Take the L for the W
Delulu is the Solulu
Sumi
PinksPosiesdr is another business like mine opened just a few blocks from mine.
As it was very recently pointed out to me, that in and of itself shouldn’t be a death knell.
But her business model is designed to eliminate competition.
Hi, it’s me, I’m the competition.
She’s corporately owned, tested and proven with a bottomless budget.
And her corporate business model is doing exactly what it is meant to.
ChaoticConcertina: So that basically means the end for me.
I’m trying not to take it all personally, but it’s very hard.
Because what does that mean?
If you make a decision, you’re basing it on what will be best for you, personally.
All “don’t take it personally” means is “we didn’t think beyond ourselves.”
Pretty soon everything in our lives will be owned by corporations,
whose shareholders are most assuredly taking things personally.
They just won’t bother considering anything past their bottom line.
Anyway.
I find myself faced with the unexpected prospect of starting over at my decrepit age.
I’ve never done anything but this job.
I’ve never even worked for someone else before.
I have no resume to speak of.
“How do you work on a team?” Don’t know, never had to
I guess that was still pretty long for the tl;dr
PinksPosies&Pearls: I know not giving yourself any credit is kind of your thing,
But “self employed since the age of 10″ is still pretty impressive.
You have skills you’re not even considering right now.
Have you thought about what you’ll do next?
ChaoticConcertina: This is going to be incredibly whiny and self pitying, look away.
I don’t want to think about it.
I don’t want to DO anything.
I want to stay home and make chili and help my daughter redecorate her bedroom.
I’ve been taking care of other people for more than half my life with no end in sight.
I’ve been taking care of this business my whole life.
I supported my wife, took care of our family while she did her surgical residencies.
And then she took my daughter from me and moved four states away.
Now I take care of my parents.
My dad is only going to get worse.
ChaoticConcertina: I’m still trying to take care of this business.
I know this is oldest child syndrome and I’m not the only one,
but why am I the ONLY fool capable of making a decision about anything?
About everything.
All the decisions are mine.
So of course when something goes wrong, that’s mine too.
I don’t want to do ANYTHING next.
All I want to do is curl up in a dark cave and sleep for the next decade.
And learn to make chili.
PinksPosies&Pearls: I’m so sorry you have so much on your plate.
Taking some time off sounds like a good plan, you deserve it.
Although, I feel like you could probably video yourself going to job interviews.
And then monetize the views, because it’ll be hysterical.
“If we call your last employer, what would they say?”
“That I’m extremely handsome and would be a good match for your niece. ”
Think of the possibilities!
Mostly sounds like you need to find someone who will take care of you for a change.
Get you a sugar mama.
ChaoticConcertina: Honestly, that sounds amazing.
If you know how to find one, send me tips.
Because I’ve been told my rizz is mid by my own flesh and blood.
And I don’t think that lines up the sugar mamas.
I have a large extra hot honeycomb latte for Sumi.”
She shifted through the press of bodies, making her way to the pickup counter.
The side counter Ranar used was much more convenient, she had to admit.
Well, you’ll be using that one soon. With him.
“That was really nice of you, Sumi.” The sheep woman’s voice was almost reluctant, her eyes flicking over to Sumi once she finally made it to the counter.
After a moment, though, her mouth turned up with a hint of a smile.
“To send something.
That note was really nice.
Thank you.”
Xenna’s mother-in-law had passed away unexpectedly, Sumi had learned from Yuriko.
She sent the planter from Pink Blossom, an acknowledgment from one business to another, but the note she included to the Beanery’s co-owner had been heartfelt.
“Of course, I’m so sorry for your family’s loss.
Is everyone doing okay?”
In any other coffee shop in the city, this sort of chit chat at the pickup counter was unacceptable.
Verboten.
The line moved quickly and efficiently and chit chat was a deviation from efficiency.
Here, though, Sumi had noticed this was where relationships were made and broken.
Xenna and her brother Xavier were the arbiters of whom was worthy of conversation in Cambric Creek, and if they stopped to chat, you could hold your head up a bit higher upon your exit, knowing you were bestowed with a golden seal.
“Yeah.
I mean, I am.
My husband is upset of course, but our kids are taking it pretty hard.
She wasn’t my mother, but she was a really good grandmother.”
“There’s a book,” Sumi said, fishing a business card and pen out of her bag.
“It’s called See You In My Dreams, it’s really great for young children experiencing loss.
Especially one that’s close to them, like this.“ Xenna raised an eyebrow as she wrote down the title, able to envision the cover clearly.
Sumi smiled wryly as she passed the card across the counter, taking her coffee.
“My mom died when I was young, and it helped me a lot. I know it’s still in print. Anyway, my condolences.”
“Thank you so much, Sumi.
Have a good day!”
Playing the dead mom card, she thought, holding her head a bit higher and she turned away from the counter, the recipient of Owner-to-Owner Chit Chat.
That’s what she would tell ChaoticConcertina. Ranar.
The revelation that they were one and the same had turned her world inside out.
Sumi didn’t know what to do.
She didn’t know what to say.
She didn’t know how she could go on casually chit chatting with ChaoticConcertina while she and Ranar were at war, couldn’t listen to him make allusions to everything going wrong in his life fully knowing she was the reason why.
But neither could she give him up.
She knew there were some people who would roll their eyes at her placing too much importance on an online friendship, but it wasn’t the 90s anymore, no matter how many Coming Gnome movies she still owned.
It was a short leap from an online relationship to the real world, as evidenced by the dozens of dating apps, a relationship started by swiping left or right on one’s phone screen, at dinner together an hour later, in bed shortly after that.
ChaoticConcertina was her rock.
He was empathetic and smart, made her laugh and gave good advice and always knew exactly what to say to make her feel better.
Most of all, most importantly, he was excessively kind.
The kind of man who would apologize to his enemy, after she had confronted him at his business, where she had been told not to come again.
Seeing him so shortly after her revelation had nearly upended her, but it had been cathartic, walking with him in the rain, her tears rolling down her face, washed away in the deluge. The kind of man who would hold an umbrella over that same enemy, knowing it wasn’t big enough to keep him dry. Knowing there wasn’t enough business for them both.
And then the icon indicating she had a new message had flared to life, and there was only one person from whom the message could be.
It was him, of course it was him, telling Pinky — telling her! — how much he hated being mean to people, how much he disliked the way it made him feel.
How he wanted to beg for forgiveness, even though he had meant what he had said.
Sumi was glad there was no expectation of video chatting, because she was a blubbering mess by the time she had read through his message, wheezing to breathe as she responded.
And of course she forgave him.
Forgave for everything, because how could she not? He was apologizing to her, when she was the one who had ruined his life.
But, she reminded herself, ChaoticConcertina didn’t know that.
She wanted to beg for his forgiveness in return, but he only thought he was venting to his friend, venting honestly and unselfconsciously.
That, more than anything, made up her mind.
She could not, would not give him up, and that made her decision on what to do crystal clear.
She couldn’t let go of ChaoticConcertina, which meant she needed Ranar too, to fold them together into the perfect partner.
They would have to meet in the middle, find a way to meld the differing sides of their personalities.
It didn’t matter if he hated her now.
She was going to make that snake love her if it was the very last thing she ever did. And live happily ever after.
* * *
Yuriko, at least, was sympathetic to her plight.
Sort of.
As much as Yuriko was sympathetic about anything, Sumi decided.
“Okay, remind me again who we hate? Because absolutely, fuck that guy.
Who needs a conceited ass lick like that in their life? Nobody, that’s who.
Or do we not hate him now?”
Sumi hunched, laughing at Yuriko’s casual vulgarity as they set up for the tea group.
She would be eternally grateful to the ogress for welcoming her in with open arms.
As soon as Yuri learned that Sumi had moved to Cambric Creek with no one, no family or friends or support system, she had practically adopted her, despite being nearly the same age.
Pink Blossom was closed on Sundays, and she’d spent nearly every weekend doing something with the Nippon club or else, the ogress and her family.
“Why are you agreeing with me if you don’t even know who I’m complaining about?!”
Yuri shrugged.
“Hey, I’m just trying to be supportive.
You were mumbling about some asshole, I just agreed.” She raised an eyebrow as Sumi laughed again.
“Who are we talking about?”
“Ranar.
You know, The Perfect Petal?”
“That’s right, your feud.
You’re the bitch from out-of-town corporate fembot drone dead set on ruining poor sad Ranar’s life.” Yuriko threw up her hands in self-defense.
“I mean, obviously those aren’t my words.
What did he do now? He seems like a nice guy.
A little oblivious. You know what I mean, my brother is the same way. Book smart but low perception. Need their hands held a little. Don’t tell me he’s a flasher in the park or something.”
“No!” Sumi cried, shaking her head in amazement.
“How would that even work, his balls are on the inside! No, I’m just .
.
.
I’m done feuding with him. I’ve officially launched Operation Friendship. I just need to get him on board and he’s making it so difficult.”
Yuriko snorted in laughter, pulling open the folding table they used for practice.
“I feel like that’s a pie-in-the-sky dream, but it depends on what you mean by friendship?”
Sumi threw up her hands in exasperation.
“I mean not enemies! We should be friends.
We should start by being friends.
I just need to get him on board with the idea.”
“Start by being friends.“ Yuri gave her a look.
“Innocent friendship! Chaste camaraderie.
A fond alliance.
Bosom bonhomie.”
“Keep going, you’re just digging yourself deeper.
You are so full of shit.
Why, though? Why him? Leave the poor guy alone, let him lick his wounds in peace.
Do you really think he’s ever gonna be able to get over this?”
Sumi gave her a sour look as she wheeled in the chairs.
“You know, just for the record, let me remind you, none of this is actually my fault.
If Ranar wants someone to blame, he needs to look to his own neighbors.
They’re the ones choosing to place orders online instead of directly from him.”
After all, Sumi reminded herself, she was paying her good fortune back into the community already, and she was barely unpacked.
All of her floral designers, except for Hedda, were local, as were both of the drivers.
They hadn’t disliked her enough to not take the job, she thought to herself rancorously, had no problem depositing their paycheck every week.
Their loyalty to Ranar only went so far.
“And you know, he’s acting real innocent and sad now, but Ranar didn’t have a problem with me when we first met.
He asked me out! We could potentially already be a thing! It wasn’t until I became his competition that he changed his mind and made everyone think I’m the literal devil.
But that’s what I’m saying, that should be behind us now.”
At that, Yuri’s eyebrows disappeared into her bangs.
“He asked you out? Wait, when was this? Did you say yes?”
Sumi nodded, a little unwillingly.
“Yeah, I did.
But then my store started construction and it all fell apart because—’
“All because you’re the big bad chain store that’s putting him out of business,” the ogress finished, finally catching up with Sumi’s consternation.
To her shock, Yuriko didn’t offer her a sympathetic shoulder.
“Girlypop, this is so much deeper than ‘I only want to be his friend.’ You actually like him.
I can tell.
Otherwise you wouldn’t be acting like such a mopey bitch about it.
I don’t know, I think you might be expecting a little too much from him.
I mean, you’re not only putting an end to a three generation family business, you’re literally putting him personally out of work. He’s not some dumb kid who can go pick up a side job at Blinxieburger.”
Sumi heated as Yuri ticked off the reasons why Ranar would likely never forgive her.
It’s not personal just means you didn’t think beyond yourself.
“But .
.
.
he obviously liked something about you to pursue in the first place .
. . “ She threw up her hands. “You’re all as bad as my brother! I guarantee half of this is just sexual tension. Gods, everyone in this town needs their hands held for every little fucking thing, I swear. Just fuck him and get out of the way! Ranar is very fuckable, by the way, if not a little dumb. You know nagas have two cocks, right? He can probably go all night.”
“I know,” she heard herself agreeing, dropping her face into her hands as the ogress laughed.
“He’s so babygirl.
Look, I’m trying.
Wait, are you sure? Two? All of them?”
“All the ones I know.
Most of them can’t shut up about it.
Think about it.”
You know they’re probably spectacular.
The rest of him is gorgeous, he’s not going to have scrawny limp noodle dicks.
“I feel like I could bring him around to not hating me if he let me get a crack at them.
I’m sure of it.”
Their laughter was interrupted by the door swinging open, as the other members of their little study group filed in.
Yuri’s daughter, Mai, with Kenta’s girlfriend, Ava.
A kitsune from one of the developments and her two teenages daughters, a fox shifter, and two orcs who were planning a trip to Japan the following spring.
“Welcome back, friends.”
Sumi grinned, forcing herself to focus.
Yuriko’s ability to voice switch was uncanny, her normal bossy vulgarity replaced with a serene intonation, as if she were a 23-year-old aesthetician with a trust fund, practicing professional mindfulness.
“This week our focus is on the chakin.
The cloth we will use to wipe out our chawan, the tea bowl.
We ask ourselves how something so seemingly insignificant and small can be so vital to our ceremony? But the smallest object is a venerated tool when part of the whole.
We will be learning how to appropriately fold our chakin and when to use it, as we prepare our tea.”
The Nippon Club met twice a month for their general meetings, but the members who had registered had been meeting for tea ceremony weekly, with the goal of hosting their own informal novice ceremony at the end of summer.
They would be encouraged to invite friends and loved ones, practicing the main tenet of the tea ceremony — that the time enjoyed in each other’s company was singular and should be cherished, a moment that could never be replicated again.
She wished she could invite Ranar and that he would say yes.
She had envisioned it more than a hundred times by then.
Bowing low before him, preparing his tea, sharing a moment together that could never be replicated, one of many she wanted to share.
She could invite ChaoticConcertina to this, Sumi realized.
After all, he was the only one who fully understood how important it was to her, how much it meant.
He would appreciate the underlying meaning of the ceremony, had practically voiced the exact same thing to her, in reference to the time with his daughter.
He knew better than anyone, and would have been her first choice to invite to such an event, before she’d moved to Cambric Creek.
And maybe you still can. First, though, she wanted to fix things with him. Fixing things with Ranar was her only priority, and she would take whatever opening she could find.
It was on a shelf at the supercenter in Bridgeton, of all places, that she found that opening.
Between Bridgeton and Cambric Creek, the superstore catered mostly to humans, and while that didn’t especially matter to her, for she had grown completely comfortable shopping at the Food Gryphon, the selection did.
Aisles upon aisles of choices, more choices than any one person needed to make over breakfast cereal or brand of cheese, but sometimes the plethora of choices was comfortable, and comfort was what she was seeking that rainy day, once she left the coffee shop.
Sumi was buying Hedda a new tumbler, for the model the troll brought into work every day had a faulty seal, and after the third leak of coffee had been mopped up from the design room floor, Sumi decided she’d had enough.
She found a version on the shelf, the same size and color as the version Hedda owned currently, when she caught the flash of pink from the corner of her eye, at the back of a crowded row of blue cups emblazoned with dancing avocados.
White with candy pink bows, the pink handle reminiscent of the medication one took for an upset stomach. Perfect.
If it was true that things came into one’s life for a reason, there could be no mistaking what this reason was.
It’s your perfect opening.
You’re not going to get a better one.
Searching the aisle, Sumi eventually found a pink heart silicone straw topper that would suffice, adding the peace offering to her cart.
He might not see it that way. But even if he doesn’t, he has an adorable little girl who will.
Sumi was aware that she had a fantastic amount of nerve returning to The Perfect Petal third time against his wishes.
She could only hope that that moment they’d shared in the rain carried through long enough for her to make amends.
You’re going to butter up his kid.
Make him forgive you.
Swallow his cock and suck his soul out. And then marry him. In that order.
The familiar bell jangled above the door, and her stomach twisted at the thought of it being silenced forever.
“Good morning! Welcome to The Perfect Petal.” Her dark eyebrows rose in recognition, smile stretching. “Oh, hi!”
Good, that’s a good reaction.
She’s happy to see you.
He hasn’t poisoned her against you.
Sumi half expected Ranar to have photos of her at his register, warning his family members from being polite to her, likely with instructions to call the police the second she stepped foot over the threshold.
That morning, his budding fashionista wore a pink dress with balloon sleeves, and behind her, Sumi could see a white cardigan tossed on the counter.
Her hair was plaited in the sort of intricate braid one learned from watching step-by-step videos on social media over and over again, and the pleated skirt of her dress swished gracefully over her violet tail as she undulated in place.
“My dad’s not here.”
“That’s okay, I’m not here to see him.
And you look high key adorable, as always.
That dress is not leaving a crumb.
It’s giving cupcake and it ate the whole thing.”
The tiny Naga beamed, eyes crinkling with her smile as her shoulders came up adorably.
“Thank you! It’s my favorite.”
Ruma.
That’s what he called her.
“But I don’t want to be a weirdo, so do you need to let your grandma know that someone’s here?”
“Oh, it’s okay, I know how to ring customers out.”
Maybe when you’re her stepmom, she can work at Pink Blossom.
She’ll fit right in with the aesthetic.
Her dad can make us pancakes for breakfast after he’s fucked me within an inch of my life, and we’ll go to work while he makes chili.
And then later we’ll all do something together, like a real family.
The therapist she used to see in the city had loved delving into her hidden desire for a family, completely at odds with her choice not to have children.
She had never wanted to be pregnant, had never loved anyone enough to be willing to have them in her life forever due to a shared child, and the thought of sleepless nights and potty training made her a bit queasy .
.
.
but the daydream of having a unit of her own and the security that came with it was one that she had never been able to shake. It was because she felt unconnected to her actual family, the therapist had said, replaced by her stepsisters. Sumi hadn’t disagreed, knowing that it was actually only part of her loneliness. Cut off from half of what she was and isolated, and then replaced by her stepsisters. Her father had done his best and she couldn’t have asked for a sweeter stepmother, but it had never mattered.
Here, though, she could be whole.
She was positive.
She had always loved the idea of having a family unit of her own, simply wanting to skip ahead six or seven years past the messy pregnancy and baby stage, and Ranar and his daughter would fit perfectly into her little dreamworld.
“Are you still fighting with my dad?”
Sumi paused.
He told you she was perceptive, more perceptive than him.
He hadn’t been lying.
“I hope not.
I’m trying to make up with him.
Maybe you can give me some tips, I’m sure you know him better than anyone.
But actually, I brought something for you.
I saw it this morning while I was shopping and I knew you probably wouldn’t get a chance to find it before you go home.”
If the girl had thought to question why Sumi seemed to know so much about her, it was washed away in the excitement in her eyes when the tumbler was placed on the counter, shrieking in excitement.
“That’s the one! The one that sold out everywhere! Thank you sooooo much!” She had her arms around the cup, twisting on her tail gleefully.
“I love it!”
Sumi had barely taken a breath to respond when another Naga appeared around the corner from the back room.
She was reminded of Hedda popping out, catching her in emotional fits, every time Ranar sent her some mean-spirited bouquet.
You even have that in common.
You both know the language of flowers, like two complete dorks.
“Where’s the fire, piya?”
This must’ve been his father, she realized, heart folding in a pile of guilt.
This shop is my dad’s whole life.
She could see the resemblance immediately, despite the gulf of years between them.
His warm brown skin was creased in age and laugh lines, his hair a perfect snowy white, but he had the exact same strong profile as he questioned his granddaughter.
His eyes raised, seeing Sumi, white eyebrows shooting up.
“Sumiko! Good morning, why did you come out in this rain? Hold on, hold on .
.
.” He turned slowly, his slow slither resembling a shuffle.
Rectilinear.
That’s what it’s called. “Drishi, Sumiko is here.”
When his mother gracefully slithered out from the back a moment later, it was with wide eyes, her hand at her throat.
“I didn’t expect to see her, but you can’t ever be too sure.
Welcome in again.
You know Ranar isn’t here?”
“I already told her,” Ruma announced.
“She said they’re trying to make up, Nani.”
Sumi almost swallowed her tongue.
His family was full of perceptive women, it seemed.
“Hopefully,” she added with a small smile.
“He can’t stay mad at me forever, right?”
“He likes the color blue,” Ruma said seriously, still clutching her cup, evidently taking seriously Sumi’s request for help.
“Even though he’ll tell you he can’t pick a favorite, but he says that about everything.
And he likes to cook.
He never lets us just make something from the freezer.
He doesn’t notice anything, you can’t think he’ll know what you want unless you tell him. He has, like, negative aura points when it comes to that, so if you want to stop fighting, you should just tell him that.”
It was all she could do to keep from laughing.
His daughter looked so entirely serious, and she was reminded again of his conversation online.
I’ve never once looked at their hooves.
“But he’s a really good listener,” Ruma went on doggedly.
“He doesn’t ever get mad if you tell him things.
And he’ll do things he doesn’t like if it makes you happy, and he’ll pretend he likes them too so that you don’t feel bad.
I can tell, but it’s still nice that he tries to pretend.”
Like pretending he thinks it’s a great idea for you to go to a fancy, out-of-state school, even though it broke his heart for you to leave.
Like pretending he’s cool as a cucumber carrying everyone’s shit, even though he feels like he’s ready to break.
He was right.
His daughter really was his best advertisement.
Sumi thought her heart felt ready to burst, when his mother cleared her throat.
“Piya, will you please bring those white roses to Baba? That bucket is too heavy for these old arms.”
Ruma ducked her head, beaming at Sumi a final time before doing as she was told.
His mother fixed her with an appraising eye as soon as they were alone.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ranar so preoccupied with one person before, the way he has been preoccupied with you all summer.
Not even his wife.
So much agitation! I think you are bad for my son’s blood pressure.”
Sumi gulped.
You were doing better with the kid.
“But that means you will likely be good for him in ways that a mother is meant to pretend do not exist.
That’s good, he needs that in his life.”
Her smile spread, eyes twinkling, and Sumi almost choked.
“Can I ask, are you a relative of Sumiko Ito?”
Sumi was taken aback.
She had been expecting to be asked about her great aunt, feeling her cheeks heat as she nodded.
“She was my great aunt.
She left me her house after she died, that’s why I’m even here in Cambric Creek.
But – but I never knew her, so I can’t answer any questions.”
His mother smiled, nodding, as if she had already suspected the answer.
“She was a very good friend of mine.
Such a wonderful lady.
I did the flowers for her service myself, one last goodbye.
You look like her, you know. That’s why my husband . . .”
Tears raced to the surface before she had a chance to quell their movement.
“I’m so glad.
I’m so glad to know that she had good friends here.
When I found out .
. . I hated knowing she was alone at the end. I joined the Nippon club once I moved in, and I found out she was a member there as well. I feel a bit like I’m walking in her footsteps wherever I go. Everyone speaks so highly of her. I wish I could have known her.”
“She taught a flower arranging class at the Nippon club for many years.”
“I know,” Sumi choked out.
“I’ve been told I have to do it now.”
They were both still laughing when he came through the front door.
Ranar stopped immediately, eyes narrowing as the bell jangled.
“Are you familiar with the phrase ‘turning up like a bad penny?’”
“Go!” His mother pointed to the back.
“We are having a conversation that does not concern you.” She waited until he quickly slithered past, grumbling under his breath and casting back one last, dark look in Sumi’s direction.
His mother rolled her eyes.
“They are like little boys when they get their feelings hurt.
But the answer is no. He won’t be mad forever. I suspect he’s not even mad now.”
“He is,” she corrected regretfully.
“Unfortunately, he is.
And it’s justified.”
“He’s not.
I know my son.
His anger burns very fast and very bright and it is always very short-lived.
He does not know what he feels, and that is what’s making him angry.
As I said, I’ve never seen him so preoccupied. You and I will have tea, and I will tell you all you wish to know about your Aunt Sumiko. Don’t give up on him. You’re very beautiful, and a beautiful woman needs a good man in her life. I’m biased, but my son is a very good Nag.”
He was waiting in the parking lot, beside her car.
“Are you going to make me regret not being a dick to you? Is that what this is?”
Don’t give up on him.
He doesn’t notice things.
I hate being mean to people.
Sumi knew she was at an unfair advantage, but an unfair advantage was an advantage just the same.
She gave him her sunniest smile.
“Not at all.
Your gallantry has already been noted.
I wasn’t even here for you, actually.
But since you have accosted me at my car —“
”Accosted? This is my parking lot!”
”— this is the perfect time for us to have a chat and call a truce.”
Ranar crossed his toned, well-defined arms over his broad, solid chest, his dark eyes narrowing once more.
I’m going to lick every inch of your body and find out what sort of noises you make.
“When did I say anything about a truce?”
“You didn’t.
I did.
Just now.
It’s high time for one.
And you’re going to agree to it. There’s no reason we can’t be friends, Ranar.”
His nose wrinkled, lip curling back as he drew breath to decline her order, but Sumi didn’t give him a chance.
“Thank you for helping me.
That day in the rain.
You didn’t have to, but you did.
You didn’t want to, and you still did. And that really shows the mark of your character, I think. So thank you.”
She moved faster than he had a chance to draw back, dropping a hand to his forearm, still crossed against his chest, using him for leverage to raise up on her toes, brushing her lips against his smooth brown cheek.
If he felt the way her breast pressed against his arm while she did so, all the better.
“I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
He was still standing there as she pulled away, watching him in her rearview mirror grow smaller and smaller.
He never moved away.
I’ve never seen him be so preoccupied with someone the way he’s been preoccupied with you.
She had no real expectation that he would attend the open house she was planning, Pink Blossom’s official grand opening, now that they had found their rhythm.
He’d made it clear that day in the rain that he had no interest in seeing her dreamy little storefront, and Sumi accepted that he viewed it as likely a bridge too far.
…But she could try.
She would ensure he received her invitation just the same, and hoped that he would see it for the olive branch and/or proposal of marriage that it was.
And if not, she wasn’t above using whatever tools she had in her arsenal to wear him down.
I’ll see you again soon.
I’ll make sure of it.