Chapter Seventeen
On the drive back to Queens, Mei tried to ignore how her time with Alexandre was drawing to a close.
Last night, alone in his bed, ensconced in his sheets, she’d thrummed with longing.
She imagined Alexandre climbing on top of her, kissing her neck and running his hands over her, certain and firm.
At one point, she’d reached between her legs to staunch the throbbing.
Guilt immediately seized her. She pictured Joey instead, but that also felt wrong.
Which was worse, fantasizing about Alexandre or Joey in Alexandre’s bed?
The debate killed her arousal, letting her drift into a dead sleep.
When they pulled up to her apartment building, Alexandre’s eyebrows lifted at the glassy entrance. “Sweet place.”
Mei flushed. “I’m still getting used to it.” She hesitated. “Want to come up?” Did she even want Alexandre to see the life she shared with Joey?
“Thanks, but I’ll get going. Let you settle in.”
Out on the sidewalk, Alexandre helped her into her backpack. Before Mei could stop herself, she wrapped him in a hug, burying her face in his neck. Alexandre’s arms around her were tentative at first, then tight.
“If you ever want to talk about anything we spoke about, I’m here for you,” he said.
Mei drew back so she could see Alexandre’s face. Her heart pounded as she took in his caring eyes, the angle of his jaw. She nodded and swallowed hard. Then she let him go.
· · ·
Mei walked through her apartment as if for the first time. She ran her hand over the smooth kitchen counter and the blue easy chair where Joey watched his epic fail videos.
Her phone chimed, shaking her from her daze. Maybe she’d left something in Alexandre’s car and he was driving back. Mei peered at the screen.
Oh balls! I’m in Virginia now.
Joey had sent her a screenshot of his driving route. The highlighted loop-de-loop for a highway exit resembled a thirteen-year-old’s drawing of a penis and testicles.
Mei’s breath grew shallow. Not long ago, she would have laughed at Joey’s silly joke. Now the sight of it turned her stomach.
In two weeks, she’d be bound to Joey forever. Alexandre’s words spun through her mind. Don’t you think you’re worthy of marrying someone you’re sure about?
Should she call off their wedding? Break up with Joey now over video chat? But what would she say? I don’t want to get married because you make penis jokes?
Mei ran to the bathroom. She retched over the toilet, but nothing came up. She rested her head against the cool seat and tried to take deep breaths until, spent, she slid onto the floor.
Sometime later, her phone chimed. Mei glanced at it wearily. Joey had attached a photo of his study materials spread out on a table.
Gonna make you proud, my baby.
Mei smiled wanly. Another text from Joey appeared.
I already passed two practice exams. Network security promotion, here I come!
Mei’s heart lifted. She typed back.
Amazing! I’m so proud of you.
She flopped onto the couch as her phone chimed again. She glanced at it, expecting Joey’s “aw shucks” reply. But it was Alexandre.
Just got home! My power’s on, too. I hope you’re resting up. I meant what I said. I’m here if you ever want to talk.
Mei closed her eyes. This weekend, she’d felt so carefree with Alexandre. No, not carefree. Cared for. Safe and secure, like all of life wasn’t an uphill battle with no one to rely on but herself. Could she have that forever? With Joey?
Her eyes wandered to the table where they kept their wedding supplies. Joey was coming through now, like he always did. He just needed a little coaching when it came to taking initiative. We’ll get there, Mei thought with a nod.
Her heart in her throat, Mei replied to Alexandre.
So glad your power’s on! Thanks for your offer to chat. Now that I’m back, I’m feeling much better about everything.
She sent it before she could second-guess herself.
Mei reached over to the end table and picked up her favorite framed photo. She and Joey were in Flushing Meadows Park, beaming at the camera, their faces pressed together. The silver Unisphere, the unofficial symbol of Queens, rose proudly behind them.
Mei touched the photo. The sight of Joey’s lopsided smile made her lips tug up. I’m already home.
· · ·
“Happy bachelorette!” Ali popped open a bottle of champagne and poured two glasses.
Mei grinned as they clinked their flutes. “Getting ready together was the best idea.” Her wedding weekend was here, and Ali and Luc were staying at a boutique hotel near Park Avenue South. Hair tools, makeup, and snacks covered every surface of the room.
“I’m going to call the guys back,” Ali said. “We need to leave for the restaurant soon.”
Alexandre was crashing in Ali and Luc’s room tonight, though Mei hadn’t seen him yet. Just thinking of him made her stomach flip. Anytime she remembered the electric feel of his arms around her waist, she made herself think of Joey, the man she was about to marry.
Luckily, the past two weeks had been full of distractions, like mountains of Livin projects.
“Have you unplugged from work?” Ali asked, as if reading Mei’s mind.
“As of four this afternoon.” She didn’t mention how she’d pulled back-to-back ninety-hour weeks.
When she’d finally logged off, she’d collapsed on her bed, shaking and chattering.
Her hard work had paid off, though. She’d already exceeded her September goals and was on track to hit October’s.
James said they could discuss the VP job after her wedding.
“Good! Now you can enjoy your wedding and honeymoon.”
Mei wrapped a lock of hair around her curling iron. In two days, she’d officially be Joey’s wife. Why did the thought make her heart race? Pre-wedding nerves, she reminded herself.
Ali slipped on her olive-green minidress. Mei pulled on her own little black number with ruching on the sides and a plunging neckline. They rode the elevator to the ground floor. Mei scanned the dimly lit lobby lounge for Alexandre and Luc.
“There they are!” Ali said.
Beside a potted plant with massive fronds, Luc was speaking and Alexandre was laughing. They looked handsome in blazers and dark jeans. Mei drank in Alexandre’s easy smile. Her body buzzed with attraction.
The brothers looked up and spotted them. Luc grinned at Ali and strolled toward her.
Mei’s eyes met Alexandre’s. His eyebrows lifted.
A smile formed on his face. Mei felt him taking her in.
He was clearly enjoying what he saw. She couldn’t tamp down the slow smile spreading across her face, conveying the same.
When Mei reached him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, grateful for the heels that brought her face closer to his.
Ahhh. He smelled divine. Alexandre hugged her back, angling his body to put space between them.
“You look great,” he said quietly.
Mei brightened, but noted his use of “great”—a more impersonal term than “gorgeous” or “stunning.”
They took a cab to the restaurant, where an elevator whooshed them up to the penthouse. When the doors opened, they gasped. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Manhattan shimmered in the twilight. The Empire State Building loomed close enough to touch.
In their private dining area, a waiter passed out flutes of champagne. Ali and Luc excused themselves to speak to the event manager, leaving Mei and Alexandre at the windows.
Mei flushed as he glanced her way. “Quite the view, huh?”
“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen the city from this high up.” They took in the sea of lights. “Your big weekend is here. Are you still feeling okay about everything?”
“I am.”
“Good.”
Their gazes locked. The longer Mei stared into Alexandre’s eyes, the more her resolve melted. Tell me I’m making the right decision!
Alexandre seemed to sense her thoughts. He took a step closer. “Mei—”
“There you are!”
Mei spun around. Kathy ran over in a sleek cobalt dress. Luis followed her in a merlot jacket. Her cousin Evie arrived, her slim figure clad in a black jumpsuit.
Mei hugged them in turn, then pulled Alexandre over. She let go quickly when she realized she was holding on to his arm. “This is Alexandre, Luc’s brother. He’s a biology professor at SUNY New Paltz.”
Ali and Luc rejoined the group. As Mei chatted with Kathy and Luis about their flight, she spied Alexandre talking to Evie.
Her cousin had always seemed much younger, but at twenty-nine, Evie was no longer a kid.
She worked at a nonprofit and was a lifelong dancer.
Mei bit her lip. Evie and Alexandre were the only single people at the party.
They’d probably get together by the end of the night.
Just then, the air shifted. Joey strode in with Bao, Chloe, Miguel, and Ivan.
“The bachelor’s here!” he bellowed. “Where’s my bride?”
Mei turned red.
Kathy and Luis laughed generously.
“Go to your man,” Kathy said.
Cheeks aflame, Mei pecked Joey on the lips. He would have looked downright dashing in his dark jeans and navy blazer if he weren’t so wild-eyed and rumpled.
He gripped Mei’s waist and swayed. “Babe. I missed you. So glad we’re together now.”
Mei coughed as the stench of alcohol hit her. “Let’s get you some water.” She led Joey to the bar, then put on her most composed smile, not unlike the one she used to make presentations at work.
“Wow, looks like you had quite the pregame,” she said to Miguel and Ivan.
“I blame those two.” Miguel tilted his head toward Bao and Chloe, who were taking champagne flutes from the waiter.
“They’d done four rounds of shots before we even got there,” Ivan added.
Mei blanched. “Joey never drinks that much.”
Miguel patted her arm. “We’ll keep an eye on him and make sure he’s okay. You just enjoy your evening.”