Oh, if he only knew.
36
“He’s too good-looking but that seems to be his only flaw.”
The water pitcher I’m holding almost slips out of my hands as I laugh. “I’ll just have to live with that, Logan.”
“Poor you.” He’s helping me arrange a platter of fried zucchini and we’re both in the kitchen. I’ve left Daniel alone with my family outside on the terrace, and I hope he’s not been beaten down spiritually yet. “He was worth waiting a decade for.”
A decade. Jesus. “I’m glad he has your seal of approval. On hotness anyway. You’re one of three men in my life whose opinion I give a rat’s ass about.”
“I’m flattered. But yeah, dinner will be all about substantive things like…”
“Favorite sports teams?” I finish for him.
He scowls. “What? No. What his D&D alignment is. That sort of thing.”
I laugh, again. “Okay, only the pertinent ones.”
“Exactly.” Logan’s smiling when he pauses, then asks, “So, am I right? He was worth waiting for?” The way he’s asking suddenly makes me wonder how much Mar has told him about Ellis.
I watch the pitcher fill up with water from the filter in the sink.“He’s really, really great. It just feels so seamless to have him in my life. We have so many things in common and it’s just really easy.”
He nods. “I’m really happy for you, Cass.”
I hug him. “Thanks, Logan.” It warms me up inside, because Logan is one of the good ones.
We head out to the terrace where everyone’s seated for dinner. The night is warm and I stand for a moment in the doorway, taking in the scene. Daniel is seated near the middle, being plied with appetizers and wine. He’s smiling, the charm just oozing off of him, and everyone’s attention is on him. Even my fairly stoic grandfather is grinning, opening a bottle of frosty beer for him. Earlier in the week Halabuji had called asking what kind of beer British people like to drink, and it makes me feel warmed from the inside out to see the bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale being handed to Daniel.
My first family dinner with my own fated. Not the odd man out, the single aunt seeking love. There is a tangible relaxing in my body, in my bones. It’s like something is being recalibrated in me to justrest. Downhill mode.
I seat myself next to Daniel and his eyes lock on mine with amusement. “Hello,” he says, and I kiss him on the cheek.
“You hanging in?” I ask in a low voice near his ear.
He reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “It’s been an absolute pleasure.”
“You’re a great liar,” I say with a laugh. I catch Halmoni’s eye at the head of the table and she holds up her glass of wine to me, her happy expression bordering on smug.
“We were just talking about how much we owe him for his marketing help,” Sunny says with a smile.
Daniel actually looks embarrassed. “I just helped Cassia with a few ideas.”
“He’s being extremely humble right now,” I say. “You really lit a fire under my ass.”
Mica and Ozzie laugh and I cross my eyes at them, making them laugh harder.
Everyone starts passing around the food—heaping piles of fluffy white rice, crispy grilled fish, ice-cold cabbage and cucumber kimchi, fried zucchini, soy-sauce marinated brisket beef, and big leaves of lettuce from Emoni’s garden served with bright-orange ssamjang. It’s a lot of my favorite foods and I know Emoni and Halmoni were meticulous in planning the menu.
My heart squeezes with love for all of them.
“Okay, Daniel, we’re going to have to ask you a million questions, you know that, right?” Mar says. Logan groans.
“Daniel Nam!” Ozzie cries out. Everyone but Daniel freezes and stares at her.
I force out a laugh. “Ozzie, you’re so good with names, good job.” Logan immediately starts distracting her with some chopsticks.
“I got grilled like this, remember?” Stu says to Sunny as he pours wine for her. “Sorry, Daniel, it’s a rite of passage.”
