“Oh, up there.” Ken looked impressed. “Nice. Did you play REKD before you started to work there?”
“Yes. My older brother is a big gamer, and he got me into it.”
“Did he teach you all his secrets?”
“Some.” More than anyone would know.
“We ought to meet at lunch sometime and team up.”
“That would be fun, but I’ve been invited to join a team.” She searched for another topic, not wanting to say she was on a team with the four owners. “What is it you like about your job?”
That was the perfect question, because Ken turned out to be intensely passionate about his art. He went into lengthy detail about his current project, an update on one of the older champions.
As Ahri listened to him, memories of Zed kept intruding. Once, he’d talked with that kind of enthusiasm. Looking back now, it was easy to see how they’d drifted away from each other. Well, he’d gradually pushed her away, but she’d let him. What surprised her was that her heart didn’t ache for the loss of their love. It made her wonder if they’d have lasted anyway. It made her sad.
The server set the pizza down before them.
“I’m sorry.” Ken took a piece. “You shouldn’t have let me run on like that. I want to know more about you. You don’t have a Southern accent, so where are you from?”
She took a bite of her pizza, so she didn’t have to answer right away. She hadn’t thought about a different history for herself. Thinking back on what Bill had said, she didn’t want to say too much, but if she made up a bunch of stuff, she’d have to remember it all.
“We moved around a bit but all out West, you know, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico.”
“Where in New Mexico?” Ken took a sip of his drink. “I have an uncle who lives out there.”
“It was when I was really little, so I don’t remember a lot about it.” Ahri took a big bite of her pizza and said around her food, “Mmm, this is so good.”
“Isn’t Shen Chinese?” When she nodded, he said, “Your eyes are striking. That’s the first thing I noticed about you. I’d love to draw you sometime.”
Ahri had gone through this a few times over the years, with white guys fixating on her eyes. If not for the color, she doubted she’d stand out that much. Maybe she should get some brown contacts. Though, he was an artist, so maybe it was only that.
“Thank you, I guess.” Then an image of a drawing of her showing up online came to mind. If he mentioned it again, she’d have to come up with an excuse. This hiding was getting really old.
“Do you speak Chinese?”
She was tempted to say something to him in the little Korean she knew because most Americans couldn’t tell the difference. She decided against it since so much of the champion mythology came from there. It’d be just her luck that he actually knew some words.
“No. When my mother came from Taiwan, she wanted to be American and only spoke English once she married my father.”
“That’s a shame. Do you want that last piece?” When Ahri shook her head, he slid it over to his plate. “It’s too bad you lost your family’s language when immigrating here. Obviously from my last name you know my dad’s family came from Ireland. I would have loved to learn Gaelic, but my grandparents had the same attitude as your mom. However,” he took on a realistic Irish brogue, “I did learn how to speak English with their accent.”
“That’s wonderful,” Ahri said with a laugh. “Did you ever get to use it in school?”
They lingered at the table sharing high school experiences. Hewas a lot of fun, but she wasn’t attracted to him as more than a friend. She hoped it wouldn’t be an issue.
“A table for five,” came a familiar voice from the front.
Her heart gave a lurch. What was Rafe doinghere? She glanced over her shoulder. He stood with his family. Francie hadn’t mentioned eating here. It must have been a last-minute thing.
“Ahri!” Lessa skipped over to their table, followed by Nik. They threw their arms around her.
“Hey. I didn’t know you were eating out too.” Ahri turned to Ken. “They’re my . . .” She struggled to think of how to describe them. “My landlord’s kids.”
“Hello,” Ken said. “Which is your favorite pizza?”
They were still trying to tell him, talking over each other, when Francie, Alex, and Rafe joined them.
“I didn’t know if you’d still be here.” Francie stretched out her hand to Ken. “I’m Francie Diederik. This is my husband, Alex, and our children Nik, Lessa, and Rafe.”
