CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Early Saturday evening, Esme was pulling her black dress over her head when her phone buzzed with an incoming call. She yanked the dress all the way down and leaped to pick up her phone.
Unknown caller.
She hit the talk button. “Hello?”
“Uh, hi, this is Phil Turner. I got your message?” a man said. “What is this about?”
She took a deep breath so her nerves had time to settle and repeated lines that had become familiar over the past week as she’d gone through her list of Phils one by one, “Hi, my name is Esmeralda. Have you been to Việt Nam?”
“Yeah, sure I have. If this is a free vacation or something, I’m not—”
“I am looking for someone who was there twenty-four years ago,” she said.
“Oh. Yeah …” There was a long, drawn-out whistling sound like he was searching his memories. “No. My first time was Hanoi in early 2000.”
She sighed as disappointment weighed on her. That meant there was only one Phil left, and there was no guarantee he was the One True Phil. If he hadn’t been to Việt Nam either, that left her back where she’d begun.
“You are not the right person,” she said. “Thank you for calling back.”
“Sure, no problem. Good luck. I hope you find him. Bye.”
He hung up, and Esme carefully set her phone down on the desk. The last Phil on the list was a Schumacher, or Shoo-mock-er, as Khải pronounced it.
She tried the surname on—Esmeralda Schumacher—and frowned. That
would take some getting used to, though she liked the meaning, shoemaker.
There were a lot of feet in this world.
That reminded her she needed to wear torture heels all night again. She stepped into the offending shoes, picked up a handful of cheap jewelry, and gazed at herself in the floor-length mirror inside the bathroom. She held the sparkly necklace up to her throat but decided against it and put it down. Once she’d finished putting on the earrings, a bracelet, and makeup, a new woman stared back at her from the mirror.
She’d gotten it right this time. She looked classy like Khải’s sister, and it gave her a much-needed boost of confidence.
Tonight was the night. She was going to tell him about Jade, and if he didn’t seem completely overwhelmed, she was going to propose.
Just the thought of it made her hands tremble, and she rushed to the sink in case she vomited. As she was breathing away her nausea, Khải stepped into the bathroom, looking like a secret service bodyguard in his black tuxedo.
“I can’t stand these things.” He twisted the ends of the bow tie around, looped them, and dropped his hands in exasperation.
“I know how.” Glad for the distraction, she undid the mess he’d made and calmly tied his bow tie for him. “All done.”
“Thank you,” he said as he shook out his arms and took a breath like he was preparing himself for battle.
She smiled and smoothed her hands down his lapels, pleased by how he looked in the well-fitted suit. “You’re wel—It’s not here.” She pressed her palms to the area where she thought his inner coat pockets were.
His forehead wrinkled. “What isn’t?”
“The book you always bring.”
He searched her face. “Are you telling me to bring one?”
“No,” she said quickly. “Well, if you want.” She shrugged. She’d much
rather he talk to her, especially tonight when she was so nervous, but if he truly hated weddings that much, she didn’t want to torture him.
He smiled. “Come on, then. It’s an hour to Santa Cruz, and I don’t want to be late.”
She followed him out of the house and down the driveway to the curb, where he parked his car. Instead of getting in right away, Khải scowled at the white splats decorating the roof and windshield.
“This is statistically unlikely. It’s not like I park under a tree,” he said.
Esme’s lips wanted to smirk, and she kept them straight with effort. “The birds are telling you to park in the garage. There’s room in there. Just move the motorcycle to the side.”
Then she bit the inside of her lip. Things had gotten so easy between them she’d forgotten this was a sore topic. Her stomach tensed as she watched him, not knowing how he’d react. Would he get angry like the day she’d gone to 99 Ranch?
After a brief pause, he said, “I don’t like parking in the garage.”
“Why?”
He blinked, and his face creased in thought. “Why?”
“What is the reason?” she asked, because it didn’t make any sense to her.
“Because the motorcycle’s in there,” he said in a clipped voice before he went to open the passenger door for her.
Esme got into the car and watched as he shut her door, walked around to the other side, and lowered himself into his seat. He started the car and pulled onto the street like the conversation was finished. But it wasn’t.
“If you don’t like the motorcycle, why do you—”
“I didn’t say I don’t like it,” he said.
She exhaled a tight breath, even more confused now. “Then why—”
He glanced at her for a quick second before he returned his attention to the
road, shifted gears, and sped past a convertible. “That’s just how I like things.
It’s like you and … Why do you roll socks that way?”
She looked down and spun the sparkly bracelet on her wrist. “You kept ignoring me. I did it to make you think of me.”
“So you don’t roll yours that way?”
“No,” she said with a laugh.
He tilted his head to the side. “It worked.”
She grinned. “I know.”
Even though he didn’t turn to look at her, his lips curved as he continued driving, and a comfortable silence followed. She watched the office buildings as they passed by, awed by their shiny exteriors and manicured lawns.
“That one is mine.” Khải pointed at a building that was blue glass walls and large white letters on the top that read DMSoft.
She sat up straighter in her chair and inspected it with interest. “Which
floor has your office?”
“The top. I share it with others.”
“Like a boss,” she said with a teasing smile, imagining him crammed in a tiny closet while the important people had all the windows.
He aimed a funny smile at her. “Something like that.”
“Lots of the Phils are bosses. One thought I was his employee,” she said for lack of anything better to say.
An unusual stillness settled over Khải before he asked, “Did you hear back
from the last two?”
“One of them.”
“It was a no?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Do I look like a Schumacher?”
He considered her pensively before focusing on the road again. “Possibly.”
“Maybe these are good for shoemaking,” she said, holding her hands out
and grimacing at them. “So ugly.”
“What do you mean?”
She flashed an uncomfortable smile at him and crossed her arms to hide
her hands, but he held his palm out.
“Let me see,” he said.
“You’re driving.”
He pulled on her arm until she relented. Instead of inspecting her hand, however, he brought her fist to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I don’t care what these hands do as long as they’re yours.”
It was silly—he was no poet—but his words made her eyes sting with tears. When he put his hand back on the gearshift, she rested hers on top of his. It wasn’t a pretty hand by any means, but it was small compared to his.
Did people think they made a good-looking couple?
She relaxed against her seat and watched him on and off for the rest of the drive, recognizing the emotion bursting in her heart. It had been creeping up on her, growing bigger every day, and there was no denying it now. When you felt this way about someone, you didn’t keep secrets from them. No matter how scared she was, she was telling him everything tonight.
• • •
Attending a wedding in a tuxedo and bare feet was a first for Khai. He couldn’t shake the feeling he was missing something—his shoes—but Esme appeared charmed. She dug her toes into the sand like a kid as they walked hand in hand across the beach toward the white folding chairs and wedding altar arranged before the water. She wore that same shapeless black dress again, but she was still so pretty she scrambled his brain. It was her smile. She was happy. All was right in the world.
“Only twenty people?” she asked.
There was a brief pause as he shifted his focus from her loveliness to her words. “Yeah, they wanted it small. Stella doesn’t like crowds.” Just like him. “Do you like big weddings?” He’d give Esme an enormous wedding if she wanted, but something like this was more his style. With less sand.
“Small or big, anything is good.” Esme lifted her shoulders in an indifferent way, but then her eyes sparkled as she said, “The flowers, dress, and cake are the fun part.”
He nodded and immediately committed those items to memory. If she agreed to marry him, they’d go to town on flowers, dresses, and cake.
Flowers by the truckload. Couture wedding gown. Ten cakes, a hundred, for all he cared. As long as she said yes. Dammit, his stomach was all knotted up.
“They don’t need to be like this,” she added with a smile. “These look expensive.” She pointed to the giant bouquets of white roses, orchids, and lilies decorating the outskirts of the seating area. “Your cousin spent a lot of money on these.”
He scanned the flowers and things. “I guess so.”
“I can arrange flowers myself. I know how.” But then she bit her lip and brushed the long hair away from her face. “I can make my dress, too. I don’t know how to make cake, but I can learn.” Her green eyes met his, looking vulnerable. “I can make everything nice—but not expensive.”
He didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t have to make everything herself unless she wanted to. He didn’t care if the wedding was expensive. It wasn’t like he planned to get married over and over. Just once was enough.
He would never want anyone other than Esme. His addiction was very specific.
“Here, here, Precious Girl and my son,” his mom said, coming toward them in a black aó dài with bright blue flowers along the front. Without the added height of shoes, the white silk pants accompanying her dress dragged in the sand, and she yanked at them impatiently. “I never thought I’d go to a
wedding without shoes. It’s a different experience. Do you two have news for me?”
Esme’s hand tightened on his, and she glanced at him for a second before she averted her eyes. “Not yet, Cô Nga. We still need to talk.”
“I was thinking after dinner would be a good time,” he told Esme.
Esme nodded and flashed a small smile at him. “That sounds good.”
His mom considered their joined hands thoughtfully. “Do what you need, but before you leave the wedding, you two need to talk to me.”
“We will, Cô Nga,” Esme said.
His mom nodded, appeased. “Enjoy the wedding, ha?” With that she went to chat with his sister, aunts, and cousins.
Khai and Esme were wandering toward the seats when Michael appeared, clasped Khai’s hand, and gave him a one-armed hug. He looked like he’d walked off a runway in his three-piece tux, even without shoes on.
“So glad you made it,” Michael said. He smiled, but his motions were abrupt and jumpy, his breathing tight. He had to be nervous. Like Khai was.
Except Michael’s woman had already said yes. What was there for him to be
nervous about?
“Are you okay?” Khai asked.
“Yeah, I’m great. Did I tell you I’m glad you made it? Because I am. Stella really likes you.” Michael’s gaze landed on Esme, and his lips curved into a crooked grin. “You must be Esme. Happy to finally meet you.” He shook Esme’s hand, and she grinned back with a dazed expression.
Great, she was falling under Michael’s spell even though he was getting married within the hour. Damn Michael and his cursed good looks.
“Happy to meet you. Stella is a lucky woman,” Esme said, beaming her fantastic Esmeness at him and speaking English to everyone but Khai.
Michael tried to smile but it turned into a gulp for air as he shook out his hands and squared his shoulders. “Thanks for saying that. I’ve never been
this nervous. I’m so lost over her if she doesn’t show up, I’m going to …”
His words trailed off as he focused on a group of silhouettes in the distance, and his face went lovesick. He squeezed Khai’s shoulder without looking at him. “You guys have a seat. It’s starting.”
Everyone hurried to sit, and the talking settled down. Esme practically vibrated with excitement. “Is Stella really pretty? Your cousin is so …” A dreamy look took over her face, and Khai was certain she’d say handsome.
What she said instead was worse. “He’s so in love.”
Love. Khai’s guts tied themselves in a big knot, and he forcibly reminded himself he was doing the right thing. She wanted a green card. He could get her one. This marriage would benefit both of them—for three years.
A guitar started playing a cover of a pop song, and Khai watched the ceremony with careful attention. If all went well, he’d be doing this soon. The wedding party walked down the aisle in pairs comprised of Michael’s sisters, Quan, and a bunch of Michael’s friends. Stella appeared in a gauzy white gown, which Michael had to have designed. When her dad gave her a teary smile, she smiled back and kissed his temple before taking his arm and heading toward the altar, where Michael waited, watching her with that lovesick look from before multiplied by a thousand. His eyes were even reddened like he was on the verge of tears. As Stella crossed the sand, her gaze never wavered from him. Whatever Michael felt for her, she reciprocated fully.
Girl loves boy loves girl.
As the two lovers exchanged vows and kissed, the sun dove into the horizon, and the sky blazed over the ocean. It was a magical time. The camera flashed numerous times, a dozen cell phones glowed, no babies cried.
The people in their small crowd wiped at their tears, Esme included, and Khai felt like an impostor at life.
Until Esme squeezed his hand to get his attention, pressed a surprise kiss to his lips, and then smiled at him. If they weren’t in public, he would have yanked her close and kissed her until she melted. He knew how to do that
now. As it was, he simply devoured her with his eyes, wanting her with the full force of his out-of-control addiction, but judging from the way her pupils dilated, she didn’t mind.
He was leaning toward her to kiss her despite everything when everyone stood up to watch as Michael and Stella strode past. Staff from the nearby hotel guided them to a garden for a relaxed cocktail hour. He and Esme shared a Sex on the Beach while everyone ate hors d’oeuvres and chitchatted.
She had absolutely no alcohol tolerance, and after only a few sips she was leaning into him and giving him the look that experience had taught him meant take me to bed and have your way with me. That look was one of the best things in the whole fucking world.
He was determined to have it for the next three years.
After cocktails, their party went to an outdoor seating area beneath a tent composed of wooden beams, white semitransparent fabric, and golden Christmas lights. As the Asian fusion dinner and speeches carried on, he rehearsed his proposal in his head. The logic was sound and sure to appeal to her. She was going to say yes. It wouldn’t make sense not to.
When everyone was finishing their cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream, Khai grabbed Esme’s hand. “Walk with me?”
She ate one last bite of cake, pulled the tines of the fork from between her luscious lips, and set the utensil on her plate. “Okay.”
They left the tent and strolled along the beach at a comfortable pace, their hands clasped tight and their feet sinking into the sand. The moon was nearly full and cast a silvery light upon the water, and the air smelled of salt and sea and kelp. Once they were a suitable distance away, he slowed to a stop.
It was time. Fuck, he was quaking inside. He’d never asked a girl out. He’d never wanted to. And now he was proposing.
“Do you hear it?” Esme asked.
“What?”
“The music.”
He perked his ears, and then he heard it. Soft guitar strains flowed on the breeze, coming from the tent. He recognized it as Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.”
“They’re dancing.”
She smiled, looped her arms around his neck, and started to sway back and
forth. “We are, too.”
“You are. I don’t know how.”
“You just move like this,” she said with a laugh.
He felt distinctly absurd, but he followed along and moved with her. And then somehow he stopped feeling absurd. It was just the two of them here, just the moon, just the ocean and the sand and music and two hearts beating.
And she was smiling.
He crushed his lips to that smile, stealing it, and when his tongue swept into her mouth, the tastes of fruit, vanilla, and champagne made his head spin. He’d never have cake again and not think of her, never drink champagne and not think of her. Every success of his life would taste like Esme. He couldn’t help running his hands over her body, trying to find a way to all his favorite places, but this sack of a dress made it almost impossible.
When he made a frustrated sound, she laughed, kissed him one last time, and pulled away, wiping at the lipstick on his mouth. “We need to talk.”
“You’re right.” He took a deep breath to clear the lust from his mind and gathered her hands in his. The sooner he proposed, the sooner he’d be done, and the closer he’d be to marrying her.
“Esme—”
“Anh Khải—”
He hesitated, surprised by the trembling of her hands. Unlike him, she really did shake when she was nervous, and he brushed his thumbs over her knuckles, hoping to soothe her. “You can go first if you want.”
With a lift of her chin, she said, “Okay, me first.”
She licked her lips and adjusted her hands so she could hold him as he held
her. Several times, she started to speak but stopped before any words came out.
“Do you want me to go first, then?” he asked.
“No, I can.” She sucked in another breath and chewed on her bottom lip before she said, “When I first came here, I had reasons to marry you. Lots of reasons. And I got close to you for those reasons. But then …” Her eyes met his. “Then I got to know you.” Her fingers tightened around his. “And I got close because I wanted to be close. A lot of times, I forget my reasons.
Because I’m happy. With you. You make me happy.”
Khai’s chest filled, and his heart raced, and he couldn’t help smiling. There were an infinite number of reasons to exist on this earth, but that seemed the most important of them all—making Esme happy.
“I’m glad,” he said.
“Maybe it’s too fast, maybe it’s not smart, but …” She smiled slowly, her eyes soft and liquid in the moonlight, and said in clear English, “I love you.”
His lungs stopped breathing. His heart stopped beating.
Esme loved him.
Warmth bubbled over him in overwhelming wave. What had he done that she loved him? He’d do it a million more times. He brought her hands to his mouth and breathed a kiss to her knuckles. He couldn’t speak, had no clue what to say.
Looking beautiful beyond compare with the moon and the stars and the water behind her, a teasing smile curved over her mouth, and she asked, “Do you love me? Maybe just a little?”
He went cold.
Not that question. Why had she asked that question?
He could give her every thing she wanted, a green card, real diamonds, his body, but love?
Stone hearts didn’t love.
He didn’t want to answer the question. All of him rebelled against it.
But he made himself admit the truth. “I don’t.”
She blinked and shook her head before she smiled again. “You love me more than a little.”
“No, Esme.” He stepped back and let go of her. “I’m sorry … but I don’t love you a lot or a little. I don’t love you at all.”
I can’t.
Her face went slack, her eyes wide, watery. “Not at all?” she whispered.
“I don’t love you.” His entire being hurt like it was imploding. “I never
will.”
“This isn’t funny,” she said.
“I’m not joking. I’m completely serious.”
She didn’t say a single word. She just stared at him as fat tears spilled down her face. He wanted to take his words back. He wanted to erase her sadness. He’d do almost anything to make her smile again.
But he couldn’t lie about this. She’s asked him the question, and she deserved to know the answer.
• • •
I don’t love you. I never will.
Esme’s heart broke apart, and the jagged pieces stabbed at her from the inside. At the same time, shame doused her, heavy, suffocating shame. She knew why he couldn’t love her. She could go to school, change her clothes, and change her speech, but she could never change where she’d come from.
The bottom of the bottom. So poor she couldn’t afford to finish high school, so different even other poor people looked down on her, so low she couldn’t climb free, not in Việt Nam. With all he’d done for her, she’d thought he saw
beyond the things she couldn’t change and valued her for who she was inside.
But he didn’t. According to his words, he never would.
Backing away from him, she said, “I’m sorry to bother you. I’ll go.”
He shook his head, his expression focused yet unreadable. “You don’t bother me.”
A laugh bordering on hysterical escaped her lips. “I don’t understand.” She turned to run, but he stopped her with a firm grip on her arm.
“We’re not done yet.”
She dragged in a breath and braced herself for the worst, almost afraid to
look at him for fear of what he’d say.
“We should get married.”
Her body sagged in confusion. “What?”
“I wouldn’t mind you staying with me long enough to get your naturalization papers. After that, we could have a quick divorce. That would work out for both of us, I think,” he said with a tight wrinkle of his lips.
Maybe he meant it to be a smile.
She shook her head. She’d heard his words, but they didn’t make any sense. “Why marry me if you don’t love me?”
“I’ve gotten used to you being in my house and in my bed and—”
At the mention of his bed, fierce heat flooded her face, and she ducked her head. The sex. He wanted more sex. Of course he did. He’d been a virgin before this, and they were really good together. But she couldn’t do it when it was making love for her and just sex for him.
“No.” She brushed his hand off her arm and stepped back. “I can’t marry you.”
His forehead creased as he frowned. “I don’t understand why.”
“Because it will hurt too much.” Because she loved him. If it was just a cold arrangement between strangers, maybe she could have done it. This marriage could do so much for Jade. But not if it destroyed her mother first.
Khải was not the solution. She had to keep looking and find another way.
He looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry.”
Fresh hot tears cascaded down her face. She was sorry, too.
“Esme, don’t cry. I—”
Without a word, she turned and stumbled across the sand back toward the wedding reception. She had to get away from here, and in order to do that, she needed her phone and money. She barged into the romantic tent and held her arms close to her body as she rushed past the couples slowly swaying in the sandy dance area, feeling like a trespasser.
There her purse was, slung over the corner of her chair. She looped the knock-off over her shoulder and tried her best to avoid eye contact with anyone.
“Are you okay, Esme?” Vy asked. She paused in the middle of mixing sugar into a cup of tea. Her hair was perfect, her makeup perfect, her black dress perfect, because she’d been born into this.
Esme forced a bright smile and nodded. Khải entered the far side of the tent, scanning the crowd with a frown like he was looking for something. His gaze locked on her. She couldn’t hear what he said, but she knew it was her name.
He walked in her direction, and panic shot through her. She had to get away. All these people thought she’d reached above herself by chasing Khải.
She didn’t want to be there when they learned Khải agreed with them.
She raced away from the table. And smacked into something firm. Looking up, she saw Quân’s face.
“Hey, going somewhere in a hurry?” he asked with his characteristic good cheer.
“Sorry, I—” She glanced over her shoulder and found Khải striding toward her with a determined gait. No. “Please, let me go. Please?”
“What’s going on? Are you two fighting?” Quân asked.
Her vision went blurry as she shook her head. “Not fighting.” Khải was coming closer. She sidestepped Quân and hurried off. As she slipped outside, she saw Quân stop Khải, talking to him with a concerned look on his face.
She sprinted over a long stretch of sand, feeling the coarse grains rub her feet raw, and eventually found pavement. She didn’t know where she was going, but it was away and that was good enough for now.
Her phone rang and rang, but she ignored it and kept running blindly, from him and from this horrible shame. When she couldn’t stand the ringing anymore, she stopped, dug her phone out of her purse, and turned it off.
As she stood there, lungs burning, mouth dry, feet possibly bleeding, she realized she had no idea where she was. Somehow, she’d ended up on a quiet street lined with little beach homes and tall palm trees.
There was no Khải, no Cô Nga, no Mom, no Grandma, no Jade, no one.
Just Esme.
And she had nowhere to go. There was a great big world all around, and
none of it was hers.
Where did you go when you had nowhere?
• • •
Khai wandered around the beach for what felt like hours, but he couldn’t find Esme. She’d vanished into the night.
He tried calling her again, but it went straight to voice mail.
The worst feeling crept over his skin. The air was cool, but he couldn’t stop sweating. He yanked his bow tie loose, clawed at his hair, and tore his coat off. He almost chucked it into the surf, but he remembered the velvet box inside his coat pocket. That belonged to Esme. Well, it would once he had the opportunity to give it to her.
How could she just leave like this?
Quan jogged toward him from the opposite end of the beach. “I couldn’t find her down there. Did you see her anywhere?”
What a frustrating question. If he’d seen her, he wouldn’t be standing here alone. “No.”
Quan scrubbed at his buzzed head. “What the fuck happened between you two? Why’d she run?”
Khai kicked at the sand. “I suggested we get married.”
Even in the darkness, Khai could see his brother’s eyes widen. “Wow, okay. I’m surprised she wasn’t happy about that. I thought she was really into you.”
Khai’s grip on his bunched-up tux coat tightened so much the fabric squeaked. “She is. Well, she was. She told me she’s in love with me tonight.”
He still hardly believed it.
Quan gave him a weighted look. “And?”
Khai ignored the question and started walking toward the street. Maybe she was sitting on a bench over there, waiting for him. Maybe she’d gotten over her momentary anger, thought things over, and wanted to change her answer.
“And what, Khai?” Quan insisted, falling in step beside him.
He tucked his jacket under his arm and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I
told her the truth.”
“Which is … ?”
He walked faster, leaving the sand for the pavement, and stared at the late evening Santa Cruz street. There was a bench next to a lonely streetlight, but it was empty. He peered at the parking lot where his car was. No signs of life.
She was nowhere to be seen.
Quan grabbed his arm with a firm hold. “Khai, what did you tell her? Why was she crying?”
He tried to swallow. It didn’t work the first try, or the second, but he remembered how on the third attempt. “I told her I don’t love her back.”
“That’s bullshit,” Quan exploded. “What the fuck?”
“I said it because it’s true,” he said.
“You’re crazy in love with her. Just look at you,” Quan said, waving his
hands at Khai like it was obvious.
“I. Am. Not,” Khai bit out.
“The fuck you’re not. You’re an all-or-nothing guy, so we knew the first girl to catch your attention would be the one. Esme is your ‘one,’ Khai.”
“I don’t have a ‘one.’ I don’t do relationships.” He walked down the sidewalk a block, looking all around. Where was she?
Shit, was she safe? This didn’t look like a shady area, but that wasn’t any kind of guarantee. Adrenaline spiked, and his heart crashed against his ribs as he dug his phone out and tried her number again.
Straight to voice mail again.
Dammit.
“Why won’t she pick up?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone.
Quan answered anyway. “She doesn’t want to talk to you. You don’t tell a girl you don’t love her and then ask her to marry you. I don’t know what you were thinking.”
Khai crammed his phone back in his pocket impatiently. “She needs a green card. I can give her one. It’s that simple. I even told her I’d be willing to give her a divorce as soon as everything was official. She should have been happy. She shouldn’t have said no and run.”
Instead of speaking right away, Quan exhaled and rubbed a hand over his face as he shook his head. “Shiiiiit.”
At least they were in agreement about something. This situation was exactly shit.
“Why are you willing to do all that for her if you’re not into
relationships?” Quan asked with narrowed eyes.
Khai looked away from his brother and shrugged. “I’m used to her, and it’s okay living together. Why not?”
Quan threw his hands up in the air. “Great reasons for marriage. I’m gonna go back to the wedding. If you hear from her, let me know.”
As Quan stomped back to the wedding tent, Khai returned to his car and got inside. Her high heels lay on the passenger side at uneven angles, and he searched the interior of the car in excitement. Until he remembered she’d left them here before going in.
He drove around aimlessly, searching the streets, sidewalks, benches, and shop fronts for a woman in a loose black dress and no shoes. He didn’t see her anywhere.
When he stopped in front of the same traffic light for the fourth time, he acknowledged it was time to give up. She had her phone and purse and knew how to take care of herself. If she didn’t want to be found, there was no point in looking. Even so, he’d stay close just in case.
He pulled his car into a random parking spot by the beach, cranked the brake, and turned off the engine. Then he sat and waited, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he stared up at the darkened sky.
