Page 96 of Faking the Goal

Not in a bad way. Quite the opposite, actually. She looks delighted about something. Kentaro follows her gaze toward me, and even from here, I can see suspicion settle over his face.

His mom leans closer to him and lowers her voice.

Unfortunately for him, not quite enough.

"So... that's Taylor?"

"Yeah. She's interviewing me for the Student Media feature."

"You forgot to mention she was a girl."

"Ma."

"What?" she asks innocently. "I'm only saying you don't usually have girls here with you."

"Mama."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

I nearly laugh out loud.

"No," Kentaro says immediately. "She's doing a feature on me."

"Yes, I understand that." His mother waves a hand. "But she could be doing a feature on you and be your girlfriend."

"Mama."

I press my lips together to keep from laughing.

"What?" she asks innocently. "I'm only asking, Ken-chan."

My fingers stop over the keyboard.

Ken-chan?

A grin starts pulling at my mouth before I can stop it, because Ken-chan? This six-foot-two wall of permanent irritation who looks like he was born scowling has been walking around this entire time with a nickname that sounds downright adorable?

Oh, this information is dangerous in my hands.

His mother comes over before Kentaro can stop her. "Hi, sweetheart."

I close my laptop and stand. "Hi. I'm Taylor Lewis."

I offer my hand, but she takes it warmly between both of hers instead. "Harumi Azuma. I'm Ken-chan's mother."

My eyes immediately slide toward him.

"...Ken-chan?"

His grunt tells me everything I need to know.

I bite down on my lip, but the laugh escapes anyway. "Oh my God."

"What?"

"Nothing." My grin gets wider. "I just find your nickname...interesting."

Harumi laughs. "That's what I've called him since he was born. He's a grown man now, I know, but he'll always be my little Ken-chan."