Page 110 of Show Off

“Exactly.” He rubs both palms down the legs of his pants. “Anyway, he let me apologize and said he understood what it felt like to screw up. Which I know doesn’t make what I did any better.”

“At least you’re in good company.” I consider the stories of the women behind me. All of them know what it’s like to stand at the crossroads of anger and forgiveness. To make the choice that works for them.

Can I forgive Dal?

“I’m not sure I know how to trust you again,” I admit softly.

Dal doesn’t flinch. “I don’t blame you one bit. And I won’t say something trite like, ‘please give me another chance,’ or ‘I swear you can trust me this time,’ even though I mean those things.” He tucks both hands in his pockets, then takes them out again, fidgeting with the folds of his chef’s coat. “Trust should be earned. So should second chances.”

Tears prick my eyes as I take him in. His perfect cheekbones and warm, dark eyes. Hands built for slicing and chopping and a few things outside the kitchen. His perfect, sculpted chest.

I frown as my eyes fix on his tattoo. Something’s…different.

“Wait.” I lift a hand to trace one chili and he flinches. “I’m sorry.” I snap my hand back. “Did you add to your ink?”

“Yeah.” He glances down, sheepish. “There’s some new stuff.”

My eyes scan the ink, the series of tick marks I know as Korean characters. “What does it say?”

“Chinjeol,” he says softly, his voice warm and gentle. “Kindness.”

“Oh.” My fingers curl into my palm, tingling where they touched him.

“I wanted a reminder that when I’m faced with a choice of being candid or being kind, I can never go wrong being kind.”

“I love that,” I whisper, tears pricking my eyes. “That doesn’t mean I want you to lie. Everyone needs someone in their life to tell them the truth.”

“But not when it does more harm than good.”

I shrug and consider, not willing to see things in black and white. “It depends. If I come to you and say, ‘Dal, does this skirt make me look like a Tootsie Roll?’ I don’t mind if you steer me to something more flattering.”

One edge of his mouth quirks. “What if I like seeing you as a Tootsie Roll?”

“They’re very delicious.” I’m getting distracted again. “My point is that you don’t need to lie to make me feel better. I count on you to be honest with me. Sometimes, you might be the only one whocanbe.”

“I hear you,” he says, nodding. “But I can be thoughtful about it. I can pause and ask myself, ‘Dal, will this makeyoufeel better, or Lana?’ The answer should always beyou.”

My throat pinches tight, and I’m feeling my eyes sting again. “And my answer is you.” The words croak out before I think them through, but they feel right. “I choose you.”

“Really?” Light fills his eyes as he searches mine. “Does this mean you’ll give me a shot?”

I nod to a smattering of applause behind me. “Yes. I believe in second chances.”

“God, I love you.” His hands slide around me as he pulls me against his chest. “I’m so sorry I swooped in like some know-it-all asshole, when the truth is that there’s just one thing I know for sure.”

“What’s that?” I whisper, burrowing into his chest.

“That I’m nothing without you.” He kisses the top of my head. “You’re the kindest, most big-hearted human I know. There’s no sunshine in my life without you.”

“Dal.” I squeeze him tight and then draw back. “You’re not just saying that so you can stop bringing me potato dishes?”

He laughs and leans in to kiss me. “You can have all the potatoes you want.” His lips touch mine, tender and sweet, as my palms cup his shoulder blades. “Mashed potatoes,” he says, and kisses me again. “Patatas bravas.” Another kiss, this one deeper than the last. “Chili oil smashed potatoes. Truffle fries. Potato croquettes.” More kisses, softer this time, with a graze of his tongue that sends shivers down my spine. “I even know how to make potato candy.”

“You’re kidding.” Pretty sure he’s messing with me. “What’s in it?”

“Instant mashed potatoes, vanilla extract, confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter?—”

“Wait, hold on.” My hands slide down his back to cup his ass. “How did I not know this was a thing?”

---