Connected by the Tide (6 page)

9

Henry drove to the luau and waited in the parking lot for his friends to arrive. Nancy, Derek, and John showed up then met him at the gate. He could tell Nancy and Derek were fighting because Nancy was giving him the cold shoulder. He realized how much they both cared for him since they were still willing to come.

Henry handed out the tickets. “Enjoy the show.”

John nodded. “Thanks.”

“So who are you here to see?” Henry asked.

John walked through the entrance and handed his ticket to the clerk. “Her name is Jessica. I met her at a party and found out she worked here.” John was the same height as Henry, but he was much bigger and muscular. His shoulder muscles were so large he looked like he had no neck.

Henry was comfortable with his size. He was thin and lean but had
definite muscle mass. He wasn’t a body builder because he liked being lean and limber. His shoulders were wide and his chest was prominent, and his thin hips showed the lines of his side muscles. That was enough for him. Also, he didn’t care about how he looked. He just wanted to be healthy.

They walked inside an
d saw the tables dispersed in front of the stage. A few girls wearing grass skirts stood around, dancing, but he didn’t spot Ren anywhere. John looked around for his lady friend.

Derek walked over to one of the girls and looked her up and down. “Can I get one of those?” he said with a smile.

“You want a grass skirt, sir?” the girl asked.

“Yeah.”

She grabbed one from behind her and placed it around his waist.

Nancy stared at him with fire in her eyes.

Henry didn’t understand their relationship. The sex must be really good if they were both still willing to put up with each other.

They took a seat near the front of the stage and ate the Hawaii
an food that was brought to him. There was ham, pineapple, assorted fruit, teriyaki chicken, and rolls. Henry ate his food then washed it down with pineapple juice.

The stage lit up and the girls came around, dancing in their skirts.

Henry spotted Ren right away. Her hair was large and curly at the ends. A purple flower was pinned in her hair. Her face was painted with makeup. Purple eye shadow covered her eyelids, and her lips were red from lipstick. When his eyes moved lower, he felt his heart accelerate.

The coconut bra covered her breasts, but her cleavage was noticeable. She ha
d perky tits and a beautiful body. He knew he should stop objectifying her, but he couldn’t help it. Her beauty had paralyzed him.

Her stomach was flat
, and abdominal muscles were formed on the skin. Her hips moved out, and she had a steep curve to her back. Her belly button was pierced and a piece of jewelry shone from the light of the stage. Henry felt his cock spring to life while he watched her. Heat flooded his face when he felt his arousal begin. He was ashamed of himself but couldn’t stop the thoughts. He wished he could see her legs and ass under the grass skirt.

The women left the stage and moved through the rows, taking a spot in front of the people seated at the tables. Ren came to Henry and stood right before him, shaking her hips as she moved in a circle.

Henry’s eyes widened as he watched her. He wanted to grab her hips and pull her to his lap, but he refrained from doing so. She smiled at him as she danced, arousing him more than he ever thought was possible.

When the song was over,
she glided away and headed backstage.

Henry was still in shock after the show. “Wow.”

Nancy smiled at him. “Henry, she’s totally into you.”

“You should have given
her some money,” Derek said. “She probably would have given you a lap dance.”

“She probably would have done it for free,” Nancy said.

Henry shook his head then turned back toward the table.

“See, you’re already getting over Sydney,” Derek said. “That girl left you breathless.”

Henry said nothing, still imagining the belly button ring she wore.

The girls
came back out and brought dessert and drinks. Henry waited for her to approach his table. He was nervous but excited at the same time.

Ren carried a
platter of cake and passed it around. “You’d better have room for dessert.”

Henry stared at her, mesmerized by her perfect body and even more perfect face.
“Yeah.” He swallowed the lump in his throat.

She came closer to him. “You like the show?”

“Yeah. It was awesome. Thank you for the tickets.”

“Of course.”

Henry stared at her. “You’re a really good dancer.”

“Thank you.”

“Where did you learn?”

“I just picked up on it.”

He nodded. “I—I like your belly button ring.”

Her hand touched her stomach. “Thank you. I like it too.”

Henry averted his gaze, realizing he was gawking at her.

“My shift ends
at nine.”

“Oh.”

Nancy and Derek both glared at him, silently commanding him to make a move. When he didn’t, Derek kicked him under the table. Henry winced through the pain but didn’t make a sound.

Ren waited a few seconds for Henry to say something, but she eventually gave up. “Well, have a good night.” Her smile dropped
, and she walked away.

Henry wanted to hit himself. He looked like such an ass. He looked back at his two friends.

“Seriously, I could punch you right now,” Derek said.

John looked at him. “What was that about?”

“It’s a long story,” he said with a sigh. “But it’s better this way. She’s more than perfect. She deserves someone better than me.”

“You’re such a pussy, Henry,” Derek said.

“I told you not to talk to him that way,” Nancy snapped.

“He’s my friend
, and I’m trying to get him to man up.”

“That isn’t the issue,” Henry said. “I have no problem hitting on girls. I just can’t do that to her with these feelings. I feel too guilty.”

“Well, you’re probably making her feel worse by shutting her down all the time,” Derek said.

Henry hoped that wasn’t the case.

“Ooh, there she is,” John said. “Later.” He left the table and searched for the girl he wanted to hook up with.

Henry was silent for the rest of the e
vening, picking at his food even though he wasn’t hungry. When the evening was over, everyone filed out and left through the gate. Nancy went to the bathroom, so Derek and Henry waited for her at the table. When she finally returned, they rose from their seats.

Henry looked up and saw Ren approach
ing him. He felt his heart fall when he saw the anger on her face.

“Why won’t you ask me out?” she snapped.

Nancy and Derek both flinched. They looked at Henry. Nancy pulled Derek away. “We’ll catch you later….”

Henry didn’t know what to say. “Ren, it’s nothing personal.”

“I asked you a question.”

“I—I just can’t.”

“You can’t, or you don’t want to?”

He sighed. He turned and looked at the beach, which was vacant. It was dark outside
, and the torches illuminated the area. It looked private. “Can we take a walk?”

She nodded then followed him to the beach. He put his hands in his pockets as he walked alongside her. When he reach
ed the edge of the water, he sat down. The moon was high in the sky, and he saw the water start to rise from the tide.

“I’ll be perfectly honest with you, Ren. I like you.”

“You do?”

“I think you’re perfect.”

“It doesn’t seem like it. What happened the other night? When I followed you outside, you were leaning against your truck like you were upset. Did I do something to you?”

“No, not at all.”

“Then what’s going on?”

“I’m very attracted to you, your appearance and your personality, and I would love to date you. I love that you’re so focused on school and you’re so smart. I like that you’re so easygoing. And I like how gorgeous you are. But I haven’t asked you out because I can’t.”

“Why can’t you? Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

He sighed. “I’m in love with someone else.”

Her lips fell. “Oh.”

“But I don’t want to be. I want to get over her and move on. I would love to move on with you. But I couldn’t do
that, pursue you, if I had feelings for someone else. Like I said, it’s nothing personal.”

She hugged her knees to her chest and looked out at the ocean. “Why are
n’t you with this girl?”

“She’s marrying someone else.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“And you are trying to forget her?”

“Every day.”

“Do you see her all the time?”

“I used to. I told her I need space right now. She’s still my best friend, but I can’t be around her anymore.”

She nodded. “That’s the only reason why you don’t want me?”

“The one and only.
I respect you. You deserve something better than what I have to offer. As soon as I’m over her, I’ll ask you out, if you’re still available.”

She stared out at the ocean and felt the sand under fingertips. Her grass skirt moved in the slight wind. Her blonde hair drifted down her back and slid across her skin. “So you won’t date me until you’re over
her?”

“No, I didn’t say that. I just didn’t want to ask you out. I had to be honest with you first.”

She nodded. “That’s really sweet, Henry.”

He shrugged.

“Thank you for telling me the truth. Most guys wouldn’t do that.”

He stared at the sand and remained silent.

“I’m okay with that,” she whispered.

He looked at her. “Okay with what?”

“That you have feelings for someone else.”

That response surprised him.
“Really?”

“Yeah.
You won’t always feel this way. I respect you for telling me the truth instead of just using me to get over her.”

“So I can ask you out?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

“You
wanna go to the aquarium with me?”

“When?”

“Now.”

“Sure.”

“I can get us in. It’ll be a private show.”

“I hope the penguins aren’t mean to me,” she teased.

“They’re only assholes to me.”

She laughed. “I’ll tell them to be nice to you.”

He stood up and pulled her to her feet “Shall we?”

She grabbed his hand and held it as they walked up the beach. Henry liked the touch. Now that she knew the truth of his predicament, he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

They walked to his car, and he opened the passenger door for her. “You want to go by your place so you can change?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” He shut the door and got into the driver’s seat before he pulled onto the road.

They sat in silence while he drove. Ren looked through his
CDs until she found one she liked. She put it in then turned it up the volume slightly.

“This is the house,” she said as he drove down the street.

He pulled into the driveway and parked the car.

“I’ll be right back,” she said.

“Okay.”

She disappeared into the house and was gone for a few minutes. He admired the house she lived in. When she returned, he forgot about his thoughts. She was wearing a yellow dress with white sandals. Her hair was still done
, and she looked gorgeous.

“You look nice,” he whispered.

“It’s not too fancy for the aquarium?”

“The penguins will like it.”

She smiled. “I hope so.”

“So you’re trying to impress them?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Damn penguins,” he mumbled under his breath.

She chuckled.

They arrived at the aquarium
, and he sneaked her in through the back. He didn’t turn on the lights, and they walked down the hallway, using the light coming from the tanks as direction.

“What do you want to see first?”

“The penguins.”

“Okay,” he said with a sigh. “But I’m telling you, they are little bastards.”

“I highly doubt it.”

He took her to the exhibit
, and they stood in front of the glass.  The penguins were sleeping on the rocks, huddled in their stone caves, or sleeping while they stood up. Ren stared at them with a smile on her face. “They’re adorable.”