The night she told me the news I was out at a park. I liked to make my phone calls to her in an ambient setting. Kids were playing soccer in the distance, and the sun cast a golden hue across the field like summer ale. Twilight. My favourite time of day.
           We talked about shitty summer movies, why snacks are an underrated meal, and I confessed I had started wearing capris. “You mean manpris.”
          “Yeah, yeah.”
          “So, any girls?” she asked. Only you, I thought, but the pride I held in my romantic abilities and the insufficiency of the medium prevented me once more. “No, nothing new.”
          “Well,” she said. “I have news.” And that’s when she told me about Michael, an old friend from high school who she’d just started dating. “It’s such a crazy story,” she began, but I couldn’t bear to hear it.
          “Look, I’ve gotta go,” I lied. We said goodbye and I sat down, listening to the children’s laughter.
          Later that night I played poker with the guys. I was distant and I knew it, but they could put up with my grumpiness. With an off-suited jack and seven in my hand, I blindly pushed all in.

We go snorkeling at a place called Shark’s Cove. There are no sharks, just small, neon-coloured fish, mostly blue. We swim around tidal pools for a while. The sea urchins frighten me, as they’re known to cause lacerations. I am terrified of stepping on one of their porcupine shells—it’s hard not to touch down when you’re swimming in two feet of water.
          We get bored and venture beyond a wall of rock that keeps the tidal pools calm and pedantic. Seaside, the wall levels out into a plateau before it summits down to the water. We sit on the wall watching waves rise up over the ledge and run swiftly towards us.
          I’m curious, and step out onto the plateau. Mollie follows, and I take her hand to help her down off the wall. We hold each other’s balance this way on the uneven ground.
          I settle into a small pool and pull her down on top of me. I want to hold her here as the waves come crashing, but she pulls back and climbs to her feet.
          “What are you doing?”
          “I—”
          Up ahead, a strong wave rises up over the ledge, barreling down fast.
          “Shit! Grab something!”
          We clutch at the jagged ground, but the wave is too strong and we’re swept away. My ribs scrape against the rocks and I emerge bleeding. Steadying myself, I search for Mollie. She’s on her knees, gasping.
          “Are you alright?” I ask.
          “What the hell Rob. What was that?”

She calls Michael when we get back to the shore.
          I sit in the car and wait as she speaks ten paces away. I can’t hear full sentences, just a few key words like “stupid” and “scared.” She hangs up and drops her arms at her side, staring out at the ocean. After a minute she marches to the car, opens her door and sits down.
          “He wants to meet you.”

He’s a lot taller than I imagined. Sturdy, bearded, and long. Mollie arranges us to meet at her family picnic. We’re at one of the luscious parks just outside Honolulu, with koi ponds and perfect light.
          We don’t speak much to each other. Mollie clings to his side and I opt to divert my attention to Mollie’s little sister Hannah, who is unconsciously flirtatious and incredibly curious.
          “So you’re from Canada?”
          “Yep.”
          “Do your cops really ride horses?”
          “Sometimes.”
          “And eat poutine?”
          “With every meal.”
          “Really?”
          “Sure.”
          Mollie calls us over to play soccer.
          “You’re going to kick his ass, aren’t you?”
          “Should I?”
          She shrugs.
          I take to the field. Mollie divides the family and guests into two teams. I’m on Mollie’s side playing against Michael. We start off casual, but it quickly grows competitive between Michael and I. He cuts past me and scores easily on Mollie, a gimme.
          “What was that?” I ask her.
          “What?”
          “You let him score.” She just smiles.
          I take the ball and make my way up the field, deking around Hannah but losing the ball to Michael. I race back, catching up, and slide tackle him from behind. He yells as he falls in a heap, clutching his ankle. Mollie rushes to his side.
          Hannah laughs joyfully. Mollie glares at me.
          “It was all ball,” I say.