Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 36143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Chapter Nine
Ryan
I drink way too much with Sookie and somehow end up at Ah-Ri’s dorm, attempting to sneak in. When I’m like, wait, why isn’t the door working right?, I text her.
Me: Here!
Ah-Ri: Did we have plans?
Me: Open the door.
Minutes later, she’s jerking me inside the room and locking the door as if we’re about to get arrested. I bust up laughing but stop when she shoves me hard in the chest.
“What the hell are you doing, Ryan?”
“Seeing you.” I put my hands into my pockets. “It felt like too long since I didn’t get to.”
She grabs her phone and starts texting furiously.
“Who are you texting?” I feel rage when I shouldn’t. Just like I feel attraction where I shouldn’t.
“Haneul,” she says. “You need to get home, sober up, and…oh, yeah, not get caught!”
“Pleaseeeee.” I stumble toward the small, worn couch. “It’s too late for me to get caught. Besides, can’t I just charm my way out of it? With this?” I smile.
She glares.
“Maybe not.” My smile drops. “Just let me crash for tonight. I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself, though my mouth always has other plans.”
She shrieks.
Or I think she does. I’m too tired to do anything but lie down and close my eyes.
The last thing I remember is her saying, “You know you really are an asshole.”
Can’t argue that.
For some reason, it makes me laugh as I burrow into the cushions. Her couch smells like her—everything actually smells like her. I like it. Too much.
Because she somehow feels like the home I haven’t had in a really long time.
I close my eyes.
What feels like minutes later, I jerk my eyes open to the sound of an alarm and a pounding headache.
Oh, yeah, and an angry Ah-Ri standing over me with her arms crossed.
“Is it morning?” I ask with a groan.
“How much did you drink?”
I cover my face with my hands. “Blame Sookie. He just kept going and going and going.”
“And let me guess, you tried to keep up?” She laughs. “Nice try. That guy can drink anyone under the table. You should know that.”
“But he’s so younggggggg.” I groan. “He just kept asking me about you, and then I told him we kissed.”
She slaps a hand over my mouth. “WHAT?”
My answer comes out extremely muffled.
She moves her hand.
“Geez, are you trying to suffocate me?”
“Depends on what you said.”
“I told him the truth.” I start to sit up. “That I’m attracted to you and that I kissed you, once out of denial and anger and twice out of need.”
“Are you still drunk?” She feels my forehead. “Do you have a fever?”
I slap her hands away. “No, I’m just being honest, but thanks for making me feel better.”
I start to stand and stumble back.
“Wow, still drunk.” She sighs. “Okay, so I guess we’re going over the next song here in the dorm unless you want to take me home.”
“Like takeout.” I laugh. “Oh, God, maybe I am still drunk.”
“Um, yeah.”
“Bring the chopsticks!” I shout and then add, “I miss spicy rice cakes.”
“Well, maybe I can grab your card and get all the food on the way to your place without getting us both kicked out of this label and caught.”
“Onward!” I yell. “Fucking loved that movie. My sister was like my brother…”
“Okayyyyy.” Ah-Ri helps me up. “Let’s put a hat on you and get out of here. Your apartment had better have security so I can sneak you in.”
“Basement elevator,” I say, dizzy as hell. “Just walk like normal into the building, go to the basement elevator, and we can go to the penthouse.”
“Or I can call Haneul.”
“Or that.” I yawn. “So tired.”
“I know, big guy. So tired.”
“Big-dick energy.”
“You should nap today.” She laughs. “Like for a very long time. And hydrate. I’ll make you some Hangover Soup, all right?
“I love Hangover Soup,” I say.
I remember sunglasses, a hat, and sneaking out into the bitter cold before taking a taxi back to my apartment and then getting tucked into bed with a blanket.
Then music.
I remember the music.
She’s working on the wrong song, and I don’t even care because I love her voice. I also smell soup. I get up and toss the blanket to the floor, then walk out to the main living space.
Ah-Ri has headphones on and keeps singing her part and taking notes. She looks up, and I swear I want to bottle that expression and keep it forever.
“Hey.” She smiles. “Made you soup.”
“Marry me,” I grumble.
“Meh, I have better prospects.” Her smile’s kind.
“Probably because you make good soup.” I nod. “I respect that.”
“Still drunk?”
“No, but going to go kill Sookie later. Wanna join?”
“I mean, I like him, but I’ve always wondered if I could get away with murder.”
“Well, on that terrifying note…” I laugh. “Thank you for taking care of me and making sure we didn’t get caught.”