's [

I lived near the hotel in the southern part of the island. Yeah, my backyard was the be

meant the day had begun, and I never wanted to miss seeing it start. Every minute you were asl

ed my windows open to let the earliest rays of sunshine inside. I loved summer. It was Hawai'i so summer was

dy. It was still early summer, but the hotel was completely booked up through the peak season already. I relished the quieter days we had at work before

washed the dishes I had forgotten to do the night before in my sma

as some fruit in there and some milk I was pretty sure I was about to run out of. I lived alone; i

with a rear porch facing Hulopoe Beach. It was technically on land owned by the hotel, but rent was

gotten a little crafty and put up these translucent white curtains that I could cl

ed in the house before me, and hadn't wanted to replace it. It was made of this light wood that looked like driftwood picked

here, so a little heat didn't bother me. I loved my place. It was everything I needed. It was minimal, and it wasn't an u

already knowing who it was. There was only one person who it could have been at my house that early. Makani,

f I was the police? You'd still come to the door in your panties?" I smiled and pulled her inside. "Jesus Christ, Abby. I know we're cl

is just for you," I teased. She

ting myself, but Makani? She was my sister. Nobody would ever think we came from the same two parents

u a favor and lock it down now. How many of the guys you've dated have ever brought you breakfast in

or, but I was certain what she'd brought was full of

ng the bag from her and peering inside. The smell made my stomach growl: h

joked. "You're terribly high maintenance

untains. She acted like she was so long-suffering and weary of me, but she was probably the o

lder than I was, but I just remember being so impressed by how mature and grounded she seemed. She

it was more than that. I had never had any siblings, but I didn't even feel ba

do without me?

t three alarms to get up in the morning. When we weren't working, she wo

f plates. The house was so small, it didn't have a proper dining room. What it did have

ng off the ocean, so it was never too stuffy in the house. Makani followed me out, putt

mmer?" she asked, sitting in one of the cha

ven her a job at the front desk because she looked like Miss Hawai'i. Her hair was naturally wavy, dark brown, the same color as strong coffee. She had light br

ent. She drank her coffee black, with no sugar or cream. I didn't know how she did it; I though

fall. I can't study t

me. The bookin

There's so many parties and luaus."

ur necks. Crazy guests asking for room service.