He wasn’t quite sure what she was talking about, but he was certain she would regret having opened up like this once she was sober. He just needed to get Julia home and pump some water into her before she passed out and woke up with a killer hangover.
“Any man would be lucky to date you. You just have to find someone you feel comfortable being yourself around. Who finds your honesty refreshing and funny. Who celebrates your success. Who appreciates all the hard work and sacrifice you’ve put in for your company and for your family.”
“Well, I don’t think such a man exists. But if he does, it’s up to them,” she said, throwing her head back toward her house. “They gotta find him. I gotta try and not scare him away. Gonna ask my coach how to do that.”
“Your coach?”
“My Pilates—no, my executive—no, my... one of them. One of my coaches. They’ll help me figure out how to date a man successfully and to win his heart just long enough so thatmy parents can stay in Irvine and my grandmother can live forever.”
Tae furrowed his brow, completely lost by Julia’s train of thought.
“This will all be okay, I promise. We’ll figure it out.”
Julia looked back up at Tae. “Hey, when did you grow up?” she slurred.
He reached out and held her chin in his hand to steady her. He looked her in the eyes and watched as hers widened. “I’ve been grown, Julia,” he said, his voice a near growl.
“Oh,” she sighed, holding her mouth in the shape of the word, looking at him as if searching for some answer she couldn’t quite reach.
She pulled her head back from his hand and furrowed her brow. “Hey, why don’t you call me noona anymore? I’m still older than you. Don’t be rude.”
And there it was, little-brother-zoned once again. “Sorry, Julia noona.”
She smiled and nodded, satisfied. But just as quickly the smile disappeared.
Julia suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm with an intensity that surprised him. “Remember when I was given the solo in the Christmas musical, even though I couldn’t hold a tune, and you practiced every single note with me until I got it right because you wouldn’t let me fail?” she whispered.
Tae swallowed back the sudden emotion in his throat. He couldn’t believe Julia remembered that. He was only nine years old at the time but could see exactly what was going on. She was so scared she’d embarrass herself and her family. But too stubborn and hell-bent on being awarded the honor of the solo to turn it down. They’d worked for weeks, Tae on the piano training her ear to get each note right.
“Promise me you won’t let me fail,” she said, a single tear running down her cheek.
Tae rubbed his thumb across her skin, wiping it away. “It’s all gonna be okay,” he assured her. “I promise. Now, let’s get you inside. It’s starting to get cold.”
He wasn’t sure how he was going to do it, but he was gonna keep his promise.
She nodded slowly, stood up, and leaned into the warmth of Tae’s body.
He wrapped an arm around her and walked her home.
4
Dating Coach
Julia
Julia had a killer hangover.
She wasn’t a big drinker in the first place, but mixing alcohols and using liquor to dull the stress of bad decisions was not a good idea. Noted.
She’d woken up in her childhood bedroom with her clothes from yesterday still on, her makeup melted down her face, likely taking residence in all her pores, and the taste of death in her mouth. She barely remembered anything from the night before.
“My dying wish...”
Julia groaned as she rolled out of bed, wishing she had forgotten all of it.
Despite having a to-do list a mile long and needing to get back to LA to take care of it, Julia was up and at ’em at eight in the morning on a Sunday, ready to take her grandma to the herbalist before church, per her request. She wasn’t going to miss out on any other appointments regarding her halmoni’s health. She would be at every single one to hear the details and plan next steps.
Dying wish.As if. Not on her watch.
