Page 99 of The Comeback
Two issues occur to me simultaneously: I’m not supposed to know Jihoon, and I’ve basically accosted the guest of honor at my client’s event. Behind Jihoon, Kit stares at me. Correction, everyone stares at me. I must have broken a thousand etiquette rules in the past twenty seconds.
Kit nudges Daehyun, and the two of them cast me cold looks that I only see out of my peripheral because I can’t take my eyes off Jihoon. Then Kit steps forward to pull Jihoon subtly away. It’s like the spell is broken as the rush of blood in my ears gives way to the driving techno beat of the music and the buzz of Newlight’s entire staff complement gawking at me. Hyesu bustles forward, bowing and speaking quickly. It must be along the lines ofshe’s a blundering Canadian, please cut her some slack because she has no idea how to behave like a functioning adult.
Jihoon smiles at her, then leans over to speak in English. “Would you like an autograph? We love to meet our fans. Starrys are so important to us.”
I feel my face go purple, but his expression is completely earnest, like we’ve truly never met and I’m nothing but a starstruck fan. I should let him have this brief triumph, because God knows I deserve it. I might not have a choice but to let him have it because I can barely breathe, let alone think of a retort.
So I only stare at him. He stares back, smile fading until his gaze darkens and his eyes flick across my bare neck to my lips.
Alex clears his throat. “Well, this is fun, wow, so great,” he says. “A pleasure to meet you.”
He leads me away, hissing, “Don’t even think about looking back. Not one fucking glance, am I understood?”
He must be mad if he’s swearing, but I can’t help peeking over my shoulder. Jihoon’s watching, his teeth biting so hard into his lip that I can see the indent. I wish I could smooth it out, but I’ve humiliated myself enough for one evening.
“You up for that jazz bar?” Alex asks once we’re outside.
“I only want to die.” My voice is muffled behind my hands.
“Hotel it is.”
In the cab, Alex throws himself back with a groan. “How did we not know they’d be there?”
“You know, it was fine.” I’ve recovered a bit. “I looked like an awestruck fangirl, nothing too bad.”
“Says you. I thought you were going to rip off that Bottega jacket and climb the poor guy like a tree.” He gives me a penetrating look. “You didn’t tell him you were here.”
“I tried, but I couldn’t do it.” My mind is all over the place. “You can recognize who designed a blazer?”
“Yes, and it’s not difficult to tell someone you’re in Seoul. It’s three words.I’m, there’s one.In. Two.Seoul. Three, there you go.”
“They were hard words,” I say.
My phone buzzes. Jihoon.
You’re here.
Alex looks down at my phone, which lights up the back of the cab. “I don’t know why you’re playing this game with yourself.”
“It’s not a game.” He’s right. Everyone is right. I want this, so why can’t I admit I was wrong and ask him to give me another chance?
Alex looks at me with raised eyebrows.
It might be the drinks, but I give him the truth. “I don’t know what I want, okay?” The words rush out faster than the traffic we’respeeding through. “I thought I did, and now I don’t know. What if I’m wrong about this, too? I want it all to be simple again.”
“It never was simple,” Alex says. “It was small. Now you’re opening up.”
“Thanks, I hate it.”
“Think of it like a new city to explore,” he suggests.
“Except if I make the wrong choice in a city, I can grab a cab or check a map. This is my life, and if I screw up, that’s it. It’s a one-way ticket.”
We go silent as we cross the bridge. Most bodies of water at night are a little freaky, because how can you look at a black ocean and not get worried about being dragged out to sea by a giant squid? But there’s something about a dark river that’s eternally romantic. I wish I could appreciate it better, but Alex’s words rise in me with the same power as a sea monster.
“Do a pros and cons list.” Alex’s voice breaks in on my thoughts.
“Those don’t work.”
