Page 95 of Strictly Against Policy

They didn’t treat me any differently from each other. They didn’t ignore me when I made a comment. Instead, they tried to make sure I was part of the conversation. Even if the conversation didn’t involve me, they’d glance at me to include me. I wasn’t an outsider to them. I was part of their group. Here, among Jonathan’s friends, cousin, and sister, I felt included—because they made efforts to make me feel that way.

For the first time, outside of my friendship with Mary and Eric, I belonged somewhere else safe.

I finally glanced at Jonathan. He peered down at me with this cute and inquisitive smile. He brushed his thumb over my knuckles under the blanket he had thrown over us. I shook my head and leaned into the comfort both he and his family brought me.

CHAPTER 38

Jonathan

Most would say Lina Lee was quiet and reserved. But I knew her well. Her stoicism had never been meek. She demanded attention and received it no matter how silent she was. Tonight was different—just like when she had walked into work that one morning several weeks ago. Only for me to later find out her brother had been harassing her and causing a disturbance at her home.

I instantly noticed that something was wrong tonight. Somehow, it felt different this time.

Silence hung between Lina and me. It wasn’t heavy or uncomfortable, just calm. Something was on her mind. It didn’t eat away at her the way her situation with her brother did. Instead, it lingered softly across her eyes. It clung gently onto the edges of her expression.

“You’re quiet tonight,” I commented as we made our way back to her home.

The psychological thriller we had watched was good, in the sense that it was entertaining. The plot twists and turns were unexpected, but they weren’t at the forefront of my mind—Lina was.

“I am?” she asked, rather surprised.

“Yeah,” I answered, squeezing her hand lightly. “You okay?”

“I’m good.” Lina stopped in her tracks to look at me and to pause for a moment.

The night sky was clear, giving the moon a chance to shine her silver rays across my girlfriend’s beautiful face. Big, cool brown-black eyes, a cute little button nose, and plush heart-shaped lips. There wasn’t a single strand of her pin-straight hair that was out of place. She was the embodiment of perfection, as always.

“Have you always been this close with your sister and cousin?” she asked, curiosity ringing in her voice.

I tipped my head to the side, thinking for a moment. “My relationships with them have never really changed. So, I guess, yeah. We’ve always been this close,” I answered. “The twins have always treated me the same, too. Sure, we’re all older now, but our relationships have pretty much been the same as when we were kids. The only difference now is that the twins are with my sister and cousin.”

Her brows crumpled together. “You knew the Hughes twins since you were a kid?”

“Yeah, I did,” I laughed. “Our moms are best friends. We grew up living next door to one another after my dad passed away. They’re practically my older brothers.”

Lina nodded slowly, beginning to walk toward her place as another thought streaked across her eyes. Once again, she stayed silent.

“What?” I asked. She chuckled. “You’re not being slick, Lina. I know something’s on your mind.”

“It’s nothing . . . It’s nice to see how loving your family is,” she said softly. “I love how they show love through food. It’s a very Hmong thing to do—to put all our love into the food we make for the ones we care about. This is what we grew up knowing, because our parents didn’t know how to express their love. And yet, I haven’t felt something like this in a long time. At least, not before we had phở at your sister’s place when I first moved here.”

I wanted to say something, but she turned to me before I could. Her eyes glistened as her smile grew wider.

“You are so loved, Jonathan. I used to be jealous of you, but now, I’m also one of those people who cares that much about you,” she continued.

My heart expanded wide and vast with each hard thump. I reached for her face. “I care that much about you too.”

When she tiptoed to kiss me, I met her halfway. We kissed, only briefly, before pulling away and finally making it back to her place. As she unlocked her front door, she looked up at me.

“Anthony isn’t wrong, by the way,” she said as we walked inside her house. “You do seem to take pointers from the twins when it comes to flirting.”

I raised a brow at her, smirking. “I do not.”

She shrugged. “You do.”

I scoffed while she laughed. “How so?”

She placed her index finger on my sternum, right in the middle of the valley of my pectorals. In a light swipe, she drew down. A breath groaned out of me as I tossed the extra food Shoua made sure to pack us onto the coffee table.