Page 38 of Finding Elodie
“Melody? Why is he calling you Rachel?” the man asked again, moving so he was standing slightly in front of her, as if protecting her from Mustang.
Mustang wanted to snort. Like this surfer dude could get the drop on him. Wasn’t happening. But he wasn’t there to scare Rachel…or whatever her name was.
“Scott?” Rachel whispered.
“Yeah. It’s me,” he told her.
Then she was moving toward him, pushing past the man next to her. Practically throwing herself into his arms.
Mustang let out a small oof as she hit his chest, taking a step back to keep them both upright. Putting his arms around her and holding her tight had never felt so right.
“All-righty then, guess you do know him,” said the man she’d been walking with.
“I do,” Rachel mumbled, nodding.
“You good then? You still want me to give you a ride home?” he asked.
“I can take the bus,” Rachel answered, not picking her head up from Mustang’s chest.
“I’ll take her home,” Mustang told the other man.
“I’m Kaikilaonaoneko‘olau,” the man said, holding out his hand. Then grinned at the look of consternation on Mustang’s face. “But I go by Kai.”
Mustang chuckled and lifted a hand from Rachel’s back to take Kai’s outstretched palm into his own. “Mustang. Also known as Scott.”
“It’s good to meet you. Melody hasn’t talked about much since she started working with us. Nice to know she’s got some friends.” He nodded his head, indicating something behind Mustang.
He glanced back and saw Midas and Aleck walking down the dock toward them.
“She does,” Mustang agreed.
“Aloha, Melody. See you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Kai,” she said, finally pulling away from Mustang.
He tightened his hold on her, not ready to let her go yet.
The second Kai was out of hearing range, Mustang asked, “Melody?”
He felt more than heard the woman in his arms sigh. “My name isn’t Rachel.”
“Is it Melody?”
She shook her head slightly but wouldn’t look up at him.
Mustang moved slowly, putting a finger under her chin and lifting her head so she had to look him in the eye. “What’s your name?”
“Elodie Winters.”
Mustang had no idea if she was telling the truth, but figured she was. A name like Elodie wasn’t exactly common, and if she was going to make up a fake name, he figured she’d use something more commonplace.
“It’s smart to use something close to your own name. Melody, Elodie…they’re very similar.”
“I learned my lesson. As you saw before, and now, I forgot to respond to Rachel more often than not.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” Mustang told her with a smile.
“But you can’t call me Elodie in public,” she said softly.
