by Nia Arthurs
“Typical mother.” Min-seo mumbled. “Always meddling with things she has no business in. So what does Sky’s romantic relationship have to do with you?”
“Exactly.” Her father huffed.
Jo looked at her parents in astonishment. “You’re not… angry?”
“About you lying?” Min-seo popped a delicate black eyebrow. “I’m furious. But if there’s anyone who knows how difficult Halmoni can be, it’s me.” Her mother reached out and took Jo’s hand. “Why didn’t you just tell us the truth?”
Jo closed her eyes. “I didn’t want you to be disappointed.”
“Disappointed with what?” her father asked.
“Halmoni still hates that you two are together. I’m the only reason she even calls and invites us to family gatherings. She wants me to be Korean even though she wishes I weren’t half-black.”
Min-seo looked horrified.
Jo played with the hem of her blouse. “You know it’s true.”
“Where did you hear that nonsense?”
Jo stared at her hands and thought of all the Lee Christmases and birthday parties. When the adults and children separated after dinner, her cousins would play games and gossip like old women. Jo’s parents were a topic that came up often.
She knew it wasn’t their fault. Children were just parrots, regurgitating what they heard their parents say.
“Who said it?” her dad asked, his voice dangerous and still.
Min-seo’s eyes flashed.
“It doesn’t matter.” Jo picked at the hem of her shirt. She didn’t want her parents going on a revenge rampage tonight. “I’m over it.”
“I can’t believe this,” her father hissed.
Her mother studied her. “Did you even want to work at the store?”
“Yes.” Jo paused. “Sort of. I wanted to please Halmoni. I was afraid that if I made her angry and didn’t do exactly what she wanted, she’d disown us. Then you’d never see your family again.”
Her parents exchanged looks.
Min-seo released Jo’s hand and inhaled deeply. “Honey, you are my family. You’re all I need.”
“Mom, I know you miss being a part of the Lees.”
“Maybe I do.” Her mother lifted her chin defiantly. “But no one asked you to take on that burden. Your father and I certainly haven’t.”
Her dad nodded. “Your grandmother’s prejudice and hate have nothing to do with you. We are so proud of the young lady you’ve become and, if we had to go through it all again, we would.”
Min-seo swiped at a tear. “Jo, you are not responsible for our happiness. You are not responsible to mend the damage between my family. All you need to do is be your beautiful, unique self.”
“I know, Mom.”
“Then why…?”
“Because I want you to be happy. You’ve sacrificed so much for me. So much.”
“Jo—”
She shook her head. “I can take the whispers and the fake smiles and the insincere hugs. It doesn’t bother me at all if it means that you’re happy and you’re where you belong.”
“Jo, I would never have forced you to hang around my family if you were uncomfortable.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Mom. I love the Lees just as much as the Gregorys. They’re a part of me. I’m Korean and I’m Creole. It’s who I am. It’s just… it’s been tough to juggle everything.”
Min-seo leaped out of her chair and wrapped Jo in her arms.
Jo hugged her back.
Min-seo pulled away, but lingered close. Jo raked her gaze over her mother’s face. Feathery black hair. Soulful, deep-set brown eyes that glistened with unshed tears. Blunt nose. Thin, pink lips.
Her mother had such pale skin.
Jo remembered when her classmates used to tease her about her heritage. “Are you adopted?”
“How can a Chini have a black kid?”
“Freak.”
The words didn’t cut her, but the feeling that she was different—that she would always be different, stayed with her for a long time.
Min-seo spoke softly, demanding her attention and dragging her away from the tainted memories. “The day I fell in love with your father, I gave it all up for him. My family means the world to me, but I didn’t allow their opinions to influence my decision. A few years later, I held you in my arms and I knew I would give my life for you. I would never use you to leverage a relationship with Halmoni or anyone else.”
Jo sunk her head into her mother’s shoulders and released years of toxic pain. The little girl inside of her wept.
“Group hug!” Her father dove into the huddle and squeezed them both.
They separated after Jo started choking from lack of breath.
Min-seo smiled tearfully. “I’m glad we had this talk, but we still need to discuss your lies.”
Jo cringed and nodded.
Her father grasped his wife’s hand. “Let’s go to bed now. We can lecture her in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Jo mouthed as her father led her mom away.
He winked in response.
Jo tore herself out of the couch and headed upstairs.
She barely had the energy to change into her pajamas and brush her teeth. Like a zombie, she shuffled to her bed and hopped in, burrowing under the sheets. The blankets were cool to the touch.
Jo closed her eyes and settled into her pillow.
An image of Sun Gi’s abs burst into mind.
Her heartbeat skittered. Her blood pounded. She launched up, brown hair flailing wildly over her face and her fingers digging into the sheets.
“What is wrong with me?” Jo hissed. She shook her head and scooted back to her pillow. The memories of Sun Gi staring at her, holding her, threatened to pierce through her ironclad restraint.
Jo forced her mind to think about world hunger and climate change until exhaustion dragged her into sleep.
15
Sun Gi found a parking space in front of Sweet Treats and mentally patted himself on the back for timing his visit just right. It was a few minutes to eight o’clock, still early enough to warrant breakfast, but late enough that the crowds should have petered out.
He paused and checked his reflection in the rearview mirror. After thumbing a lock of hair away from his forehead, he deemed himself worthy of public scrutiny and headed into the bakery.
The scent of fresh coffee permeated the air. Sun Gi let the fragrance dance over him, knowing that he’d be leaving with a fresh brew in a few minutes.
As the lack of cars outside predicted, Sweet Treats was relatively empty when he walked in. His eyes flitted straight to the counter where Sky was handing a plastic bag over the counter to a customer.
He strode ahead, forehead creasing with each step. “Morning.”
“Hey, Sun Gi.” Brown eyes sparkling, Sky beamed at him. “It’s been a few days since I’ve seen you.”
“Yeah.” He glanced around.
Jo wasn’t at the counter.
Was she in the kitchen?
Sky craned her neck and balanced her hands on the counter so she could rise to her tiptoes, moving into his line of sight.
His gaze flitted to her. Amused, he asked, “What are you doing?”
“Trying to get your attention. Are you looking for something?”
“Uh.” He forced his eyes to the display case and tapped his thumb against the side of his leg.
A corner of her generous lips tilted upward. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not here for my food?”
“What makes you say that?”
Sky leaned across the counter, excitement glittering in her brown eyes. “Tell me the truth. You’re into Jo, aren’t you?”
“What? Me?” Sun Gi sputtered.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to judge you. You’re engaged, so liking Joana would technically make you a jerk. But!” She stuck her pointer finger up. “I also know Hanna. Since she was sneaking around with Tyler a few weeks ago, I’m assuming that your relationship isn’t
very, um, conventional.”
“Sky…”
“So, if you like Jo, and I think you do, you should break things off with Hanna and tell her.”
“I’m not going to do that.”
She glanced around and pressed closer to the counter as if she wanted to climb over it. “But she cheated on you. Whether or not you two have an understanding, if you’re about to get married to someone, the last place you should be is in another man’s bed.”
“What Hanna does in private is none of my business.” He glanced at the kitchen door again, wondering if Jo was in there and if she could hear him. If so, why hadn’t she emerged yet?
She couldn’t be… hiding from him, could she?
Sky refused to let the matter drop. “That’s the thing I don’t get. Both you and your brother wanted to marry someone even though you didn’t love them.”
“Marriage isn’t about love,” Sun Gi said distractedly. “Love is an emotion that fades. That’s why people fall out of it. I’d rather make a sound investment rather than one that’ll cost me half of everything in a few years.”
She scoffed. “That’s why you’re marrying Hanna? Because you’ve ‘invested’ in her?”
Sun Gi didn’t understand why Sky was taking this so personally. Not only had he spent a couple hundred grand on Hanna’s ring, he’d also made deals through her family’s connection and vice versa.
Breaking up with her now would wreck them both—maybe not emotionally, but financially. He wasn’t willing to take that risk on a fleeting feeling that would never last.
“Forget it. I no longer approve of your interest in Jo. Go flirt with someone else.” Sky sniffed and backed away from the counter. “Do you want some coffee?”
“Yeah. Thanks.” Sun Gi watched her take out a cup and casually asked, “So where’s Jo?”
“She’s at work.”
He straightened. “Work?”
“She got a new job so she has to leave earlier than normal.”
“Since when?”
“I think this is her fourth day at the new place.” Sky scowled. “Remember, you’re banned from dating her.”
“I need to discuss something with her.”
“Mm-hm.” Sky peered at him from the corner of her eye as she handed him the coffee.
He accepted it with a shake of his head.
The kitchen door opened.
Sun Gi glanced up expectantly. It wasn’t Jo. A young woman with glossy black skin and curly black hair in a bun emerged.
She spotted him.
He nodded.
The girl seemed to shrink into herself, spinning swiftly as if the sight of him had made her sick. Joon Gi rubbed his chin. Do I look that bad today?
“Jewel, did you need something?” Sky asked, unperturbed by the girl’s strange behavior.
“The b-brownies.”
“Oh, I’ll be right there.”
Jewel nodded and, without a word to him, scurried into the kitchen.
Sun Gi tipped his coffee back and swallowed. “What’s with her?”
“Life’s been cruel.” Sky shrugged “She’s a little bird that got her wings clipped and I’m trying to help her fly again.” Sky studied him. “Are you coming to Joon’s opening next month?”
“Does he want me there?”
Sky scrunched her nose. “As far as I can tell? Not really.”
“Then I’ll be in the front row.” Sun Gi tipped the coffee in farewell and left.
When he got into his car, he set the coffee aside and stared through the windshield. The disappointment mounting in his chest was concerning.
Before today, every time he entered Sweet Treats, his gaze automatically flew to Sky. This time… it didn’t.
Because of Nightingale.
Who was also Jo.
Sun Gi groaned. He couldn’t jump to conclusions. Jo had never out-rightly admitted to being the singer.
But…
His mind flipped back to that night when she leaned in close to assess his wound. Those eyes. They were compelling him then just like they were the night she sang at the bar.
It had to be her.
Now that he knew the truth, he needed to talk to her.
And say what? Let’s explore this hot chemistry between us until I get married?
He couldn’t do that.
But he couldn’t get her out of his mind either.
In a fit of frustration, Sun Gi dug his fingers into his hair and tugged.
What he felt for Nightingale was one thing. But, as Sky rightly pointed out, he had no right to pursue his interest in her—in Jo—if he was going to stay with Hanna.
He couldn’t be intrigued by Jo.
And he definitely didn’t love Hanna.
So what was the solution here? Abandon everything and become a monk? Raise jaguars in the jungle?
Sun Gi set his forehead on the steering wheel. Everything was spinning far out of control and though he handled his businesses with a cold, iron-clad grip, his emotions were too slippery.
Three solid taps exploded near his ears.
Sun Gi shot up and glanced to the left, stunned to find his brother peering into the window. The adrenaline shooting through his veins puttered out until there was only annoyance left.
Joon gestured for him to lower the window.
Sun Gi resisted on principle.
Joon puffed out his cheeks. His brother had always been tall and lanky, but since meeting Sky, Joon had gotten chubbier. His face looked golden and healthy. He seemed settled, optimistic. Despite everything that happened, he looked happy.
Lucky bastard.
Sun Gi lowered the window and glared. “What?”
“Don’t you have minions to buy your breakfast for you?” Joon peered at him suspiciously.
“I’m a boss not a dictator. I get my own meals.”
Joon bobbed his head. He had eyes that were a little wider and slanted than his, but they’d both inherited their father’s height, long nose and capacity for business.
Sun Gi sighed. “Did you stop to harass me about my breakfast patterns?”
Joon planted his hands on the window. “I need to talk with you.”
“If it’s about your opening—”
“It’s not.” Joon eyed him hard. “It’s about Sky.”
Sun Gi looked straight ahead, jaw firming. Already, he didn’t like where this was going.
“I’ve heard you’ve been stopping by often.”
“That a crime?” Sun Gi sneered.
“No, but it is suspicious.”
“Are you scared?” he taunted. “That you’ll lose her to me like you lost Hanna?”
Joon stiffened. Anger coiled behind his narrowing eyes. It pleased him to see his brother shaken. Made the injustice of his life grow smaller, less piercing.
“Do you enjoy living like that, man?” Joon asked.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Joon looked at him with sad, brown eyes. “Dad would hate this bitter, angry version of you.”
“You don’t know a damn thing,” Sun Gi spit.
“I know that Hanna deserves better. I know you capitalized on her pride and fear to get her to accept your proposal. I know you’ll never be happy if you settle for that kind of relationship.”
“Are you giving me brotherly advice, hyung?”
“Yes, I am.” Joon removed his hands from the window and stepped back. “You can try and come for Sky. I’m not afraid. When I was broken, now that I’m about to rebuild and thirty years from now when I’m spoiling her rotten, our love will remain. ”
Sun Gi scoffed. “Since when did you get so sappy?”
“Hanna left me when I lost everything. Do you think she’ll stick around if the same happened to you?”
Sun Gi hated his hyung’s warning. Hated that it was piercing through his walls and making impact. “It’s none of your business.”
“I’m tired of fighting, Sun Gi, but if you start a war,” his eyes darke
ned, “I’m always ready.”
Sun Gi flipped his shades on and started the car. “Bring it on, hyung.”
“Sun—”
He slammed his foot on the gas and left his brother in the dust.
16
Jo’s days were one big blur and she couldn’t be happier. At least when she was focused on work, Sun Gi had no room to steal into her thoughts and make her heart pound.
Sunlight streamed through the large, shutters above as she sat in a pool of battery packs and painstakingly set them on display hooks.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
She doubted it was Rhia and her goons. They hadn’t spoken to her or even bothered to acknowledge her presence since the day she was hired.
She really didn’t care. In fact, Jo thought their bullying of choice was the kindest compared to the more viscous tactics her childhood bullies had used. She’d much rather be invisible than be terrorized.
“Aren’t you heading home?” a familiar voice asked.
Bingo. Jo craned her neck to look up at Brighton. He stood bracketed in the soft light glowing from the lamp on the counter. Every inch of his brown skin gleamed. Though his eyes were cast in shadows, Jo could feel them burrowing into her.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Brighton shifted the backpack strap on his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“I found these in the storage room.” Jo set her hand on the dusty display rack she’d unearthed on a trip to the store’s attic.
“And?”
“I was thinking they’d look great close to the cash register.” Jo showed him the battery packs. “Someone might remember they need one and put it into their cart as a last minute purchase.”
Brighton bobbed his head. “I’m impressed. All the ideas you’ve implemented are genius.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Jo shook her head.
He insisted. “Your idea for bundling the old, unsellable stock with every fifty dollar purchase blew my mind.”
“Well…”
“And yesterday, you got that famous DJ to agree to play music to lure in Saturday morning customers from the streets.”
“That was a pretty nice idea.” Jo pretended to pop her collar.