Downhill From Here (#1)

44. Paternal Instincts

Bowie's POV
7:44 pm

I rubbed the side of my nose and opened my lip gloss. Looking into the passenger mirror, I coated my lips and puckered them looking at the pink color.

We were parked outside a little cafe with tourists and locals all passing by and talking. Nathan had driven us out to Waikiki which was a long enough drive for us both to dry off.

We spent most of the afternoon eating and exploring the forest, taking pictures everywhere.

And now that it'd been hours since I'd been in the water, I looked barely recognizable. The sun had left me with a deep burn and my hair was frizzier than ever, cascading down my back. Nathan's tan was much harsher than mine and he got sunburnt around his nose.

I was starting to get hungry about an hour ago and he said that he already had a place in mind. I was surprised by the way he had everything planned so well.

I glanced over at him out of the corner of my eye and found him looking at me with a tiny smile on his face.

"What?" I asked sheepishly.

He shrugged, his gaze dropping for a second. "Nothing...you just...look pretty."

I snorted and closed the mirror. I looked like a beach bum. "Thank you."

I blushed and tossed my brush and makeup bag into my tote. I changed back into my white skirt earlier and wore Nathan's black hoodie.

The sun had already set and even though it wasn't cold, I had forgotten to bring much else. I honestly thought we would've eaten at home.

"So...have you been here before?" I said, lowering my head to view out of the front of the glass. He had pulled up the roof of the car because of the slight breeze and I nestled into my seat, crossing my arms. The place was called Kai's Restaurant.

My mind immediately thought of the possibility that Nathan had taken Lealani here before. Or maybe they met here? He did say that he met her at a bar.

"No...I haven't actually." He scratched at his bread and tapped his fingers on the gearshift, looking at something outside.

I snaked my hand around his bicep and sighed. "Okay, well let's go in. I could eat just about anything right now."

"Um..." Nathan cleared his throat and sat up straighter. His eyes wouldn't meet mine and he ran a hand through his hair like the way he always did when he was nervous. "I should tell you something before we go to eat."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing...I jus....I don't want you to be mad at me," He exhaled. Finally looking at me he scanned my face before continuing. "I did something that you told me not to do."

My brows deepened and I crossed my leg underneath my thigh fully facing him.

"What do you mean?" Now he was really making me nervous.

"I went back and took the picture," he explained.

Uhhhhhhh....?

"Am I supposed to know what that means?" I squinted my eyes at him wearing a tiny smile. He was being so weird.

"I took the picture of your mom and dad and had someone look into it for me. And then I found the exact place that it was taken and called this restaurant to ask around about your dad. It took some digging but I found out that he actually owns this place now." He swallowed thickly and continued. "His name is Kai."

I blinked at Nathan, my vision spotting for a moment. I took a short breath in and a sharper one out. Words words....so many words. What the hell was I even hearing right now?