Shit.Do they know?
I lead Kira to the refreshments and grab her a drink, giving us some space from the crowd. Her eyes are anxious, her breathing too shallow. She’s not oblivious, and she’s just as aware as I am that something isn’t right.
“What’s going on?” she whispers behind her glass, begging me with her wide gaze to fix it, to reassure her.
“I don’t know,” I admit, linking our fingers together to stop hers from trembling. “But something’s up.”
“Could they–” Her breath hitches with nerves. “Could they know? Did the blackmail…?”
“No,” I say firmly, with way more confidence than I feel. “There’s no way. We just figured out who he was this morning, and he doesn’t have the connections to circulate those pictures here. Besides, Young-gi’s already dealing with him. No, it’s not that. I don’t know what’s going on here.”
She gulps her champagne and places the glass on a tray for someone to clean up, fidgeting and scared. I hate to see her so nervous; her normally cherub-like face is now ashen and drawn.
I subtly turn her so her back is to the crowd, so she’s only looking up at me. Kira can hide her feelings and her thoughts when she needs to, but anxiety seems to be her Achilles’ heel. She can’t hide it to save her life. Her poker face just can’t cover her fear.
“Breathe,” I coach her softly, keeping my expression warm and calm. “It’s alright. It’s probably some random gossip. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Okay? No one will get away with saying one goddamn thing about you. It’s going to be alright.”
She stares wordlessly up at me, trying to blink her tears away before they fall, and it takes all my self control not to start tearing my way through the crowd and questioning people. To grab the nearest gawker, shake them by their throat and ask them what thefuckthey think they’re looking at. To ask them what the fuck they think they’re doing, causing her so much distress.
I’m furious on her behalf, and I realize that it feels natural to want to protect her. It goes beyond her timid nature calling to my protective instincts. It’s more than that now.
I don’t love Kira romantically, but I love Young-gi, and she’s his niece. And my friend. I think I might love her like that. Love her like a family member. It’s been a long time since I had a family member. Since I felt that way about anyone.
“Maybe we should call my uncle,” she whispers, her fingers clutching tighter to mine where our hands are linked between us. To the rest of the room, we’re just lovers whispering to each other, close and unbothered. It should be the perfect cover, it’s exactly the way we’re supposed to look.
But I see the way they’re watching us over her shoulder. See the way our closeness seems to fuel their stares, rather than quell them.
I have no fucking clue what’s happening.
“He’s busy,” I say quietly. “He’s taking care of the blackmailer.”
And if that sentence doesn’t provoke the most confusing bundle of feelings ever, I don’t know what will. He’s taking care ofanotherperson from my life that’s trying to fuck things up for us. Taking care of another mess that I’ve somehow caused.
On the one hand I feel defensive, dreadful, angry and as nervous as Kira because holy shit, he must be getting tired of it by now?? He must be ready to give up on me, right?
But on the other hand, I’m like…giddy. Because he said he loves me, and this is just more proof isn’t it? The way he sweeps trouble out of our lives like it’s nothing, the way my ass is sore right now and the way his dirty words still linger in the back of my mind even hours after he said them to me in his office. I’m delighted, fucking tickled pink because no he won’t get tired of me, and this is the proof I’m always demanding from him.
Fucking progress.Feeling giddy because someone else is taking care of me? Never thought it would happen. Young-gi is a fucking magician. He’s perfect for me.
“You’re looking all swoony again,” Kira says suspiciously. “Like, as soon as I bring him up, you get all heart-eyed.”
“No, I don’t,” I snap teasingly, even though I definitely do.
“Oh, you do,” she confirms, her nerves easing a bit. And I don’t mind her making fun of me a little if it helps her calm back down. “You’ve got it bad.”
“He said he loves me,” I whisper to her, and it’s like the whole room full of human-shaped snakes doesn’t even matter any more because– “He fucking loves me, Kira.”
Her mouth falls open and she gawps at me as I give her a blinding smile. New Tommy is coming out of his shell, being born in real time, revealing himself like a butterfly out of a cocoon. I’ve never felt a smile like this on my face before. Never.
“Wow,” she breathes. “That’s a big deal.”
“I know.” My voice is shaking with excitement and nerves. “Like, holy shit.”
“Wait…” Her expression does something complicated. “Will you become my uncle? Because that’s just weird.”
I blanch, then put a hand over my mouth to stifle my laughter. She pokes me in the side to try and get me to stop but it just sets me off more, until I’m almost crying from it.
But the sight of Lexie hurrying over to us, her face pale, sobers me up immediately. Kira notices the abrupt change and turns.
