Page 154 of Blossoms of the Heart
Tai could blame me for not telling him up front about my accident. Just like when he mentioned me leaving out my marriage and divorce when we played twenty questions.
What a mess. It was like whatever I chose was the wrong thing and I always got hurt in one way or another.
Tai gave my hand a gentle squeeze then slipped his arm around me.
I leaned into him as we walked up the stepped and entered the grand hall.
The emperor would be doing his speech at eight. I could see him talking with some officials in the furthest corner of the hall.
I’d had the privilege of meeting him a few days after Tai found the box.
That was an experience in itself.
Meeting the emperor.
He asked me if I’d be around in December to celebrate his birthday. That too was a massive celebration in Japan.
It was at that festival that the treasures of the land were brought out. Since we’d found pieces of priceless history it seemed fitting to do another complimentary exhibition.
That sort of thing was right up my alley.
I told him I’d do my best to make it.
There were at least three hundred people here.
Tai kept his arm around my waist, keeping me close.
“I think we should get lost after the speech. What do you think?” Tai asked, pulling me close to whisper into my ear.
“Yes.”
He smiled down at me and leaned over for a kiss. When we pulled apart, I looked ahead and saw Mom and Dad ahead of us. They’d just come into the hall with Akito and Tai’s parents.
I had a nostalgic moment where this felt like it could have been eleven years ago.
“I forgot to tell you my mom was here.” I did forget.
A wicked smile lit up Tai’s face and he answered me with a kiss. One that was evocative and perhaps best placed in the bedroom.
I got it. Let her see us just as she found us, a few weeks close to eleven years ago.
I smiled into the kiss, wondering what her face would be like, but not caring.
Someone cleared their throat from behind us in an overly suggestive manner, evident that they wanted to catch our attention.
I turned to see who it was and froze.
Completely froze, solid like ice.
Shit!
It was Jason!
Jason.
What the fuck?
Why was he here? What was he doing here?
