Chapter Text
Juliet spots her first.
Her and Magnum are out on the dance floor at La Mariana swaying softly to the music when she sees a familiar face pop into the doorway. She tenses instinctively, and tightens her arms around Thomas’ neck. He notices immediately the change in her demeanor, and is on guard for possible danger.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s just someone just walked through the front door. Someone who is probably looking for you.”
He surreptitiously spins them so he can see the door without having to turn his head, and sees her. Abby. Back on the island. He watches as Rick notices her and comes over to welcome her. She follows him to the bar and gets her a drink.
“Hmm,” Thomas says, and turns his attention back to Higgy.
“Hmm. That’s all you’ve got to say?”
“I mean, yeah?”
“You’re not at all curious as to why she’s suddenly back on the island? Or why she’s here at La Mariana?”
The song ends, and the band leads into another slow number. Juliet loosens her arms to head back to the table, but Thomas holds her in place and pulls her tighter against him so she’s nestled into his chest.
“She clearly came here to see you, Thomas. You should probably just go speak with her.” Juliet can just see out of the corner of her eye that Abby has spotted them, but can’t tell what her reaction is to them dancing.
“Yeah well, I’m dancing with my girlfriend. The love of my life, so she’s just going to have to wait.” He murmurs into her ear and it sends shivers down her spine.
Juliet smiles and rests her head against his shoulder so her forehead is tucked into his neck. She feels one of his hands slide up her back to splay against the bare skin between her shoulders, and her heart swells at the gesture. When the song ends and the band declares they’re taking a fifteen minute break, Juliet lifts her head and stares into the deep brown eyes that she loves so much, before tilting her head up so their lips can meet for a chaste kiss.
“Alright, let’s go see what she’s doing here,” he says almost dismissively.
They move to the bar and Abby smiles in greeting. If she was surprised to see them dancing and kissing, she hides it well.
“Abby, hey,” Thomas says. “What brings you back to the island?”
He doesn’t move forward to hug her, and Juliet clocks a little sting cross her face. She will deny to her dying day the satisfaction that it brings her. She always liked Abby, but anyone who hurts Thomas deserves what they get, she thinks.
You had your chance, and you threw it away.
“Hey guys. I was wondering if you’d be here tonight. I’m actually on O’ahu for a conference this week, and thought I’d stop by at least one night while I’m in town.”
Juliet can read between the lines. She was wondering if Thomas was around and single and up for a week in a fancy hotel room. Suddenly, Juliet is overcome with something akin to possessiveness and can’t stop herself from slipping her hand into the crook of Thomas’ elbow and leaning against his arm. If the gesture catches Magnum off guard he doesn’t let it show, but she feels his fingers graze her thigh as she steps close.
“Oh, well, we’re here most nights,” Juliet says, her voice light and airy. “As usual. But it is lovely to see you, Abby.”
Thomas has to cough in order to cover up the laugh that bubbles out of him. He is a little surprised at Higgy clearly ‘marking her territory’, but her little act of possession is also a bit of a turn on if he’s being honest.
“How have you been?” Thomas asks, trying to change the subject.
“Living in Colorado and working with a non-profit who helps abused women looking to make a fresh start. It’s hard work, but it’s also fulfilling work. When the company announced the conference would be here this year, I jumped at the chance. I’ve been missing this place for a while now.”
Juliet tightens her grip on Thomas’ arm. She understands exactly what ‘this place’ means. But, Juliet also understands that Abby and Thomas probably need a chance to chat alone. If nothing else, Abby needs to know that the only person Thomas is going home with is her, Juliet Higgins, and no force on earth is going to change that.
“I’m going to run to the loo quick,” Juliet says, mostly to Thomas. “Then I’ll get us some more drinks?”
Thomas understands instantly what she’s doing, and loves her even more for it. He nods and brushes a kiss against her temple before she untangles her arm and sets off for the ladies room. Thomas watches her go, then turns back to see a look of disappointment on Abby’s face. He sighs.
“Come on, we can talk on the porch.” He doesn’t look to see if she follows him until he’s outside and leans up against one of the posts. He slides his hands into the pockets of his shorts and waits for Abby to speak first.
“So, I guess I wasn’t exactly subtle about my intentions for coming here tonight.” Her hands twist together and she winces.
“No, not exactly. And as you can see, there’s no chance of it happening.” He wants to be sure she got the message. He is unavailable tonight, and forever after.
“Yeah, about that. Have you two been together long?”
“Just over a year now.” He unconsciously looks to where Juliet has reappeared at the bar. He can’t stop the little smile that graces his face as he sees her laugh at something Rick said. When he looks back to Abby, she is wearing a look of understanding and longing. Thomas can’t help but feel bad for her.
“I am sorry, you know,” she says. “For how I left. Sometimes I wish I would have stayed and tried to make things work.”
Thomas lets out a strained laugh.
“Abby, it was never going to work between us. And I think you knew that before I even did.”
They hear laughter come from inside again and turn to see Juliet, Suzy, and Mahina laughing at something on Suzy’s phone. Juliet’s head is thrown back in such a carefree way Abby knows she never used to allow herself to be. It’s clear things have changed around here since she’s been gone and her heart clenches at the fact.
“Kind of hard to compete with that,” Abby says.
Thomas doesn’t respond because she’s right, there is no competition. It was always Higgy, and always would be.
“Look, I’m going to head out. The hotel has a pretty nice bar, and I think I’m just going to hang there for the night. It was nice seeing you again, Thomas.”
Magnum thinks for a second she is going to try and hug him, but appears to think better of it. He offers her a small smile.
“It was nice seeing you too, and for what it’s worth I hope you find someone who knows you better than anyone else too.”
He watches her leave, and once she is out of eyesight he feels two familiar arms wrap around his waist from behind. He turns and immediately cups Juliet’s face with his hands and lowers his mouth to hers. The kiss momentarily catches her off guard, but she quickly recovers and kisses back with a passion that has them both groaning.
“Sorry about that show of possessiveness earlier,” she says once they’ve pulled back. “I’m not sure what got into me.”
“Are you kidding me? Higgy, that was totally hot.”
Her face burns red and he laughs that beautiful laugh that never fails to make her feel like a queen when he’s laughing it because of her.
“Come on, let’s go back in. I was promised another drink, and maybe another dance or two.”
Juliet palms his cheek and raises up for one last kiss.
“You can have as many dances as you want, forever.”
He grins and brushes the tiniest, softest kiss against the tip of her nose.
“I like the sound of that.”