Page 19 of Booked on a Feeling

“It’s nothing.” Jack’s mom waved away her protests like she hadn’t stood at the stove for hours cooking all this for her. “Besides, what will your parents say if they found out I didn’t feed you properly?”

“I’ll be sure to tell them you nearly broke the table legs,” Lizzy promised solemnly, referring to a Korean saying. Overstuffing one’s guest was an important part of their culture. But before she told her parents how well she was fed, she needed to break the news of her three-week vacation to them. She pushed aside the panic that threatened to overshadow her joy at seeing the Park family.

“Good girl.” Mrs. Park patted her cheek, and the easy affection warmed her heart.

“She’s just flexing her culinary muscles to impress you,” Alex quipped, strolling into the kitchen. “Just remember to gush over how good everything tastes.”

“Alex.” Lizzy laughed as a pair of strong arms enveloped her. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Same here.” He released her from the hug and held her at arm’s length. “You look great.”

“So do you.” And he did.

Alex was slightly shorter than his twin brother but was broader around the chest and shoulders. He was handsome in a blatantly masculine way with a cut jaw and sharp cheekbones. She might’ve had a crush on him for about two weeks when they were eleven. He was only twelve minutes older than Jack, but he had seemed so much more grown-up to her back then.Hadbeing the operative word. Now he seemed more like a mischievous younger brother than anything.

Jack appeared in the doorway at that moment. His eyes briefly searched for something and landed on her as though he’d found what he was looking for. That sweet, crooked smile she loved spread across his face, and her answering smile was instinctive. His smooth, oval face and deep, wide eyes made him more beautiful than handsome but not any less masculine.

He stepped between her and Alex, dislodging his brother’s hands from her arms, and hugged her as though they hadn’t seen each other for years—rather than just a few hours ago. Her arms went around his waist, and she buried her face in his chest. Her dread over calling her mom faded into the background as she relaxed against him. He smelled clean, fresh, and warm like a sunny day in the mountains. When she felt him pulling back, her hands tightened around him for a split second before she caught herself.Geez.She must’ve been lonelier than she’d realized.

“Unni!”

It was Tara. And God, she was stunning. Tall with silky blackhair that fell halfway down her back and features so symmetrical that she looked photoshopped. Damn, these Park siblings hit some kind of genetic jackpot. Lizzy suddenly felt intimidated in the presence of their gorgeousness with her just perfectly pleasant looks. It only took her a moment to snap out of her ridiculous self-consciousness, and she wrapped Tara into a bear hug.

“I haven’t seen you for the longest time,” Lizzy said, stepping back from her. “How do you get more beautiful every time I see you?”

Tara slouched her shoulders and blew a raspberry, dispelling the illusion of unapproachable perfection. “Don’t be silly. So not true. You just always see the best in people.”

“What are you doing here anyway?” Alex shot his little sister a what-gives look. “Did you smell the galbi jjim all the way from Seth’s place?”

“What do you mean, what is she doing here?” Mrs. Park interjected slightly louder than necessary. “She lives here.”

Tara turned an interesting shade of guilty and exasperated but plastered a determined smile on her face. “Do you need any help, Umma?”

“Umma? You only call me that when you do something wrong.” The Park matriarch busily set out even more food, making certain not a single inch of the table’s surface remained visible.

“I do not,” Tara mumbled, making minute adjustments to the perfectly set dishes on the table.

Lizzy felt for her. It was never easy disappointing your parents no matter how unreasonable their expectations. But if she could choose between Mrs. Park’s overprotective coddling and her mom’s constant disapproval, she would choose the coddling in a hot second.

Jack, ever the peacekeeper, quickly changed the subject. “Where’s Dad?”

“I sent him out to pick up some fruit,” Jack’s mom said distractedly. “We need to have dessert after lunch.”

Lizzy smiled. Only Koreans would consider sliced fruit dessert. “You didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”

“Trouble?” Mr. Park joined them in the kitchen, bearing a bag of apples. “It’s no trouble at all.”

“Ajussi.” Lizzy bowed at the waist. “You look well.”

“Retirement and Ajumma’s cooking have been fattening me up.” He patted his perfectly flat belly.

“Speaking of Mom’s cooking, can we eat now?” Alex grabbed the back of a chair and pulled it out but waited until his parents sat before sitting down himself.

“Where should I sit?” Lizzy whispered to Jack.

“Across from me.” He went and took his seat so she would know where he meant.

There was no way to avoid looking like a glutton as she filled her plate with galbi jjim, japchae, and the countless banchan. It had been so long since she had home-cooked Korean food, she couldn’t decide what to put in her mouth first.

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