...Waikiki was like Las Vegas by the sea at night. Lindo was pleased to see so many families here. He liked to watch parents enjoying their children. He stopped at an ABC Store. Hard to differentiate one from another, since there were three or four per block, but the carousel of paperbacks at each one caught his eye. The Hawaiian books filling the racks intrigued him. He purchased half a dozen as Jesse went inside and bought a cup of coffee to go.

“You know, I’ve been here for months and I still have no idea why all the coconut trees have metal rings around them halfway up the trunks,” Jesse said. He was still tipsy and he waved around his coffee cup, sloshing hot liquid everywhere.

“It’s to stop rats and mice from climbing them and stealing the coconuts,” Lindo replied.

Jesse stopped in the middle of the foot traffic, causing a people pile-up. “Are you for real? How do you know that?”

Lindo pulled Jesse back into movement. “I read it in one of my guidebooks.”

As they finally reached the Ilikai, they took the elevator up to their rooms.

“Which floor are you on?” Lindo asked Jesse.

“Sixteenth.”

At his door, Jesse flung it open and waved a hand inside.

“Isn’t it nice?”

Lindo had to admit it was. Jesse’s unit was far more modern—more New York—than his, but Lindo much preferred his own room.

“Won’t you stay and tuck me in?” Jesse asked.

“Drink your coffee and get some sleep.”

“But I want you to tuck me in.”

Lindo laughed. “I’m not going to tuck you in.”

“How about a goodnight kiss, then?”

Lindo thought about it for a moment, then he leaned in, curling a finger into Jesse’s T-shirt collar, and drawing the man to him. He kissed him. Jesse seemed happy.

“When I’m sober, I’m still going to want you to do that.”

“So you say. Get some rest. I’ll see you Saturday for yoga.”

Jesse frowned. “I’ll see you before then, I hope.”

Lindo closed the door on the guy, happy when he heard Jesse turn the lock. He hadn’t felt a damned thing when he kissed the man.

Wow…what was wrong with him? Why didn’t he get excited at the prospect of a virgin wanting him? Jesse was a hot guy, but would he still want to be tucked in when he was sober?

Lindo doubted it. He took the fire stairs up one more floor to his unit. It felt good to be home.

He undressed, walked outside naked to admire the view, and felt like shouting to the world. All these places in the distance. Pinpoints of light. Strange new worlds. He loved the color of the sky. It was deep and dark.

I wondered what Honolulu had been like before all the lights and all the people. Out there, that’s what it was like…

He felt alone and scared, but exhilarated all at the same time. He loved this town. For a long moment, he looked up and down his long lanai at the view of the marina. He had no neighbors that could see him unless somebody way in the distance had a telescope. Even then…so what?

Lindo went back inside, leaving open the sliding doors. Things sure felt different here. Back in LA you took your life in your hands doing such a thing. He settled on the bed and lay for a moment looking at the ceiling and wondering what to do with his time. He decided to start reading from his new stack of books. Lindo turned to grab the one on top of the pile and felt a touch, like a breath across his face. This was followed by a rush of fire.

Lindo’s breath caught in his throat. He almost cried with relief. Xu was back. Lovely, lovely Xu.

He lay on the bed, feeling his lover’s mouth moving over his.

“You’re here.”