“Not like we haven’t exchanged spit.”
I gave a sheepish smile. “Fine. Let me try and see what all the damn fuss is about.”
I lowered my mouth to the straw, keeping our gazes locked, and sucked.
“Don’t drink all of it!” She poked my side. “And?”
“And…” I gestured with a hand as if a gesture explained it all, but very little could explain the smooth, creamy, subtly sweet, robust flavor of an ube smoothie. There were notes of pineapple and banana and maybe strawberry?
“If you tell me you’re not in love with this, then you have no taste buds…much less a soul.”
“It’s amazing,” I said, deadpan.
Bane gently slapped my chest. “Amazing? That’s all. I knew you had no soul.”
I took another sip and handed the drink back to her. “You already know I love ube ice cream. I am an instant ube fan.”
She took another sip as I swung my backpack over my shoulder and handed Bane her purse before draping an arm around her shoulders and leading her away with a wave to the group.
“Where are you going!” Sam called after us.
“Ube!” I called back, but we were already out the door and spilling into the gardens.
When we were surrounded by flowering shrubs far enough from the restaurant, Bane said, “Saving me from having to spend more time with people I don’t know and feeding me ube? I’m not mad. Was this what you and my sister were plotting?”
“Yes.”
“Scary how well you’re getting to know me.”
“Is it?” I reluctantly retracted my arm.
We didn’t slow down until we’d passed the pools, making our way to the cove and beaches.
She offered me the drink every once in a while, and as tempted as I was to partake—damn, I really should’ve asked for two—I let her enjoy it. “Thanks for the drink.”
“I didn’t know you had so much nice in you, Bane.”
“What? Are you still calling me that!” She shoved me.
“I meant babe!” I chortled.
We meandered in the direction toward the villa. “I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to a shower and a nap. A nap. Wow. Haven’t had one of those in years.”
“Yeah.” She slurped. “You stink.”
“No. Because I actually got into the water, smart-ass.”
“Because you stink.”
“Because I was doing my part to save sea turtles.”
She inhaled the last of the drink surprisingly fast. “I appreciate that. Look at this straw. It’s already deteriorating. It’ll be mush before it hits the trashcan and never stand a chance of hurting honu.”
“You care a lot about an animal that comes from a place you hate getting into.”
She nodded.
“Maybe we should change that?”
“I’ll always love honu!” she said, appalled.
“I meant the water…”
She stopped. “No. Don’t you even dare think it.”
I glanced past her at that glistening ocean surface. “Seems fair.”
“I’ll bite you.”
“I look forward to it.” I leaned down and snatched Bane off her feet, throwing her over my shoulder as she half screamed, half laughed, and half kicked, half punched.
“Stop! Sunny! No!”
I dropped her feetfirst into the water. “There.”
Bane glared at the water lapping at her ankles. “My shoes are wet.”
“They’re sandals. They’re fine.”
