me,” Tina says, her commanding tone leaving no room for excuses.

When I do, she openly shares Gio’s life story.

Tina and his dad were best friends at college in Illinois while she was studying agriculture, but then he moved back to New York and became a single father. When he unexpectedly passed away, Tina adopted Gio and brought him to Hawaii. Realizing it was her calling, she started to foster other children. And her home and heart have been full ever since.

Regardless of the emotional way that story makes me feel, I still avoid Gio throughout the evening. When he moves to twelve o’clock, I slide to six. It might be immature, but it allows me time to view him from afar.

To beat your nemesis, you must get to know them, right?

After dinner, I learn more than I want when two youngsters race to hug his legs. He cuddles both, then flips them over his shoulders until they hang upside down. He tickles them until they’re out of breath and squealing for mercy. When their faces turn scarlet, he swings them in a circle like helicopter blades. They tumble to the grass in a heap, curling into hugs and breathless giggles.

Their smiles are contagious. When I realize my expression mirrors theirs, I sip my drink and turn away. I refuse to acknowledge how Gio playing with kids is cute.

Nothing about him is cute!

When Gio is led to a lawn chair by three little girls who want to give him a “makeover,” I search for my escape. Before I’ve made it to the kitchen, though, a rainbow of tiny hair bows is clipped to his locks, and friendship bracelets hang from his ears. When the sparkly nail polish comes out, the kitchen door snaps shut behind me. Apparently, I’ve studied my enemy too much. If I’m not careful, he’ll do something else adorable.

Inside, Jaz prepares a pineapple upside-down cake. I steal a cherry from a bowl and lean a hip into the counter to watch her crumble brown sugar across the bottom of the baking dish.

I didn’t notice before but she and Gio look like they could be siblings. They have similar eye color and hair texture.

“What will you do with all the money? I can tell I wasn’t your first business transaction.” I pop the cherry in my mouth as she grins.

“I think we both got what we wanted.”

“I’m still deciding if I did.” I chew and think of how close Gio’s hotel room is to the bungalow.

She removes her phone and sends a quick message.

“Texting your henchmen? Sending out orders?” I tease and lean over to peek at her screen.

“I’ve got people for that.” She slides her phone into her pocket before washing and drying her hands. Next, she places pineapple rings over the sugar, creating a symmetrical pattern.

“Are you buying a jet pack? Or, I know, a flamethrower to keep your enemies in check.”

“It’s like you’re regretting our deal. I can swap you to a regular room if you’re unhappy.”

“No, no. Our deal is perfect.” I hold up my palms. “I’m honestly just curious about the most interesting person on the island. You’re fascinating.”

I’m ready to drop twenty questions on Jaz when the back door is yanked open. A gaggle of kids stampede past, followed by ear-splitting screams of joy. I glance over my shoulder and catch the tail end of a wizard’s cape, while several glow-in-the-dark toys slice the air.