The jacked-up white guy in the navy swim trunks at the waters’ edge would be perfect. His tan was darker than her natural skin color. He was sucking down beers like a brewery was going out of business and would make a good drinking partner if nothing else. She’d never have to see him again after this evening. Catching his eye, Kerri blew him a kiss. Raising his beer bottle, he flashed her Chris Hemsworth whites and belted down his drink in one easy swallow. He threw the bottle in the trash.

Kerri’s drink arrived, garnished with a pretty pink umbrella and matching hibiscus. She slugged it down and ordered another. Navy swim trunks headed for the water and swam out toward the surfers. He had one tight butt. It made her want a third Blue Hawaiian. The part of her brain that was still working knew no amount of booze could bring Cass back. Numb right now would be OK. Time to get busy and see if she still had it. She wasn’t wearing her animal print bikini for nothing.

“Hey,” Kerri said, sauntering by Mr. Buff downing yet another beer.

She’d lost count of his consumption level and hers.

Removing his ear buds, he gave her a lazy smile, though his eyes remained vacant as if there was something he wanted to forget.

“What?”

“Looks like you could use company,” Kerri said, flopping down next to him uninvited.

“That I could.” The man’s pointer finger shot up, signaling the server.

“Drink?”

“Don’t mind if I have one.”

He stuck out his hand. “Marc.”

“Keren. You’re hot.” The words came out unfiltered. Marc’s palms were hard and calloused, a working man. “What brings you to Honolulu?”

Marc looked like he’d swallowed a whole pineapple. “Saying goodbye to a special friend.”

Even better. He was already involved.

“This friend moving back to the mainland or out of the country?” she asked.

“Out of this world,” he muttered, handing her a shot glass and raising his own. “Hau'Oli Maoli Oe”

“What’s that? English, please.”

“Hawaiian for happiness towards you.”

“We can all use that,” Kerri said, clinking her glass against his and tossing down the drink. The warm shot hit her belly with a jolt.

The heat, the sand, the mixture of booze, the blue-on-blue water, all helped make Kerri forget. Almost. Didn’t matter that she and Cass had never met in person. She’d loved the woman with her whole body and soul. When they’d first been introduced on the Internet, they’d been a mess, resentful, bitter, and overall feeling sorry for themselves. But they’d survived, helping each other through the bad times. And now the most promising of them was gone. None of them had seen that coming.

As the sun dipped to meet the ocean and hues of pink flooded the sky, Kerri’s unfocused attention returned to the man lying next to her and the alcohol warming her belly.

“I’m starving,” Kerri said, pangs of hunger reminding her she’d crossed the line between a little bit tipsy and flat out drunk.

“Happy Hour time. Pu-pu platters are on the house. Let’s go check it out.” Marc offered a hand.

Fingers entwined, they followed the ukulele music back to the hotel’s outdoor patio where grass-skirted hula dancers kept the attention of a captive crowd. Her companion seemed perfectly sober, but since she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, she was unsteady on her feet. Marc offered an anchoring elbow.

“You’re back,” their hostess greeted Marc. “I saved your table at the back.”

A regular!

Kerri wanted to ask all the questions that were none of her business but kept her mouth shut. She hung onto Marc’s arm, using him to help her navigate. He would be an amusing distraction if nothing else.

Damn you Cass, why did you have to kill yourself? Why?