Chapter Thirty-Seven #2
With everything happening at Livin, Mei almost forgot about Lunar New Year.
What an auspicious beginning, she thought sarcastically on Saturday afternoon as she waited on the corner of Mulberry and Bayard in Chinatown.
Mei waved at Ali, Luc, and Kaia coming down the sidewalk, even as her heart ached at the absence of Alexandre’s lean figure and bright eyes.
“Gung hay fat choy!” Mei handed Kaia a red envelope she’d stuffed with a few twenties. “I can’t wait to collect my hongbaos tonight,” she teased Ali. The upside to being single at thirty-six meant she still received red envelopes, while Ali and Luc did not.
Ali looped her arm through Mei’s. “You can use your hongbaos to treat me to a snack. We’re going to chat before the lion dances.”
At an old-school Chinese bakery, they selected egg tarts and melon cakes from the plastic-domed display cases. They sat across from each other at a table, each with a steaming cup of coffee.
Mei eyed her sister. “Dare I ask what you want to talk about?”
“Where to start? There’s Livin, and there’s Alexandre. I haven’t wanted to pry, but what the heck is going on with you two? And how are you, after this week?”
“Not good. I basically have no team. All my direct reports in New York are gone, as are half of my regional reports. Ayanna, my best work friend, quit.”
Ali’s eyes widened. “Oh wow. Think you can go back and accept that Pure job?”
“I don’t know!” Mei exploded. “I don’t want to talk about Livin.”
“I get it. What about Alexandre? Are you two dating? Luc and I still haven’t figured out whether you got together in Hawai‘i and have been seeing each other this whole time, or what.”
Mei covered her eyes. “We were dating.”
“Ahhhhh-hhhhh-hhhhh-h, Mei!” Ali burst out laughing. “Oh god, just the thought of you two sleeping together!”
Mei’s face was redder than a hongbao. “This is why I didn’t tell you!”
“Sorry.” Ali coughed to compose herself. “But wait. You were dating? Past tense? Because of what happened at dim sum?”
“We haven’t spoken since.”
Ali blew on her coffee. “I was mad at him, too. But—I’m not taking his side—I can see why he got upset, even though he didn’t handle it well. Why don’t you talk to him?”
Mei fiddled with her egg tart’s crinkly wrapper. Because I’m afraid he’s right. Because I love him and I’m afraid I’ve lost him.
“You can’t avoid him forever.”
“Or can I?”
“Seriously, Mei. Is that what you actually want?”
Alexandre’s kind face appeared in her mind. Mei sniffled as her eyes welled up.
Ali smiled sympathetically. She touched Mei’s arm. “What about Livin?”
“I think I want to stay.”
“So talk to Alexandre. You two will work it out.”
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
Mei finally bit into her egg tart, the flaky pastry rich on her tongue. “It’s not too weird, though? Me and Alexandre?”
“It’s a little weird.” Ali giggled. “Okay, it’s super weird. But Luc and I just want you two to be happy. And you and Alexandre are clearly happy together.”
· · ·
Mei meant to speak to Alexandre. She really did.
But on Sunday morning, Erika called an emergency meeting.
Livin Forum was a week away, and they needed to prepare their presentation.
Plus, marketing morale was abysmal. Erika tasked Mei with planning a slate of team-building events for the coming week in New York, and the following week in Los Angeles.
Mei immediately dove in to scripting their presentation; hiring a massage therapist, yoga coach, and meditation guru for daily wellness sessions; planning a trapeze artistry offsite; and organizing a swank rooftop happy hour for the first night of Livin Forum—all while tackling her gargantuan goals.
By the time the weekend rolled around, Mei saw the error of her ways: She still hadn’t spoken to Alexandre. Now she had to face him at Kaia’s “unicorn, sparkles, rainbow, glitter” fourth birthday party.
Kaia had made it clear that everyone had to dress up.
“Including adults,” she’d declared at Lunar New Year.
So Mei pulled on white leggings and a soft white sweatshirt.
She ran glitter gel through her hair and clipped on colorful extensions to create a flowing black-and-rainbow mane.
On the train to Ali and Luc’s, Mei followed a dramatic eye makeup tutorial.
In the parking lot, she donned her unicorn headband and galloped to her stepdad’s car.
Henry burst out laughing. “You look great! Kaia will be thrilled.”
“I hope so.” Mei climbed into the passenger seat and noted Henry’s down jacket. “Are you wearing your outfit?”
“Yup. It’s just not as elaborate as yours.”
They arrived at Ali and Luc’s house. Upon entering, Mei saw Henry was just wearing a striped rainbow shirt under a navy sport coat.
“Wow, your costume!” Kaia danced around Mei in a pastel pink shirt, sparkly tulle skirt, and glittery unicorn headband.
“I love it!” Ali laughed. She wore a white sweater with iridescent rainbow threads. Luc had on a silver button-down and a unicorn headband. Her mom donned a rainbow sweater.
Mei turned scarlet as she followed Ali to the kitchen. “I thought everyone was dressing up.”
“We are dressed up! Just not as much as you. Well, you and one other person.”
Mei’s heart clenched when she entered the kitchen. Alexandre stood before her, plating a tray of sprinkle cupcakes. He was a head-to-toe rainbow in a sparkly tie-dyed sweatshirt and joggers, and a matching eye mask. His tousled hair shimmered with glitter.
Mei tried to smother a laugh. “Wow. Nice outfit.”
Alexandre jumped at the sight of her. “You look incredible.”
Familiar heat flooded Mei. She could still make out his strong, lean shoulders beneath that crazy sweatshirt. She wanted to run her hands through his glittery hair and press her unicorn body against his. Behind her, Mei heard Ali snicker.
“You two will be the hit of the party!”
“The center of attention. Our favorite place,” Mei deadpanned.
Alexandre gave her a commiserating smile, sending a hopeful thrill through her.
They carried the cupcake platters to the living room. Mei set up a beverage station and filled two glittery pink cups with rosé. She handed one to Alexandre. “I think we could use this.”
“Cheers.” He held his cup against hers, never breaking eye contact.
The front door opened, and Clarisse and Jean-Germain waltzed in, looking like they’d come straight from the Metropolitan Museum of Art gift shop.
They wore matching black shirts with an image of The Unicorn Rests in a Garden tapestry.
They’re such professors, Mei thought, trying to keep a straight face as she greeted Alexandre’s parents.
Twenty minutes later, it was time for guests to arrive. The doorbell chimed. Mei’s eyes slid to Alexandre. Without a word, they bolted to the kitchen.
“Can we just hide out here?” Mei folded up the empty cupcake box.
“Right? I don’t feel like mingling with random parents and kids looking like this.”
“Maybe no one will miss us.” They smiled at each other. How Mei had missed those hazel eyes. “Hey, I wanted to—”
“There you are!” Ali burst into the kitchen. “The birthday girl was wondering where you went.” She grabbed a wicker basket that jangled. “The Rainbow Rockers are about to go on.”
Mei blinked. “Who?”
“Suzy Sparkles and the Rainbow Rockers. A local music group that does birthday parties. It would be fun if you two danced with the kids and handed out instruments. Your costumes are just too good!”
Mei stared at her in disbelief. Beside her, Alexandre gritted his teeth. He wasn’t going to say no, either.
“Fine,” Mei said. “Let’s get this party started.”
“You’re the best!” Ali handed her the basket of egg shakers, tambourines, and maracas.
Applause erupted when they entered the living room. Parents whipped out their phones and started recording videos.
Mei turned red. “We’re not the entertainers.”
“We are now,” Alexandre mumbled. He broke into a genuine grin when Kaia ran over to him.
Mei handed out egg shakers while dancing to a Kidz Bop cover of “Celebration.” A few minutes later, cheers rang out. A beaming redhead in a flouncy rainbow dress walked in, followed by two guys in rainbow suits, carrying a guitar and bongos.
“I’m Suzy Sparkles and we’re the Rainbow Rockers!” the redhead cried. “Let’s wish Kaia a very happy birthday!”
They launched into “Shake It Off.”
Maybe it was the music, the occasion, or just that she actually felt happy, but Mei kept dancing.
She jumped around with Kaia. Her shoulders bumped Alexandre, making them both laugh.
Mei grabbed his hand. He twirled her under his arm, gathering her close for a wonderful second, before breaking apart to give out tambourines.
Afterward, everyone had pizza, sang “Happy Birthday,” and ate cupcakes. As the party wound down, parents began gathering their children.
Mei’s heart thudded. She touched Alexandre’s arm. “Can we talk?”
He nodded. They slipped down the hallway into the kitchen.
It was empty. Mei stood by the counter so she had a view of the door. “I know we left things badly. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Livin, and that you found out the way you did.”
“Mei.” Alexandre took a step toward her. “I feel awful. I’m sorry I hurt you, and I’m sorry I didn’t reach out. We should’ve talked through everything.”
Mei reached up and removed Alexandre’s eye mask. Her breath caught at the sight of his handsome face, now in full view. She brushed back a rogue lock of his hair.
“I missed you,” she whispered.
“I missed you, too,” Alexandre said, his voice rough. He took her in his arms. His heart was pounding just as much as hers.
Mei’s eyes flitted to the door. The din of the party had lessened. She stood on tiptoe so her lips skated along his ear. Alexandre inhaled sharply.
“We’ll figure everything out,” Mei said. “Can we talk more tonight? At your place?”
Alexandre went rigid. His arms dropped, releasing her.
Mei’s stomach plummeted. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I misunderstood.”
“Mei, no.” Alexandre took her hand. “I want to be with you. That’s all I’ve wanted for months. You. It’s just—” Alexandre looked away and blew out a breath. When he turned back to her, dread clouded his eyes. “I have an early flight tomorrow. To North Dakota.”
Mei staggered back. “You’re flying there? For that research job?”
“For that research job,” Alexandre confirmed, his voice tight.
“Wow.” Pain squeezed Mei’s chest. She couldn’t extract a single clear thought. “North Dakota.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luc stroll into the kitchen.
He froze. “North Dakota? What about North Dakota?”