“Cat…you didn’t see her…” Wilson started, his eyes glassy when he watched Pérez. Kai ignored them both, barely paying any attention to their conversation until Wilson slapped the table drawing Kai’s focus back to him. “Reese ever tell you about that asshole Cat’s been hanging out with?” Kai tilted his head, waving at the man before he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Hey, pendejo, the man has more to worry about than who the GM’s assistant is fucking.” He threw a crumpled paper towel at his teammate. “Why do you even care anyway?”
“Because,” Kai heard, dropping his hand from his face to spot Gia returning to the dining room, “Mr. Wilson can’t believe that Cat has outgrown the stupid crush she had on him when she was a kid.”
“How’d you know about…” Wilson started, shutting up the second his boss cocked her head to the side.
“I’m pulling rank on you two,” Gia told them, walking to Pérez’s side to grab the bottle. “You have a ten a.m. flight, and I want you both back at the practice center training. The playoffs are coming.”
They didn’t put up much of a fight, and Kai figured it was the command in Gia’s voice and that mama bear attitude she adopted for Cat as well that had her easily sending two grown men, large, athletic men, packing.
“Thank you,” Kai told her, grabbing the bottle from her hand to pour her a shot. “They mean well.”
“They’re a good distraction, I bet.” She grabbed the shot, holding it up for Kai. “To Keeana and the beautiful, sweet girl she made with you.”
Kai worked his jaw, fighting back the burn that had crested in his eyes, but saluted Gia, clearing his throat before he said, “To them both.”
“She’s worried about you,” Gia admitted, nodding toward the hallway. When he only shook his head, dismissing the suggestion, she grabbed his hand, resting her fingers against his knuckles to bring his attention to her. Kai glanced at her, frowning when he spotted the tension that tightened her mouth. “She’s not the only one.”
“Don’t,” he told her, barely able to keep his voice from cracking. “Save your concern for her. She needs it now.”
“This isn’t a weakness, Kai.” Gia squeezed his hand, slipping her fingers against his palm. “This is grief and it’s yours, but it’s hers too.”
“I’m…trying.” He stared at the ring on her finger, the large sapphire and small cluster of diamonds that circled it, trying like hell to keep himself from breaking down in front of her. “I don’t know if I can…”
“No one said you have to do it alone.”
Kai jerked his attention to Gia, staring at her now with some of his fear and anguish lifting. She hadn’t made him feel anything less than what had consumed him all week, but the surprise of her subtle offer gave him hope, something Kai thought he’d have to give up a long time ago.
“What are you…”
“I’m not saying she’s right. You will have your sister…”
“Maybe.”
“And I’m not the marrying kind.” Kai didn’t like the sound of that or how easily that admission came from her. “But I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t care…about you both. No matter what happens, I can’t just walk away from…” She looked at their hands, then back toward the hallway before she licked her lips, pressing them together. “Well. I’m just saying…you’re not on your own.”
Gia touched his shoulder before she left for the guest bedroom and it was minutes before Kai moved. He stayed at that table memorizing how her hand had felt against his and the small promise she made in her offer. Kai stayed at that table until the memory was clear, a perfect recall, until the sweet scent of Gia’s perfume had faded from the room. Then, he rested, crashing on the sofa, unable to keep the first smile he’d worn in a week off his lips. For the first night in a long while, Kai thought maybe he would rest well.
16.
KAI
KEEANA’S LIFE had been reduced to four large boxes in the living room. Kai stared at them, wondering how this had all happened so quickly. He wondered how many boxes would mark his life when his time came.
Her parents and sisters had come in to collect all of the things they didn’t think Keola would want. And it was then that Kai’s decision about the house was made.
“We’ll give it to you,” he told her parents just before