I shake my head but slink down into the darkshadows of the deck’s fence just in case my siblings realize I’mnot in bed or even in the house. “I’m not worried about that,” Iwhisper.
He leans over the railing. “Leilani, I don’tneed your charity,” he says. “I made some mistakes, and I have tolive with it. I know that. I accept it. I’m not looking to draganyone down with me.”
I glimpse back at my house before I slitherout of the shadows and sit on the step of his family’s deck. Istill linger in the darkness around the house, for safety reasons.If my brother knew I was out here, he’d probably make a scene, andif Kale is anything like those Hooligan friends of his inCalifornia, he may be quick to throw a punch.
“Did you really do all the things the forumsand media said you did?” I ask in a whisper.
Kale eases over toward me, but he doesn’tsit. “I did,” he confesses. “I was involved. I got in over my head.It started out pretty innocent, listening in on conversations,leaving a device in an office, taking a picture of someone. I’m notgoing to play the victim, though. I’m not the real victim in any ofthis. I could’ve walked away at any point. I could’ve called thelaw. I didn’t, though. So I have to own up to it.”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shatteredright now. My heart feels like a zillion pieces of sea glass,crushed under the boot of a pirate who doesn’t understand how muchthe people on land love the ocean too. He’s taking everything Ibelieved in and smashing it.
“Look, people are going to believe what theywant,” Kale says with a shrug. “I just want to move forward. I wantto live my life. I want to get back on track, so maybe when this isall over and done, I can move away from here, away from California.Maybe I’ll go to Australia or something. Maybe Europe. Somewherebrand new. I know I don’t have a future here anymore.”
“Not everyone believes all those badthings,” I remind him. “I know better.”
He laughs, and for a second, it makes mesmile. He’s the same Kale from a few years ago, laughing andsmiling and glowing in the moonlight.
“Lani, don’t do that,” he says. “If youdon’t buy into all the gossip, then why are you hiding in theshadows and whispering like you’re scared someone will see you withme?”
“My brother–” I begin but he interrupts.
“Of course,” he says. “Keiko, the great andmighty. Popular with the guys, popular with the girls. Surferextraordinaire, Keiko DeCosta. How could I forget? Of course, hedoesn’t want his baby sister associating with a criminal.”
I push off of the stair and step into themoonlight. “Okay, I get it,” I retort. “Yeah, my brother ispopular. Everyone loves Keiko. He’s uptight and a know-it-all andyou can’t tell him anything because his word is always the finalword. But he’s still my brother.”
“Exactly,” Kale says, his voice icy andcold. “He’s your brother, and he’s far above me, so why not listento him and stay away?”
“He may be my brother,” I say, “but mybrother doesn’t know you, and I do.”
Chapter Seven – Kale
It’s amazing how I can go four years withoutseeing the girl next door, but one argument and four days later, Ican’t get her out of my head. I’ve replayed it on repeat in mybrain, her storming away from the deck the other night. I guzzlethe cup of coffee that Kapuna poured me and rinse the cup in thesink afterward. He smiles at me before I head out for another dayof beach cleanup.
The roar of the ocean draws my attentiontoward the waves. I want to surf again, more than anything, but Idon’t know how I’ll deal with surfers in the lineup who don’t knowme or only know the rumors. They don’t know that I grew up surfingthese waves. I learned how to surf here. This is my hometoo. But knowing everything I’ve done in the surf world. I feelunworthy. As much as I miss the ocean and the feel of a board undermy feet, I know I don’t deserve to be out there on the best wavesin the world.
A car door slams, and I turn my gaze acrossthe yard. Keiko opens the driver’s side door of his car, but thenhe hesitates before closing it and walking toward me. His evil eyeis even better than that of Vin Brooks in an interrogation room.Fuck my life.
“Kale Nakoa, welcome back,” Keiko says,although I am fully aware he doesn’t mean it. “I’ll get to thepoint. Stay away from my sister. Don’t drag her into yourproblems.”
“That wasn’t my intention,” I say forclarification. “I honestly didn’t plan on talking to her or anyoneelse. I’m biding my time, okay?”
Keiko glances over his shoulder, as if he’smaking sure no one else can hear him. “Leilani feels sorry for you.She thinks she can help you because she still sees thefourteen-year-old boy who left here five years ago,” he says,stepping closer. “She doesn’t see who you are now.”
“Fuck you,” I spit out. “You don’t even knowwho I am now.”
Everything in my veins wants to lungeforward, knock him to the ground, and pound my fist into his face,but I know better. I’m not a wild ass West Coast Hooligan anymore,and beating the hell out of her brother isn’t the way to impressLeilani. I can’t afford to get in trouble again, regardless of thereason. My probation officer won’t care that Keiko approached meand called me out on my crimes. What they care about is how Ireact.
“It doesn’t matter,” Keiko says. “I don’tneed your version of the story. It’s all over the news everywhere Ilook. I know what you did to Colby Taylor. I saw what happened tothat A.J. guy. I’ve followed it from day one, before I even knewyou were involved. And for the record, Colby Taylor is ratherpopular around here, so word to the wise – watch your back.”
I don’t back down or move from my spot inthe yard until
