Page 69 of Just Another Meet Cute
“Nah, I’m already looking forward to showing off my cooking skills. Gotta get some more points in.” Ryan glanced over at me like he expected me to say something, but my mind was suddenly blank, wiped clean like the blackboard on the last day of school.
Instead, I gave him a half smile that felt entirely too forced and not at all convincing. His brow wrinkled in confusion. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a little tired,” I lied.
He leaned closer and patted his shoulder. “This pillow is available whenever you need it.”
Normally I would take up his offer, but it just didn’t feel right. Blinking rapidly, I glanced again in Ian’s direction, but he was busy talking to Linh. “I’m good, thanks.”
Still looking uncertain, he nodded and sat back in his seat. His finger tapped a steady beat on the car door. “By the way, did I tell you that I talked to my mom about taking a year off to travel before starting college?”
“You did? What did she say?”
“Oh, she almost fainted,” he said with a chuckle. “You know how moms are. Plus, no one ever just delays college in my family. Or anyone we know actually. To be honest, she kind of freaked out. I almost backed down, but then I remembered what you said about doing what I want, and I just went for it.”
Both of my hands gripped his arm when he didn’t continue. “And …?”
“And we’re going to keep talking about it.” His lips flashed into a quick grin. “I don’t know if Iwilltake a year off, but at least the idea’s out there. It’s actually just really nice to have my voice heard for once.”
Unable to help myself, I gave him a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you. And whatever you decide to do, just remember that I’m always on your side.”
His breath rustled the hair by my ear as he laughed and hugged me back. “So does that mean that you’ll help me teach Kathy how to mow the lawn?”
I grimaced. “Uh …”
Just then Ian got everyone’s attention. “Hey, what is Bádoing?”
We all turned to look out the window as Linh pulled up to their house. Their grandma was standing by one of the cars—only two were in the driveway today—with nearly a dozen grocery bags at her feet. She bent over and looped several of them over her arms and straightened up. Or at least she tried to.
Without waiting for Linh to put the car into park, Ian and Ryan leaped out and were at her side within seconds. They each held on to her arms and pulledher upright before taking the bags away. With a stern look on his face, Ian looked like he was giving her a lecture while Ryan nodded every few seconds. Rolling her eyes, Básmacked their arms and tried to take the bags back, but the brothers just brushed her away.
The concerned looks on their faces actually made my heart swell a bit. It was so cute to watch. Forget about the grilling skills, grandma love was getting both of the guys a ton of points.
Linh gave me a knowing smile like she knew what I was thinking. “Come on, let’s go help them.”
“Okay.”
Between the four of us, we were able to get all the bags inside in one trip. I didn’t know what their Báhad bought, but some of the bags were actually pretty heavy. Even Ryan struggled with them. I had no idea how she expected to bring all this inside herself.
“This is a lot of ground pork,” Linh commented as she dropped the bags on the kitchen table with a loud thud. She stretched her arms up over her head, and they made a popping noise.
“Thank you. I’m making giò for the family this afternoon.”
At her words, Ryan and Ian froze with horror etched across their handsome faces. They shot each other worried looks and practically stumbled over themselves to escape the kitchen. Or at least they tried to. Their grandma was already blocking the doorway with her arm as she smiled expectantly. “If you’re not doing anything today, then you can all help me.”
“Oh, we would love to, but we—”
“—there was this place we needed to go—”
“—to pick up before it closes—”
Unable to help myself, I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms. “That’s funny. You both told us earlier that you didn’t have anything to do.”
Linh was right there alongside me with an identical grin. “Isn’t that why you lent Ollie your car?”
“That’s … right. I forgot. Thanks for reminding us,” Ian said dryly with an annoyed look on his face.
“You’re welcome.” I had to swallow my laughter as Ryan just looked resigned and started to unpack the bags on the table. The more stuff he took out though, the more I was starting to understand why they were trying to escape. There were at least thirty pounds of ground pork on the table with bottles of fish sauce, bags of sugar, and a bunch of small pink bags that I couldn’t read. “How many pounds is this?”
