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

the same, it was virtually impossible to get served promptly at the Crab Shack when you were both on shift, you were too busy getting lost in each other’s eyes.’

‘I was not.’

‘Then more fool you, because he certainly was – he was well and truly lost looking at you.’

Zoe shook her head, clearly refusing to believe her. ‘He was never lost. He knew exactly where he was, what he was doing and where he was going, and it wasn’t ever about me, except as a friend. And that… that was exactly what I needed, that was all I needed. He… he felt the same. I’m sure he did. Friends, nothing more.’

It sounded to Malie like her friend was trying to convince herself as much as her.

‘And anyway, I wouldn’t have ruined our friendship by blurring those lines, even if I’d had the opportunity, which I did not,’ she added quickly. ‘I liked that he treated me like I was normal, I liked the person I was when I was with him, I liked the person he made me believe I was. Why would I have messed with that?’

‘Er, because Finn was on every girl’s radar – he was the bad boy every female wanted to be ruined by. If you’re telling me you were the only girl in the Cove who was immune, sorry, but I’m not buying it.’

Zoe’s cheeks sported a hint of colour again. ‘He was good-looking, of course he was, I wasn’t blind…’

‘But?’

‘But I was sixteen. And his mother was sick. And, of course, my parents… Let’s just say they weren’t impressed, even that we were friends – anything more than that would have seen me confined to a convent, I swear.’

Malie laughed at the very idea and Zoe’s eyes snapped to her. ‘I’m not kidding… and anyway, soon after that summer, I started going out with Brad—’

‘Urgh! Brad!’

‘He was OK!’

‘He was hardly the man of the moment after the accident, that’s for sure.’

‘No, but then, neither was Finn, you know.’

‘No, I don’t know, Zo. And the question is, what don’t I know? I know he came to see you though and after that… pouf, nothing.’

Zoe rubbed her hands up and down her legs that were straight out in front of her, her slender lengths made all the more so by her inability to use them. ‘It’s not a good memory… I don’t like to think about it, let alone talk about it. But yeah, he came to see me at the hospital, and all those things that made him so good to be with…? They disappeared, and I saw that he was just like everyone else, wanting to wrap me in cotton wool and tuck me away and… and save me. Let’s just say there was a full-on scene with my parents,’ she shuddered. ‘It wasn’t pretty.’

‘No, I can imagine.’ Malie felt for her, really felt for her, she knew how suffocated Zoe had felt at the hands of her parents and then to have it all play out like that with Finn too… She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry.’

Zoe waved a hand. ‘It’s ancient history, the last I heard he’d left for Australia.’

‘Australia, really?’ Malie’s voice went up in pitch.

‘Yes – Australia.’

‘Okaaaay,’ Malie drawled, nodding, ‘and he just happens to follow you to the same country?’

Zoe shook her head, a small laugh erupting.

‘Quit overthinking it, Devil, and carry me into bed. These beds are comfy and the view exquisite, but I don’t fancy being eaten alive when my insect repellent wears off.’

Malie laughed too, loving that her fiercely independent friend knew she had nothing to prove in front of her and had asked to be carried in. It made their bond feel all the more special.

Zoe’s eyes narrowed. ‘What’s that funny smile about?’

‘I was feeling pretty special.’

‘You looked pretty special.’

‘Oi, cheeky!’ Malie got to her feet. ‘I meant special in that you still let me carry you around.’

‘Yeah, well, you and you alone.’

‘See, special.’

They both laughed and Malie walked around the table, scooting down to lift Zoe into her arms.

‘This is the most action I’ve had in weeks, you know.’

Zoe giggled, wrapping her arms around Malie’s neck. ‘Is it all you think about?’

‘I’m talking about weightlifting, I’m not sure what you were thinking.’

Zoe was still laughing as they headed inside.

‘You know what they say,’ Malie sing-songed, ‘it’s not the mouth it comes out of but the mind—’

‘But the mind it goes into, yeah, yeah,’ her friend joined in, patting her chest with a grin. ‘It was Hamlet, by the way.’

‘What was?’

‘The play – by Shakespeare. Queen Gertrude says it after watching some character’s insincere overacting in a play that Hamlet’s written.’

‘Oh yes.’ Malie kicked open Zoe’s bedroom door. ‘Wasn’t that the depressing one with all the death and corrupt family shizzle?’ ‘You paid some attention, then?’

‘I read the Oxford notes,’ Malie said, laying her down on the bed and plonking herself down next to her. ‘I couldn’t even cheat and watch the film, it was so utterly depressing and seriously, what child needs that in their lives when life is tough enough already?’

They shared a quiet look – they knew better than most – and then Malie slapped her knees to cut the sudden chill. ‘Right, what can I get you for bed?’

‘Just my chair,’ Zoe said, raising herself onto her elbows. ‘I can sort the rest.’

‘No problem.’ She got to her feet. ‘And you can help yourself to toiletries, I’ve even laid out the fancy towels for you.’

Zoe smiled up at her. ‘Thank you.’

She headed for the door.

‘And Malie?’

She paused and looked back at her friend.

‘Thank you for schmoozing my parents, you have no idea how nice it is to be free of my shadow for a week.’

‘Is Gabriela actually that bad?’

‘Not really, she’s great, and I like her, I really do. She’s also a skilled physio-cum-nurse, but it’s suffocating having someone follow you around twenty-four-seven and trying to tell my parents I can survive a week without her just fell on deaf ears.