I turn back to face her.
揂bsolutely. The Kona house is right off a fantastic stretch of shore. If you want to go swimming, be my guest.?I pause. 揟hough I抎 rather you go when I can be there with you the first time, Destiny. Just to make sure you have everything you need.?
I hate how my stomach curdles.
The idea of Destiny going to the beach by herself and being run over with a rush of memories is more than I can stand.
揥ell, I may not go at all. We抣l see. Just wanted to make sure you wouldn抰 freak if I did.?
揥e抮e good. I promise. I抦 glad you抮e ready for this,?I say, shooting her a warm smile. 揕ife抯 too short to let fears keep robbing us from a good time.?
For some reason, as I抦 saying it, Miss Angelo stuffing that cookie into my mouth flashes through my head.
She抯 essential on this trip.
The campfire coffee is hers, and she抣l be involved with producing a special derivative drink for the high-end resorts. Still, I need to be cautious.
It抯 all too easy to lose my head when I抦 with her and turn into an overgrown bear rather than a professional.
Destiny hops to her feet, swings her closet door open, and pulls out her glittery pink suitcase. The gaudy thing topples over in her rush.
揥e抮e not leaving tonight, baby girl. Relax.?
揝orry! I抦 just so pumped.?Her cheeks redden. 揌ey, Dad, you should go do your stuff. I have to call Libby and tell her the news.?
揙f course. I抎 wouldn抰 dare intrude on the high school gossip line.?
揑 have no idea what that even means, but bye!?She gives me a parting smile that shows off all her teeth.
If this is the hard part and she抯 grinning like the devil, then maybe I can pull this off without a disaster or ten.
9
Coffee Snob （Eliza）
A couple days later, I抦 boarding a private jet for the first time in my life.
A week ago, the idea of a Hawaiian trip was outrageous.
Going to Hawaii specifically to play with coffee beans from a Kona farm never even occurred to me. But in roughly six hours, we抣l be touching down on the island.
A literal tropical wonderland where I抣l be breathing the jasmine-like scent of blooming coffee cherries.
Holy hell.
揑抣l get that for you.?Cole takes my bag as we climb up the steps to the jet.
揑t抯 cool. I抳e got it.?
揇on抰 be stubborn. It抯 bigger than you.?
揘ot really, and you抳e got your hands full.?
He already has his own bag slung over one shoulder and Destiny抯 bag in his hand. 揗adame, I抳e carried far heavier loads than this. Trust me.?
I might not believe him if he didn抰 have the muscle to back it up梑ut it抯 also four a.m. If he wants to carry my bag that badly, fine.
I抦 exhausted.
The life goes out of me the second after I step on the plane and I抦 standing in what I guess must be the center aisle. Hard to say because this spotless white cabin with the stained wood and gold finishes resembles no plane I抳e ever been on.
It feels like a leather-wrapped bus, all plush and comfy with a few clusters of recliners and a round table with bench seating in the corner. Just scanning the place is overwhelming.
Cole drops the bags he抯 carrying on the bench around the table and sits beside it. An attendant scurries up a minute later to stow them properly.
Destiny drags into the jet behind him with a loud yawn. 揅an I go back to bed yet? I抦 dying here.?
揝ince when do you ask? Just go,?he tells her.
She collapses on the first available recliner and puts the foot rest out, curling up like she抯 done this a thousand times before.
揌ey, Dess.?Cole stands over her when I look up, waiting for her eyes to open. 揧ou need a blanket??
揗m-hmm,?she mumbles groggily.
He opens a small compartment next to the seat and gently tucks a fluffy blue-and-white blanket around her.
For a second, she抯 five years old, not fifteen.
And he抯 just a dad, not an office dictator and the bane of my existence.
My heart melts helplessly. I also have a horrible desire to be tucked in by this man梩his Cole. The one who can actually be decent rather than a grumpasaurus rex.
But a memory of an older, devilishly attractive man folding a sheet around me comes back.
Derek could be kind, too. And I let him melt my heart with a big greasy lie that made me the other woman in his life.
I flinch with surprise when Lancaster finally sits down beside me again.
揇id she turn in the big project yet??I ask, nodding at a gently snoring Destiny.
揝olid A. Why do you care??
揝orry, it抯 not my business. I just got kinda invested when she was shadowing me.?
He nods. 揢nderstandable. She could抳e had the entire summer off, but she insists on squeezing in a few credits for college over the summer. I enrolled her in a private school after Aster died, so if I needed to take a trip, she could tag along without getting behind during the school year. They抮e generous with remote work and making up credits elsewhere.?He shrugs. 揑n the early days, I抎 bring along a tutor to help her, too. She was too smart and disciplined for it by the time she hit middle school.?