AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You sure?” Sazuki signs. “I thought you would want the teddy bear.”
“It’ll last longer,” I agree.
Yaya gestures, “Ignore them, Niko. Get what will make you happy.”
“How much for the balloon?” Sazuki speaks out loud. He signs along, making sure that Niko isn’t left out of the conversation.
Sweat breaks out on the kid’s neck. He digs his fingers into the counter, leans over it and in a loud voice, enunciates every word. “Fiiiiive! Dolllars! Sir!”
“You don’t need to shout,” I say, grimacing.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.”
Sazuki sets a five dollar bill on the counter.
The blushing clerk hands over Niko’s balloon. It bobs happily toward the ceiling.
“Let me tie that for you,” Yaya signs. Kneeling in front of Niko, she grabs the string and secures it around her tiny wrist.
“Thank you.” Niko signs.
Yaya beams.
“Dad,” Niko gestures and the balloon bobs its head, “what’syourprize?”
“My prize?” His knowing smirk falls over me like melted chocolate, dripping down my spine and clogging my throat before I can so much as breathe. “Miss Williams has it,” Sazuki says.
Slowly, Niko’s eyes turn to me.
Yaya’s too.
Air gets trapped in my lungs.
Finally, I crack out a laugh. “Me? I have your prize? When did I say that?”
“Don’t go back on your agreement, Miss Williams.” He arches a brow. “I’m looking forward to my reward.”
The way his tongue rolls over the word ‘reward’ sounds absolutely obscene. I search desperately for a witty comeback. Nothing comes to mind.I’m blank.
I lick my lips, my body vibrating like a guitar string as I imagine all the things Sazuki could ask for.
“Are you Ryotaro Sazuki?”
The question comes from a couple who’d been lining up behind us.
Sazuki’s eyes drift away from me and land on the strangers.
“You are!” A middle aged man and his wife giggle like teenagers. “I didn’t think it was you. I actually told my wife she was crazy! No way would a Sazuki be playing bowling like this. I thought you were some other Asian.”
I cringe.
Sazuki doesn’t bat an eyelash. “Can I help you?”
“We’re huge fans. Huge. We think your last album was impeccably done. Do you know when you’ll be releasing another?”
“I have no plans to do so right now.” Sazuki’s voice is hard. He takes a step back.
They take one forward. “What are you doing in America? I thought all the Sazukis lived in Japan?”
