Page 53 of Teach Me K-Pop

I blink back at him. The suggestion is so simple, and yet I had not considered it somehow.

Kija chuckles. “I’ll leave you with that. Goodbye, Nikko.”

I wave at him before he disappears, still wondering how it never crossed my mind to arrange for Jase to attend another show.

Lux bangs the door open, apparently having kicked it, since his arms are full of shopping bags from high-end stores. “Why do you look like that?” He drops his purchases on the bed and waves a finger in the general direction of my face.

“I’m going to invite Jase to see us in the next city,” I say, already trying to think of who I need to tell first to make this possible.

“Ooooh,” Lux breathes, as he moves to drape himself over me in a hug. “So romantic, ’Ko. I love this for you.”

I let him hold onto me for a moment as I contemplate what I am about to do. “Is it too much?”

“Too much? You’re asking if it’stoo muchto want to bring yourboyfriendto see you?” He slides off the mattress and stands in front of me, hands on his hips. “Isn’t this everything you want? And it’s just a plane ticket away.”

I start to argue that he’s not my boyfriend, because we haven’t said that yet. I want him to be. Even though it seems too early, too fast, I think. But I don’t know how any of this works, and that makes me anxious, too. I don’t want to dwell on that now. I glance questioningly at Lux. “Do I ask him first or buy the ticket?”

“Buy the ticket, and then send him the information and tell him to come see you. It’ll be like something out of a movie.” He is practically swooning, all caught up in a cinematic daydream.

Feeling brave from Lux’s enthusiasm, I pull up an airline website and start searching for flights.

???

With each ring, I get a little more nervous. I know it’s late, and Jase is probably in bed. I hope he is sleeping, but I could not wait anymore. Lux is in the shower, and I have a ticket in Jase’s name and an email from our manager that is not exactly permission but also not a denial of my request to be allowed a guest.

Jase finally connects on video, his hair wild and eyes squinted as he adjusts to the light. “Nikko.”

“Hi. I am sorry I woke you,” I say, but it is only a little bit true.

“No, don’t be sorry. I want to see you anytime I can.” He is quiet for a moment, just looking at me through the screen. “I miss you,” he says in a whisper.

I shake my head. “Do not miss me. Come see me.”

“What? When? How?” He is adorably confused. I wonder if he thinks he’s dreaming.

Tapping my phone to forward the information about the flight, I tell him, “In three days. Everything is arranged. Just say yes.”

Without a second of hesitation, Jase smiles. “Yes.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JASE

“Let us know if there isanythingwe can do to make your time with us more pleasant.” The perky, blonde desk attendant beams at me as she hands me the key card to my room. “Enjoy your stay!”

“Uh, thanks,” I mumble, walking away from the strangest check-in experience I’ve ever had. Granted, I don’t stay at hotels a lot—and certainly never at ones this nice—but the whole exchange just seemed kind of over-the-top. That may well have been because my assigned room is apparently on a floor taken up by Task Force, so maybe she has instructions to be extra nice to everyone associated with that. I’m surprised that I’m allowed to stay anywhere near the group, but Nikko assured me he would take care of everything, and he has. From the flight, to the airport pick up, and now my room, I’m just along for the ride.

I’ve felt like my heart has been in my throat since he invited me to see him a few days ago. I dropped everything to make arrangements—finding a pet sitter for Noel, coming down with a fake cough to cover my absence at work for the rest of the week, and squeezing in another shopping trip for both travel necessities and clothes that seemed more, “Yeah, I’m with the band.”

Standing in the corner of the lobby, watching the numbers of the elevator descend, I can’t help sniffing as I wonder where the subtle, but extremely pleasant, floral scent is coming from. There’s no obvious source, but the air here is distinctly more aromatic than it was over by the desk. Just as the door dings open, I catch sight of some sort of refreshment area with a coffee bar and three very fancy beverage dispensers of fruit-infused water in various flavors.

So this is the kind of stuff I’ve been missing out on with my teacher’s salary.

I’m surprised by the melodic female voice that greets me as I step into the elevator and am informed I’m going up. I can only assume she will also tell me I’mgoing downif I leave a higher floor and I chuckle, because all I can think is, yes, I would be ecstatic to do so.

Once she announces that I have arrived at the eleventh floor and I begin making my way to my room, I start imagining what could happen while I’m here, just like I have been about every seven seconds since I said “yes” to Nikko’s invitation.

I truly don’t want to rush anything, but I’m also feeling more than a little desperate to really get my hands on him. Letting him make the moves has worked out well so far, but I wonder if he’s hesitating or holding back. I’m not trying to look for signs that aren’t there. If we never move beyond kissing, I’m more than happy to just have him in my arms. But I’ve had a taste of him now, and I’m always going want more if I can have it. He will be the one to decide, though.

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