“No, no. Of course not,” Harper replied, talking faster. “You know how these things get confusing when you’re in them. Sex messes with your brain. Especially when it’s that good.”
“Okay, honey, well, I’m glad you are feeling better about this now.”
They talked for a little while longer, Kristen reminding her to call her mom. Apparently, she’d been texting poor Kris when Harper hadn’t replied.
She didn’t want to speak to her right now. The woman was like a dog with a bone if she thought someone had a broken heart. Plus, Harper didn’t want her mother knowing anything about Daniel.
––––––––
BY MORNING, HARPER had decided to do a group island tour, which would take her out of Waikiki for the day. She phoned down really early and got the last seat on the Circle Island Tour, which left at 8:00 a.m.
Dressed in a pair of denim cutoffs, Converse sneakers, a cropped black bra-top and a white loose shirt, Harper stood outside the hotel along with a handful of tourists waiting for their bus.
She pulled her hair up in a ponytail and slipped on a ball cap and pair of glasses.
“Is this the Circle Tour?” a guy beside her asked. He was rubbing his face, and she spotted his two friends wearing dark glasses. Clearly, they’d all had a late night.
“Yes,” she said, grinning. “Sore head?”
“The worst, and someone forgot to get the Tylenol,” he said, glaring at his friend.
Harper let out a small laugh.
“Here,” she said, digging out a small bottle she always carried with her. When you suffered from period pain like she had all her life, you never left home without it.
All three of the men looked at her like she was Mother Teresa, which just made her laugh more.
Bottles of water were twisted open, and they downed the capsules, letting out a sigh.
“You’re a lifesaver,” the first guy said. “I’m Cooper. This is Graydon and Luke.”
They looked close to her age and a lot of fun. Cheeky, but fun. “Hey. I’m Harper.”
“You on your own? In Hawaii?” Cooper asked.
Harper nodded. “Kind of. I’ve been here on business and...with a friend. Who is, well, he’s gone.”
Cooper smirked at her. “Break up?”
She shook her head and waved her hand out. “No. Not like that.”
“Well, Harper,” Cooper said, slinging an arm over her shoulder playfully. “Stick with us and we’ll look after you.”
“And kick the guy's ass if he needs kicking,” Graydon said, nodding.
Harper laughed. “Thanks, guys.”
“Hands off, Coop. I’m sure Harper is far more interested in a computer scientist from LA than a boring old neuroscientist,” Luke said, winking at her.
“Oh, boy. This is going to be a long day.” She laughed and all three of them grinned.
When the bus arrived, they all piled in and the three men did rock, paper, scissors to decide who would sit next to her, while she shook her head in embarrassment. By this point, they had the attention of the other passengers.
Cooper won, and gave his friends the bird, plopping down on the seat next to her, then winked at her.
Ten minutes later, all three of them were asleep.
They woke up when they arrived at the macadamia farm and stood guzzling coffee while Harper browsed and purchased a few touristy things.