Meet Me in Hawaii by Georgia Toffolo (novels for beginners txt) 📕

plucked at the offensive number and Jonny cocked his head with a nod and a choked laugh.

‘Fair point.’ The lad caught sight of himself in the full-length mirror that divided up the wall of lockers and rolled his shoulders back. ‘You think next time we can insist on black, though?’

The door shifted open again before Todd could answer and in walked Kalani, ‘You still stirring it up over the colour of our gear?’

‘Hell, no,’ Jonny rushed out, his instant respect for the big guy obvious. ‘Just the Boss here, he’s having a moment.’

He threw his thumb at Todd and grinned.

Kalani looked to Todd, his expression grave. ‘Like I said to the boy—’

‘Man, jeez!’

Kalani ignored Jonny’s outburst. ‘It’s to keep you readily identifiable on the beach. If you go under, we’ll have a greater chance of spotting you, maopopo?’

Todd frowned. ‘Mao-what-now?’

‘He means, understood, Boss.’

Feeling well and truly the student, which was even more disconcerting than being seen in this ensemble, he nodded. ‘Got it.’

‘Good,’ Kalani said, satisfied. ‘You ready to get fitted out for a board?’

‘Sure am.’ Todd tossed his clothes and valuables in the locker Kalani had given him to use and slammed it shut. ‘Lead the way.’

They followed Kalani outside and within ten minutes they were heading down to the beach, a surfboard hooked under Todd’s arm and what he now knew to be called a leash – like some dog walking gear – in his hand.

‘How’s she been getting on?’ he asked Jonny, trying to ignore the way the rash vest clung to his own body, the sun’s rays making it feel even more cloying.

‘Tara?’

He nodded and Jonny gave a smile so full of pride it had Todd’s own lips lifting. ‘She’s nailing it, Boss.’

‘Glad to hear. It’s good seeing her take to Malie so well.’

Jonny sent him a funny look, kind of coy, kind of admirable as he shrugged. ‘She’s a pretty neat teacher.’

Neat and then some.

Todd switched the conversation up swiftly, throwing the focus on Jonny. ‘You speak to your mum this morning?’

‘Yup, all’s good, your lot even took her a home-cooked casserole with pudding too, she couldn’t believe it.’

‘She was happy?’

‘More than.’

‘Good.’

It really was good. He’d promised Jonny daily calls back home just to give him the reassurance that all was fine. And to see the lad actually starting to relax was more than just rewarding, it was an affirmation of why he did this in the first place.

For Jonny, back home meant responsibilities, being the man of the house to his single mum and three younger siblings. The opportunity to get a few weeks away and recharge was a huge deal and it had taken lots of assurances from the Foundation, from Todd directly too, to convince him to leave, to convince him that his mother would be OK with the Foundation stepping in and providing the support she needed.

But it seemed leaving his responsibilities didn’t mean Jonny would change, his brotherly instincts were already in play here as he looked out for the younger members of their group like he would his own blood.

Todd studied Jonny’s face, his relaxed posture, his eyes that seemed to dance with laughter now. He looked younger, less guarded, even with the signs of his past, and not for the first time he felt an affinity with him, a realization that Todd himself could have very easily ended up in a similar gang at a similar age had he taken a different path.

To know that his charity had been able to help Jonny escape that life, to know how much better things were getting for him, for his family… he breathed in, his chest filling with hard-to-suppress pride.

‘Thanks for, you know, looking out for Mum,’ Jonny suddenly blurted.

‘Hey, it’s not me, it’s the charity.’

His grin turned lopsided. ‘You know what I mean, Boss.’

‘I do… and so long as you’re having a good time, that’s all that matters.’

The lad’s eyes widened, ‘Good time? You’re kidding, right! This the best! When you get out there and rip it up on the waves…’ he weaved his hands in front of him, ‘it don’t get much better than that, you’ll see!’

‘That’s—’

‘And seriously, have you seen Malie, like, proper seen her?’ Jonny looked at him now, an all-knowing look in his eye that Todd really didn’t want to recognize and find resonant. ‘Like not just on the waves, but in the flesh.’

‘Hey, that’s not cool, she’s here to teach you, not be ogled.’

‘I’m only human, Boss, and there ain’t a red-blooded male out there that wouldn’t be ogling… ’S’OK though, I think you’re more her type.’

‘What makes you—’ He killed the question. He shouldn’t be engaging in such talk let alone encouraging it. Not only was it inappropriate, it didn’t fit with his desire to keep his distance and avoid anything close to what had happened the previous night. ‘So, you think the kids are enjoying themselves too?’

Jonny clearly caught his change in topic but thankfully knew well enough not to press, he just grinned instead and nodded. ‘Totally, check it out…’

He pointed out to the water where Malie and Tara were in the surf. Tara was lying on the board while Malie held it steady. Nalu stood at the nose end making the younger girl laugh as he nuzzled her cheek, his tail wagging happily.

Sky was also in the water, testing out her freshly learned skills, while Louis was happy on land making what looked to be a moat around his surfboard.

‘Mr Masters, Mr Masters!’

It was Tara, her hand waving at him excitedly and he felt himself grin. It had taken him a long time to earn the girl’s trust, but it seemed Malie had done it in one lesson. Watching it play out as he had, to see Malie coaxing her into getting involved, using Nalu as a loving accomplice, it had been brilliant, and he’d meant it when he’d said as much to her.

The warmth flooding his chest, just as it had when he’d observed it all play out, returned