Page 35 of Undeniably Perfect

“What about your parents?”

I lower my head. “My dad…I don’t remember. And my mom, well, I was little when she died. I think they met through a friend.”

Kent glances over at me.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to pry.”

I pat his hand that’s resting on the gear shift.

“It’s OK. I’m used to it. Talking about families is normal. I just didn’t have a normal childhood is all.”

Kent suddenly turns his hand over and places mine on the gear shift, covering it with his and squeezing it. “I’m sorry about that, kitten. I am. I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I can already tell that you are a good person. It really sucks that shitty things have happened to you, but I’m the kind of friend that always has your back, so if you ever need anything from here out, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

I look into his eyes for a moment before he turns his head back to the road. “Thank you, Kent. I appreciate that.”

I expect him to release my hand now that he’s pledged his loyalty to me, but he doesn’t let go of it, and I don’t pull it away. I like the feeling of his big, calloused hand covering mine. It’s comforting.

We talk about nothing and everything as Kent drives us back. The time passes too fast and before I know it, we are standing in the apartment. “I’ll see you later. I should be back by dinnertime,” he says before he leaves me standing in the living room trying to decide what to do for the afternoon.

Chapter Sixteen

“Let’s eat at one of my favorite places,” Kent says as he helps me bring a few suitcases in from the car. He promised his washer and dryer at the house were much faster and we could use his shower to steam clean my suitcases, whatever that means.

“OK,” I agree. I notice a sign for Columbia as he turns off onto a side street. We pop out at a little office building, and he parks the car.

“Sushi?” I ask.

“They have other Asian food too if you don’t like sushi, but I figured if you ate what Mr. Wu brought us the other day, you must be adventurous with your food.”

I laugh. “I love sushi.”

Kent gives me his arm as we exit the car, and I take it.

“Kent!” a man says as I walk inside.

“Doug, my man. What’s up?” Kent asks as he shakes his hand.

“Same old. You want the sushi bar or a regular table?” he asks, eyeing me up.

“We’ll take a table unless you want the bar?” he looks at me.

“Whatever you normally do,” I reply.

“Sushi bar?” Doug asks us. I nod and Kent smiles at me.

“Sounds good,” he says to Doug who leads us over.

It’s not overly crowded but there are a fair amount of people sitting at the sushi bar.

Kent hands me a menu and I peruse it looking for my favorite rolls.

I make my selection and set it down.

“Wow, you already know?”

I nod.

A waitress comes over and we both get green tea and I order my favorite, miso soup, a shrimp tempura roll, and a salmon roll with cucumber and avocado.

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