“I’m fine,” I say, then stop short to stretch on my toes and loop my arms around his neck. “I’m more than fine.”
His dark eyes are half-mast as he places his hands on the small of my back. “Much more than that. You’re beautiful. Breathtaking, even.”
My head tips back, and I throw out a loud cackle. “You are so dorky.”
“You like that about me,” he says. “We get to be dorky together.”
“Mmhmm.” The distance between us is shrinking as he draws me in easily like the ocean tides, my lips merely touching his when a piercing whistle rends the air. We both jolt apart, and my younger sister hooks her arm around my neck with a giant, shit-eating grin on her face.
“Hey, Doctor,” Bell sing-songs, and Ethan heaves a disbelieving groan.
“Why does everyone here assume I’m a doctor?” he asks, threading his fingers through his hair. “I’ve already had someone flash me the mole on their back.” When I let out a nervous chuckle, his gaze snaps to mine. “Did you tell them I was a doctor?”
“No,” I say. “Nobody here understands what QA or QC is. I was gonna tell people you were a circus clown, but I went with a pilot instead. Then I had too many uncles and aunties excited about free flights, so I had to tell them why you wouldn’t be able to hook them up. I said you did emergency flights for hospitals. They must have heardhospitaland assumed you performed life-saving surgeries in the back of a ’copter or something.”
Ethan stares at me.
“My Vietnamese is a little rusty with certain words. My Cantonese is still spot on.” I wince. “Next time, I’ll just tell them my boyfriend’s a rodeo clown.”
His expression remains inscrutable. “Like an EMS pilot?”
“Don’t know what that is, but sure?” I say, then nudge my sister off me when she leans her weight against me and cackles shrilly into my ear. “Oh. Look. It’s the couple of the hour, Mr. and Mrs. Fang.”
Our older sister’s a vision in the gown she designed. Effortlessly stunning. Her talent as a costume designer truly shines in the details, down to the beaded lace. All the time and energy she’s spent on her wedding has truly paid off and then some. I don’t think the wedding I could have had with Warner would have been as grand.
I can only hope that when I finally do get married, my wedding will be just as nice. Warm fuzzies race down my spine as I cast a glance in Ethan’s direction, my heart practically skipping a beat.
“I’m going to say it again.” Bell waddles over to the bride and throws her arms around her. “Betty Fang is a kick-ass name.”
Betty laughs, hugging her back with no concern over her hair and makeup. Her focus goes straight to me. “Are you leaving?”
“I told you we should stick around,” Ethan mutters under his breath.
“I had to wake up early this morning for the conservation?—”
“Got it.” Betty smiles kindly at me.
Bell snickers. “Just a heads up, since I’ve decided I like you,” she says, casting Ethan a glance. “Barbie will never shut up about the ocean if you let her getwaytoo into it.”
I turn on my feet to glare at her when Ethan says, “I don’t mind.”
“That was a test, which you passed,” Bell says, ignoring the frown from both of her sisters. “You should always support her dreams and interests, as any good partner would.”
“Since you seem like a nice guy,” Vincent tacks on, “you should never accidentally eat her pistachio ice cream. Trust me on this.”
My mouth parts. Betty delicately presses the back of her hand to her lips.
Bell hollers with laughter. “No. Wait.Doaccidentally eat her pistachio ice cream. Trustmeon this.”
“This is why you’re my least favorite sister now,” I mutter.
“I’ll live,” Bell replies without missing a beat.
“Oh, I know she goes absolutely feral for it,” Ethan says, amusement gleaming in his eyes when he looks my way. He’s met with a dry stare from me.
“She does love her snacks,” Betty whispers.
"Et tu, Betty?” I gasp. “And on that note, goodbye,” I broadcast flatly, sticking out my tongue at my younger sister while I slip my arms around Ethan’s waist. “We’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
