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“Say when.”
It surprised me at first that I didn’t notice that he had already started pouring. I quickly told him when it was enough and he recapped the bottle and put it back on the table.
I picked up my fork and knife, wondering if they were going to also cut my bacon into pieces. When I ate with my parents and my sister, it was pretty much a fend-for-yourself type of situation.
For a time, the table was quiet as everyone was eating, and it gave me a chance to notice some small things. Victor picked at his plate, eating the edge of his eggs and the chewy parts of his bacon. Kota cut his bacon into even pieces right from the start, with a formal poise that left me feeling uncivilized next to him. Jessica ate toast only. Erica was the only one who seemed to eat normally, even as her eyes were happy as she watched everyone at the table enjoying the meal.
“So how did you meet my son? And Victor?” Erica said. She had looked excitedly at the three of us the entire time, as if waiting for the right moment to ask this question.
I felt my mouth open slightly, my lips moved but the right answers didn’t come to me.
“I met her yesterday,” Kota said quickly.
“I only bumped into her today,” Victor said, spearing a piece of bacon with his fork and the fire in his eyes lit up as he focused on me in an amused way. “Kind of surprised me to be honest.”
I blushed.
“Will you be going to their school?” Erica asked.
“Yup,” Kota said. “She’s in the same grade as us.”
Erica’s eyes flew from her son to Victor and back at me. “You’ve got such a lovely voice, Sang,” she said, a small smile on her lips and lightly scolding tone. “And that ventriloquism thing you do is amazing. A real talent.”
Kota and Victor both tinged red at the cheeks.
“You know how guys are,” I said, offering a grin and a playful tone. “Give them two minutes, they think they know everything,” I quipped.
Victor dropped his fork, gawking.
Kota laughed so hard his eyes shut and his hand went to his stomach.
Erica brightened. “Smart girl.” She drummed her knuckles on the table and then stood, picking up her own dish. “Keep an eye on this one, Kota. She’s got your number.”
“Not yet she doesn’t,” Kota said under his breath. His mother had turned away by then but I heard it. He turned his face to me and winked. The reflection from the light caught in his glasses, giving him such a strange look that I couldn’t help but giggle.
When the rest of us finished, I attempted to help to clear the table but Erica shooed us outside. “Don’t waste the day. Go enjoy yourselves.” She beamed a smile at me, looking so happy I couldn’t refuse.
Jessica headed off to another part of the house. Kota, Victor and I went outside. The sun was out and there was a hint of the chill left from the rain but the sun was warming things up quickly. Small pools of water collected in spots in the yard. The concrete of the driveway was dry though and warmed my feet. I did like walking around barefoot outside but next to the guys who had on full socks and shoes, I felt like a bum.
Kota’s dog was tethered to a lead at the back of the house. Now in the daylight, I laughed at seeing it was a Golden retriever. Last night it had felt like a horse. As soon as he saw us, he padded over, crossing the concrete drive to greet us. I ducked behind Kota so he wouldn’t jump on me again.
Kota spread out an arm, stopping Max with a palm held out in front of him. “No. Sit. You did enough damage already.”
The dog obeyed, giving only the smallest of whines and then sinking down to a sitting position.
Victor looked at my bandaged hand. “So that was from Max?”
I nodded. “It wasn’t his fault. He just surprised me and I hit the pavement.”
Victor looked sympathetic. Now thinking about the wound, my good hand moved to shield the bandages from the sun shining on it. It felt a little itchy. A gray BMW was parked in the driveway behind the brown sedan in the corner. I didn’t know cars, but the BMW looked brand new.
“Alright, out with it,” Victor said. His arms crossed his chest and he looked firmly at the both of us. “I’ve been playing along all morning. I’d like to know what kind of trouble I’m digging myself into.”
I glanced at Kota, but Kota gave no sign of hesitation. “She was out late walking home when Max broke the lead and... well... I couldn’t just let her go home bleeding.”
My heart fluttered but I nodded, agreeing with him. “I was out so late that sneaking back in would have meant more trouble at my house.”
“It just kind of happened,” Kota followed up.
Victor looked back and forth at the two of us, as if trying to decide something. The fire in his eyes settled on me. The intensity was turned up so much that it caused me to shiver and look away.
“Give her a break, Vic,” Kota said. His body moved in front of me again, creating a block between the two of us. I looked around Kota’s shoulder. Victor’s eyes locked with mine. I wasn’t sure what exchanged between us but somehow Victor seemed to understand. Whatever it was I wasn’t telling him now, it was embarrassing and maybe if we weren’t complete strangers, I’d talk about it later.
“Okay,” Victor said. He shrugged and then stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks. He nodded toward the BMW. “Well, I came over to take Kota to the mall. Are you going with us?”
Going out with them? To a mall? Could I get away with it? I wanted to go but I also didn’t want to intrude on plans already made. Would my parents send my sister to look for me and discover that I wasn’t around? No. Since we’d moved in, they hardly noticed when I left or came back. They got used to me walking around in the woods. I just needed to be careful. Still, as the guys looked at me and waited for an answer, I felt nervous going out. Would they see me as the third wheel?
“Maybe we can put that off for a few hours,” Kota said, I suppose sensing my hesitation.
“No.” I shook my head, bending down to pet Max who had been patient enough sitting at Kota’s feet. I started petting him and he rolled back to expose his belly for me to scratch. It also gave me a good deterrent to think of an excuse. “It’s okay. You guys go. I’ve got things to do. I wouldn’t want to slow you two down.” I did want to go, though. I felt silly for wanting to but I’ve never had the opportunity before. Why did I have to be so shy and scared? I wished I could be normal.
Kota crouched next to me, his head turned toward my face. “Do you want to go?”
I shrugged, trying to look casual about it. “It probably doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t be allowed anyway.” Crap. I hadn’t meant to let that slip out.
Out of my peripheral vision, I could sense they were doing that thing again about exchanging looks. Their silent communication amazed me. I wanted to ask how long they knew each other but just being around them, it felt like they were almost brothers.
“What
if we went and asked?” Victor put hands on his hips. “I mean, we’re not ax murderers.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his words. His fire eyes sparked at what must have been a strange expression in that moment. “It’s complicated. My mom would just say no right off. It won’t matter who asks.”
“We could try,” Kota said.
I twisted my mouth, coming up with a plan. If I wasn’t going to deter them from taking me with them, I wasn’t about to let them into the lion’s den to face off my parents. “If you really want me to go, give me a few minutes,” I said.
“What are you going to do?” Kota asked, his head tilted and looking puzzled.
“She’s going to lie, dummy,” Victor said, the corner of his mouth moving down.
Kota frowned, standing up and rubbing at his chin. I noticed his nails were well manicured. “Really, it’s no big deal if we go talk to them.”
“I think it’s better if I just make a quick appearance and then don’t mention I’m going. They won’t notice I’m missing for a few hours.”
They shared another look and then Victor shrugged and turned back to me. “We’ll wait.”
I stood up and looked at both of them, edging away before turning to walk down the road. Would they really wait for me? Would I come back here and find them gone? I felt pathetic, wanting so bad to try to be cool so they would like me. I didn’t know anyone and here were two guys... incredibly cute guys taking some distorted interest in someone like me. It felt unreal. I was average looking, I thought. I was a shy person. They didn’t have a reason to be interested. They’ve been so nice so far though. I didn’t want to ruin it yet.
“Wait,” Kota said, coming up behind me. I turned and he was pointing to the house. “I forgot. Your shoes are inside.”
I waved my hand in the air between us. “Oh yeah. And my bag.”
He closed the space between us, bringing his face close to mine and whispering to me. “Is it okay for you to bring your bag home? Will they ask questions? Should I go get it?”
I smiled. Why did I feel so warmly fuzzy? Is this what having friends feels like? My expression must have been strange to read to Victor, who stood back at his car, leaning against it, and crossing his arms over his chest. He looked puzzled at us but kept his lips pursed.
