Page 47 of Show Off

Uncle Korain smacks his lips. “Did you bring some back for us?”

“No.” I soften my voice as Lana cuts me a sharp look. “We didn’t bring a cooler, and four hours was too long to have chowder sitting in a car.”

“Fair enough.” Korain looks at Lana. “Guess I should fill out that paperwork?”

“I’ll text my sister right now.” She pulls out her phone and types one-handed. “Ji-Hoon, you know where Mari’s office is?”

“Yep.” My brother wheels past, deliberately bumping me with his elbow. “Don’t disappear, Dal. I want to hear all about the trip.”

I doubt he’s wondering about the chowder. “Sure.”

“See you in a few.”

He wheels away with Korain on his heels, just a happy family without grief or pain or anger. I watch them go, hating the hot brick in my belly.

“You okay?”

I look at Lana. “Yeah, why?”

She tucks her phone in her bag and cocks her head. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because the uncle with whom you have a strained relationship just showed up out of the blue.” Folding her arms, she watches me much too closely. “And I know we agreed we’re not getting involved, but it’s still a lot to process. I’m just checking in with you.”

My throat makes a clicking sound as I swallow. “I’m good. Ready to get back to work.”

“Great.” Her eyes flash with something I can’t read. “So I’ll see you around.”

“Sounds good.” Squeezing my keys, I watch her start to turn. “Lana, wait.”

Blue eyes spear my core she turns back to face me. “What?”

I’m not sure where to start. “I had a good time.”

It’s not hard to see that she’s weighing her words. “Same.”

“Not just what happened last night.” I clear my throat. “The whole trip. Walking on the beach before we left this morning. Sampling chowder. Listening to your weird music.” I actually kinda liked it.

Lana laughs. “You’re just touched that I shared my fried potato rounds at lunch.”

“That did warm my heart.” I feel like I should say more. “I know I’m a dick sometimes, but I want you to know I like you.” That sounds weak, even for me. “I like you a lot.”

Her smile could power a six-acre solar farm. “I like you, too.”

“Good.” I kick at a patch of gravel. “I’ll see you around.”

“See you around, Dal.” With that, she shoulders her bag, then turns and walks to her cabin.

* * *

The restaurant’sslammed all evening, so I barely duck out of the kitchen that night. At one point, Ji-Hoon wheels through with a bus tub of plates for the dishwasher.

“Uncle Korain’s at table six,” he calls. “Said he’d like to say hello if you have time.”

“I don’t.” I keep braising a thick hunk of beef.

It’s after ten by the time I stumble home. My brother left the restaurant thirty minutes ago, so he’s tucked in bed by the time I walk through the door. As it snicks shut behind me, I drop my bag.

Mouse trots over, shaggy tail swishing, and noses my crotch.

“Hey, girl.” I scratch behind her ears, then make my way down her neck. She snuffles my pantlegs, smelling the twelve dozen dinners I made in the last six hours. “How come you’re up?”

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