The naked earnestness in his tone starts to soothe my anxiety. My lashes flutter as I clench and unclench my hands, trying not to cry because that’d ruin the makeup. My parents always wanted me to do something that would complement Katt’s career or something that would make them proud. My happiness wasn’t even on their radar.
Josh continues, “As for my family, the most important thing will be your dedication to excellence. Nobody at the firm cares about a diploma—or lack thereof—or your hair, or whatever cosmetic thing you think people judge you on. I only got the degree I did because it’s necessary to be a lawyer. Plenty of successful people didn’t get a college degree. Look at Steve Jobs. Or Branson. Jay-Z didn’t even finish high school. So you can tell anybody who gives you shit about a lack of degree that you’re overeducated compared to a couple of billionaires.” Josh looks at me. “I wish you can see yourself through my eyes. You’re the sun in my life, Klein. Brilliant and flawless.”
My heart clenches at this unconditional acceptance. I wish I could see myself through his eyes, too, rather than my parents’—always see the flaws, never the perfection. “Thank you,” I manage, my voice choked. “I’ll try to see myself the way you do.”
He beams with pride. “Good. Whenever you feel uncertain, just ask yourself, ‘How would Josh see me?’” He gestures at the takeout bag. “So. How about those tacos?”
I shake my head with a laugh. “Definitely not.” I don’t want to upset Akiko by not having room to eat her food.
The sight of peonies in the vase on the dining table catches my eyes, and I smile instinctively. Those flowers still look fresh and cheerful. Every time I look at them, my mood brightens.
“Do you mind if we stop by a florist and grab some flowers for Akiko?” I ask.
“We can do that. But she really isn’t expecting anything from you.”
“I feel like I should. And don’t tell me you see me as a person who doesn’t bring anything to a dinner she’s invited to.” I don’t want his family to be thrilled to hear about our breakup in six months. It might be vain and shallow, but I hope they’ll be disappointed—even if it’s just a little.
Josh stops at a florist on the way and hands the owner his card before I even pick out the flowers I want to buy. I select extravagant orange-pink roses and baby’s breath. The information card underneath them says each rose has sixty petals. His eyes drop to the writing, then he checks his phone and sends a quick text.
Josh looks at me with mild amusement as we get back on the road.
“What?” I ask.
“Akiko will have to spend some time figuring out how to incorporate your flowers into her ikebana.”
“Into her what?”
“Japanese flower arrangement. Well, theartof flower arrangement. She loves it.”
I look at the flowers, then back at him. “Should I have gotten something more Japanese?” I don’t recall anything that looked “Asian” in the store. Besides, do flowers even have nationalities?
“Nah. You’re fine.” A corner of his mouth quirks up higher.
His parents’ home is in one of the most exclusive zip codes in SoCal. All the houses in the area are massive mansions with the top-of-the-line security and gates to keep the occupants safe.
Their place is one of the largest, with a sprawling garden full of beautiful flowers and shrubs. The understated elegance and the sweeping architecture exude the sort of old-money opulence my parents strive to achieve. After being at the firm and meeting people from various walks of life, one thing I’ve learned is that money doesn’t always confer taste or confidence.
Josh drives along the winding approach, then parks to the side on a circular driveway in front of the main entrance. A black Maybach and a black Cullinan are parked neatly next to a flaming-red Lamborghini that takes up three spaces.
“Well, we’re learning,” Josh murmurs with a slightly satisfied smirk.
“What do you mean? And isn’t that your aunt’s car?”
“The red Lambo? Yeah, that’s Aunt Jeremiah’s. She always parks like a dick. She’s taking up three spots rather than the usual two because she arrived too early to box us in.”
Josh makes a throaty noise full of amusement, then climbs out and opens the door for me while I gather the bouquet. “Thank you,” I say.
His hand rests at the small of my back as he escorts me up the steps. The warmth from his touch is reassuring, and I inhale slowly.You can do this, Ailee.
The foyer is bigger than my old apartment, with a ceiling so high it seems it should have its own weather. An elegantchandelier lights the space. Silver wolves snarling around a shield glitter on a huge navy tapestry hanging from the ceiling. Underneath the crest reads PIETAS ET UNITAS.
“Loyalty and unity,” I murmur.
“Family is everything,” he says, like it’s something that’s been ingrained in him since birth.
We go deeper into the house, through the beautiful hall. Several windows on one side face a garden. The opposite side has nooks with individual spotlights to display earthenware that glows with muted grace. I’ve never seen anything quite so beautiful before. They’re the kinds of things I imagine Akiko gesturing at with blasé confidence, casually mentioning they’ve been in her family for generations. Each piece of pottery features a minimalist flower arrangement. The second one is simultaneously the least complex and the most interesting—it has one long black branch that stretches upward in slanted twists. Only two flowers bloom next to it—both of them simple and white.
“Is this the ikebana you mentioned before?” I whisper, my hands growing clammy.
