Page 50 of Flowers To Give

“It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? I even thought so back in Oahu. Him putting you up at the Four Seasons, how he always hung out with Haukea and you between shots. So, how long has it been going on?” Eneki says all so casually, taking a sip from his dying cocktail.

Letting what Eneki observed wash over him, Jeremy decides to deny and say, “It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

“Yeah, cuz all friends get that bent out of shape about their pal sleeping with someone else,” Eneki sarcastically points out.

Drinking more, Jeremy puckers his lips and asks, “How did you know that Merle and I had sex?”

“Like I said, it’s obvious,” Eneki tilts his glass so the ice falls out to the grass below.

Jeremy sighs, saying more to himself than Eneki, “If I’d known that he was the director then I wouldn’t’ve fucked him.”

“Really? You sure about that?” Eneki sounds skeptical.

“You see the mess I’ve gotten myself into, right? Why would I actively choose for this to happen?”

Eneki lifts a brow and replies, “Don’t worry, e ku’u hoaloha. But have you thought of what you’re going to say to them?”

“Yeah, I’ll go apologize to Clark first. He’s my boss on and off set, so it really wasn’t cool of me to go on a date with the director,” Jeremy inhales deeply and exhales heavily, continuing, “But then I should go and see what Merle had to say.”

“And what if he wants another round?” Eneki asks outright.

“Then I’ll turn him down.”

Eneki cocks his head, “Will you?”

“Yes. I have some self control, believe it or not,” Jeremy huffs, taking another swig from his beer.

Chuckling, Eneki says, “We’ll see.”

Some people have been walking past them, paying them no mind as they traverse from the front of the house to the back without having to fight the crowd inside. Glancing amongst the faces, a couple catch him off guard and he calls out, “Yana! Clarice!”

Yana turns her head and smiles over to Jeremy, cutting over to him, “Hey.”

Clarice rolls her eyes and follows, huffing, “Hello.”

“What are you doing here?” Jeremy asks them.

“What? You think you’re the only one allowed to have fun?” Yana crosses her arms and leans back on her foot. Jeremy raises a brow and she groans, admitting, “Fine. Some of us snuck in.”

“But look at this place, it’s huge!” Clarice cuts in, gesticulating to the large manor, “No way Clark or Laurelai are going to catch us.”

“Who all’s here?”

“Oh, uh, that reminds me,” Yana shifts her weight, “Barry’s looking for you.”

“Barry’s here?” Jeremy looks around, kicking off the wall and standing up straight.

“Who’s Barry?” Eneki pipes up.

Clarice gestures at him, “Who’s this?”

“Y’all, this is Eneki, he was the head horse wrangler on set. Eneki, this is Yana, she’s our horse trainer here, and Clarice, the veterinarian,” Jeremy quickly introduces them.

“Nice to meet you,” Yana extends her hand as Clarice crosses her arms and looks around.

Eneki takes it and shakes gently, “Hello.”

“So you were saying about Barry?” Jeremy presses to keep the conversation on track.