Chapter 8 | Train Wreck

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I've been staring at my ceiling for the past five minutes

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I've been staring at my ceiling for the past five minutes. Why, you might wonder? Remember Motor Mouth and Miss Tatas from the restaurant?

I miss them.

Really. I was far better off asking them for a threesome than ever believing I could survive this month.

We've been sitting down for all of ten minutes and we've already covered this small space is adequate enough for you, Harper? and you realize your current salary can barely support one person, don't you, Harper? and are you sure this is Wài Pó's recipe, Harper?

The only thing I'm sure of is that I should have been the sperm that lost.

I sink in to my chair and cover my face as Mom and Dad shift into a conversation of their own about work. Maybe if I pretend like I'm invisible it'll work. I used to do it a lot as a kid—keep my head down at the dinner table so they couldn't make eye contact and talk to me. It used to work pretty well.

I take a chance at glancing at Sawyer and find him already looking at me. He's tapping his fingers relentlessly on the table and pinning me with a glare that says let me say what I want and I narrow my eyes to reply with I'm going to fire your ass.

"So," he starts, still staring me down and interrupting Mom and Dad's conversation. My eyes bug out of my
head in desperation. The sonofabitch keeps going. "I would love to know more about the people that raised my beautiful girlfriend. Why don't we start with you, Dave Davis?"

Oh my God.

I cringe when Dad pauses between bites and blinks at Sawyer's tone. I'm guessing he can't get a read on him right now. Honestly, neither can I.

"What would you like to know?" Dad sets his cutlery down after a few seconds and leans forward. Sawyer turns to meet him.

"How did you and the lovely Mrs. Davis meet?"

Mom's brow just barely inches. Even I can admitted the way he said lovely was questionable. Kill me. Didn't I promise that's what I wanted?

Dad smiles. He likes this question. "A couple of buddies and I decided to take a gap year between high school and university to live abroad. We ended up in China and had no idea what to do with ourselves. We'd been walking down the streets of Shanghai trying to find our way around when I saw Mei. I was struck by how beautiful she was and couldn't make myself move. My buddies sure did heckle the hell out of me for it."

My parents share a look that shows years of love and memories. My chest aches. I never doubted their love for each other—only their love for me.

"They bugged me until I gave in and finally went up to her to ask for directions. She thought I was robbing her so, naturally, she punched me right in the face."

Sawyer's expression shifts to one of surprise and impress. Mom notices and shrugs.

"I'm the one who begged my parents to let me be independent." The barest smirk touches her mouth. "A girl had to hold her own to get that kind of permission."

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