Smoke wrapped around his cheeks and even threaded through the candy red waves of his hair, making Daisuke look like he was actually covered in a smoky veil. Sheer and shifting. Hiding him for several perfect seconds and then revealing him again.
His eyes glowed within it.
Hiro grinned. “Beautiful.”
“That’s quite the magic trick!” Reo ran his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t think you could top yourself, but you have.”
“Thank you.” I bowed. “I get it from my mother who always had to throw parties for my father and the affluent people in New York. Her goal was always to have showstoppers.”
The words left my mouth before I had checked them.
Did I just say. . .I get it from my mother?
That damn sentence landed in my chest almost knocking the wind out of me.
I’d dedicated most of my adulthood to not being like her. She was a woman who obsessed over peony arrangements for my father's dinner guests just to feel like she earned his love.
I had always hated her for not knowing her own worth and staying dedicated to my father even now after all the truth about his adultery and nastiness.
Yet. . .she had known how to throw a party and even taught me which fork went where, which flower opened at night, which song to play when men needed to soften and which to play when the women needed to feel powerful.
And here I was presenting her lessons without even knowing it.
My eyes burned.
I blinked it back and cleared my throat. “Alright. Let’s drink.”
Everyone else raised their glasses. Every smoke bubble trembled as they began to drink. And soon, one by one, the bubbles burst and smoky veils settled over everyone’s face, hiding us for several seconds.
I chuckled.
Others joined me in the laughter.
The violin shifted into a mischievous rhythm with elegant, yet unpredictable notes fluttering from its strings.
My twin helpers arrived with their carts for the final drink. The identical twins wore blushing pink dresses. The silk hit them mid-calf and moved when they did. Embroidered flowers curled up their sides in sparkling silver thread—tiny chrysanthemums, spiraling roses, and blooming tulips.
Long strands of pearls dropped from their necks to their waists. Their jet-black hair was parted and finger-waved. A single pink feather sat tucked behind each of their right ears.
They were exquisite.
I checked Aki and Yuki who held the most wicked grins.
Calm down, boys.
I headed over to my twin helpers. “Now we have our final drink, which is—”
“Can we get some names?” Aki lifted his head.
Yuki followed. “I also would love to know the names of these beautiful women.”
I gestured to my helpers. “This is Katsumi and Natsumi.”
“You two are breathtaking.” Aki bowed.
“And delicious.” Yuki winked.
The women chuckled.
