Chasing Aloha

By Nikki Chartier

He doesn't think he can be redeemed. She's determined to prove he can.
Finally back in his home state of Hawaii, Kale Nakoa hopes to find a second chance, but the gossip around his circumstances follows him like a shadow, haunting every opportunity to reinvent his life. Between community service and hiding from news reporters, there's no time to reconnect with his old friends and definitely not a moment to reconnect with the ocean. The surf ache is wearing on him, but he's not sure if he's worthy of the lineup again.

Leilani DeCosta has heard the whispers, but she doesn't want to believe that her childhood neighbor has become a hardened criminal. After all, he was the one who helped her conquer her fear of the ocean and taught her how to surf. She wants to know his side of the story and see if the grom she always knew is still somewhere beneath the surface.

When the childhood friends cross paths, Kale is reluctant to let Leilani in, but she's determined to prove that the aloha spirit is still alive and that happy endings aren't just found in books.

*****
Follow Kale on his road to redemption and meet childhood sweetheart Leilani in this second chance romance!

Dive into the world of Great White Surf in Crescent Cove, California! Fall in love, find your tribe, chase your dreams, and live like Shark in this YA/NA contemporary coming of age series!

Fans of Outer Banks and Surviving Summer will love this friend-focused series with glimpses of romance, surf culture, and beach vibes!

Great White Surf Saga
Chasing Forever Down (#1)
Rough Waters (#2)
Always Summer (#3)
With You Around (#4)
Deep Blue Forever (#5)
Chasing Swells (#6)
Chasing Aloha (#7)
Chasing Islands (#8)
More books coming soon!

**Note: This book can be read as a stand alone novel, but reading it along with the rest of the series (for context) will make it more enjoyable.**

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sapphire Hollow Press
• Release date: Oct 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463107201

Nikki Chartier

Nikki Chartier is a dream chaser, caffeine addict, and young adult/new adult contemporary author. Her books are often about surfers, musicians, and relationships. She is an avid surf fan who always wants Gabriel Medina to win and prefers cold weather although most of her books are set in beach towns. She lives in the southern USA with her awesome husband and adorable pup.

Book preview

Chasing Aloha

Nikki Chartier

Copyright © 2020 by Nikki Chartier

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

NOTE: This novel contains segments of the previously published novella of the same name, as well as published under the author’s maiden name, Nikki Godwin. It was previously published as part of the West Coast Hooligans series.

For the ones seeking redemption and the ones who help them find it

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Chasing Forever Down, book #1

Rough Waters, book #2

Always Summer, book #3

With You Around, book #4

Deep Blue Forever, book #5

Chasing Swells, book #6

Chasing Aloha, book #7

Chasing Islands, book #8

More coming soon!

Contents

1.Chapter 1

2.Chapter 2

3.Chapter 3

4.Chapter 4

5.Chapter 5

6.Chapter 6

7.Chapter 7

8.Chapter 8

9.Chapter 9

10.Chapter 10

11.Chapter 11

12.Chapter 12

13.Chapter 13

14.Chapter 14

15.Chapter 15

16.Chapter 16

17.Chapter 17

18.Chapter 18

Epilogue

Thank You!

Acknowledgments

About the Author

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Kale

I reach down with my gloved hand and pick up a beer bottle. I expected better of Hawaiians, but the beaches here are as trashed as the ones back in Horn Island. I drop it into the bag of recyclable items and keep my gaze on the sand.

You see the way he watches me? a guy asks, leaning down next to me to grab a bottle top. It’s like he doesn’t believe I’ll actually do my community service, so he has to spy on me.

I glance across the beach to see who he’s talking about. It’s Gerard, my probation officer. This guy must be categorized with me – criminals. Figures he’d decide to talk to me out of every person on the cleanup crew.

You’re on probation? I ask.

He knocks his messy black hair out of his face. Yeah. How’d you know?

Gerard’s my P.O. too, I confess.

Admitting to having a probation officer is something I never imagined I’d do in my lifetime. It’s not as bad confessing it to someone in the same shoes, though. I’d rather Gerard stare me down than the rest of society force their judgmental glares on me. He’s here to make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to. He’s supposed to help us rehabilitate ourselves and re-enter society as better young men. At least, that’s how he worded it to me.

He isn’t here to make a spectacle of me like the news crew. A line of media vans sit alongside the beach, waiting to capture me in my misery. They weren’t allowed in the airport when I returned to Hawaii, but they staked out in the parking lot, their camera flashes ricocheting off of my family’s faces. I kept my head down and my feet moving, like right now, but that didn’t stop them from airing the footage on all of the local news stations that night.

The other guy stops me. You don’t look like the kind of guy who would be on probation, he says. I’m Jasper. I’m not a murderer or anything. They don’t give them probation and make them clean up trash. I broke into someone’s house to get something that belonged to me, but apparently, that doesn’t matter. Burglary is burglary. How about you?

I wish I could size this guy up and see what kind of person he is. His arms are inked with images that remind me of A.J.’s tattoos. There’s a skull and crossbones on his bicep, and a snake twists down his forearm. He doesn’t strike me as a surfer, but this is Hawaii, and surfing is our culture. I wonder if he wishes he could be in the water instead of on the shoreline.

I was part of a blackmail scandal that got out of hand, I say. I pick up a chip bag and keep walking. It was stupid. This guy ran away, let his parents think he was dead, and changed his name. They found him, wanted to blackmail him, and I did stupid stuff like take photos and give them information about him. It spiraled out of control, and I was in too deep to get out.

Oh man! Jasper exclaims. "I saw that story online. That surfer guy, right? He faked his death, and his parents wanted to control his life. That was trending for weeks. I didn’t know you were the guy who was helping them."

I nod. I screwed up. Bad.

He smiles – and that’s something I’ve never seen anyone do after hearing my story. Man, we all make mistakes. I ain’t gonna hate on you for it. I’m right here with you, he says, holding up a plastic straw.

It’s such a relief when he laughs. His reaction is the best one yet. The look on Nanna’s face was the worst. When I walked out of the terminal and saw the sadness in her eyes, I relived every moment of the last few weeks in an instant. She turned her head downward, unable to make eye contact with me. Then she reached out to me and pulled me into a hug. But even then, she couldn’t look at me.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t bring myself to look at Kapuna. I didn’t want to see the disappointment scrawled across my grandfather’s face. I’d seen enough of that to last a lifetime. It was one person after another in California. My lawyers, the police department, my parents, my siblings, Vin Brooks, my best friends in the West Coast Hooligans, Joe McAllister… On every face, in every glance, total disappointment.

The only thing worse than seeing their pain was looking in the mirror and seeing the shame on my own skin, wishing to rinse it away with an epic surf session but not being able to step into the ocean. I always prided myself on my confidence, proud of who I was and who I was going to be, and now I want nothing more than to shed my skin and be someone else. It’s hard to look into my own eyes and see my reflection staring back, questioning every decision I’ve made until this point. I’d trade anything to go back and undo the damage I caused.

Those things don’t matter now, though. The only thing that matters in this moment is picking up cigarette butts and chip bags.

So, did you get your things back? I ask, hoping to continue the conversation with Jasper. The ones you went in to steal?

He nods sheepishly. Yeah, I did, but don’t tell Gerard that, he says. It was some video games that my ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend refused to give me, and I wasn’t playing that shit. I spent too many paychecks on those. I told Gerard I sold them so he wouldn’t make me give them back.

Don’t blame you, I say. I’m guessing you’re paying restitution, though, right?

Fuck yeah. So stupid, Jasper mumbles. "I’m paying for the games a second time around, and I had to pay to replace their broken window and rekey their doors. On top of that, now I’m spending my day on the beach picking up other people’s trash. I’d rather be in the water than looking at it."

Was it worth it? I ask.

He smirks. Honestly? Yeah. Because it pissed her off like nothing else in this world could have. So I’ll pay my fines and pay for her shit and pick up trash because I’m petty like that, and vengeance was sweet.

I wish I felt that way. I never wanted revenge on Colby Taylor, though. I never wanted to hurt anyone associated with Great White Surf. I wanted a little extra money so I could visit Hawaii more often and see my old friends too. I wanted to bring the West Coast Hooligans here on a surf mission. My intentions were good, but my actions were the worst.

I drop a plastic bottle into my bag and dare to glance up at the water. The last time I surfed on this beach, my friend Parker and I were trading barrels. Locals and tourists cheered us on from the shoreline. It was a heavy day, and not many of us were brave enough to journey out into the water. I’d never ridden such an epic barrel before then.

How’d they let you come to Hawaii? Jasper asks, bringing me back to land. Wasn’t that in California? How are you here?

My family is originally from Hawaii, I tell him. My parents thought it’d be better to get me out of California while this was going on. I’ll have to go back to testify, but I’m living with my grandparents. The courts agreed to let me move my probation here, so I was lucky.

The waves roll in, pounding against the shore with the typical Hawaiian beating that I missed so much. I guess the joke’s on me. While I was in California, I missed these waves to the point it physically hurt inside of me, and here I am, closer to them than I’ve been in years, and I can’t even touch them.

I haven’t felt the ocean since the days leading up to my arrest. To say I’m a bit stir crazy would be the understatement of the century, but I don’t dare show my face in the water right now. Gossip would spread like a wildfire if someone caught me holding a surfboard or venturing into the lineup.

Do you miss it? Living in California? Jasper asks.

I really do, more than I ever expected. I wish I could wake up in my Horn Island bedroom and argue with my younger brother Talon about stealing my cereal. I wish I could complain to Mom because Celeste and Stella left makeup on the bathroom counter. I always ended up with glittery sparkles somewhere on my skin before I ever left the house.

My older brother Madden won’t even answer my phone calls. I think he was crushed the most, like it was a personal attack on him for not being a better big brother and guiding me as he felt he should have. I wish I could tell him that none of this was his fault.

Actually, yeah, I miss California, I say. But now that I’m back here, I guess I’ll make the best of it and pick up trash with you for a while.

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A few hours later, I help load up the recyclable truck with bags before turning in my gloves. Most of the news crews have abandoned me, and I’m thankful because their presence alone is unwanted attention. It’s not like I can say anything to them anyway, even if I wanted to. I can’t discuss the case. I can’t defend myself against their allegations. My agreement to stay quiet and let the scandal’s gossip fizzle out was part of why I was allowed to move back to Hawaii and live with my grandparents.

Hey, do you need a ride? Jasper calls out. He motions to the parking lot. I can take you somewhere if you need.

I glance around to make sure Gerard isn’t still here. I don’t want him thinking I’m keeping bad company by hanging out with another criminal. When I don’t see him, I decide it can’t hurt. It beats walking home.

The other beach-goers probably think I’m a beach-loving kid who wants to do his part to save the planet, but I’m really just the criminal of the surf world. Jasper knows the truth.

After climbing the steps to the parking lot, I notice the WCHC News van. I cut my eyes the other way and hurry along the sidewalk toward Jasper’s car. Someone shouts, There he is! and an engine roars behind me. I pick up the pace, but I’m fully aware they’re following us.

Damn it, I mumble. Hurry!

Jasper and I speed up, but he throws glimpses over his shoulder, slowing us down as he tries to figure out what’s going on.

Kale Nakoa! a lady’s voice rings out. Can we have a word? What are your thoughts on Linda Burks’ trial? Will you be a key witness? Do you believe she’ll be sent to prison?

I don’t look back because I know I can’t. I can’t tell them that I hope that woman rots in a prison cell. I can’t tell them that I’ll be testifying for the prosecution. I can’t even turn around and tell them to back off because it’s an ongoing criminal case and I can’t speak even if I wanted to. So I speed up, hoping that will be enough to get the point across. Isn’t this harassment of some sort?

Then again, I doubt anyone cares if the media harasses me. They believe I brought it on myself, and to be honest, I know I did. Everything that’s happening