Page 56 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

Mia shrugs. “Nothing special for me, either. What about you, Dad? Have you gotten any new offers?”

“Some things are on the table,” he says. “I’m not sure I want to take on any new roles until after you graduate, though.”

“Why?” she asks.

He removes his hand from the steering wheel for a second to pat her arm. “You’ll be out of the house in less than two years and I want to spend as much time with you as I can. Just like I did with Willow.”

“I’d love that, Dad, but if a good opportunity comes, you should take it.”

“Thanks, sweetie, but I dedicated enough of my years to my career. You, Willow, and Mom are the most important people in my life, and I don’t want to take any of you for granted. You know I once walked out on set when you were three because you had a really bad fever? Your mom and grandparents were freaking out and took you to the hospital. I jumped on the earliest flight and ran to the hospital to be with you.”

“Yeah, I know the story,” Mia says with a laugh. “It was just a common childhood illness. Mom, Halmeoni, and Harabeoji freaked out for nothing.”

Asher chuckles. “We might have overreacted. But I don’t remember Willow getting as sick as you when she was small.” He ruffles Mia’s hair. “You enjoyed giving me mini heart attacks, didn’t you?”

Mia lifts her shoulders with a wide grin. “What can I say? I was a drama queen the second I was born.”

“What happened with your job?” I ask Asher.

“They understood, even though we were slightly behind schedule.”

“At least it all worked out,” Rylee says.

“Yep. Ah, here we are. One of the most amazing places on Earth.”

We pull up before Ji-Ho’s, the Korean restaurant Asher’s parents and grandmother opened after they immigrated to the US from South Korea. It officially got its name after Asher was born, since his Korean name is Ji-Ho. They struggled with the restaurant in the first years and thought they’d have to close down, but then Asher was discovered when he was four and starred in his first movie. He was able to help keep his family’s restaurant afloat. Now it’s considered one of the most popular restaurants in Edenbury. They cater to all different kinds of people, and everyone loves it because it’s so homey. In the last few years, Mia’s grandparents and dad have expanded it to meet the high customer demand.

“I’m dropping you kids off here because I have an errand to run,” Asher says as he stops the car. “Mia, please tell Halmeoni and Harabeoji that I’ll come by later.”

“Sure thing, Lorenzo.”

We get out of the car and make our way inside the restaurant. The delicious smell attacks my nose and I sigh happily. “It’s been too long since I’ve eaten here,” I say.

“Same!” Rylee says. “Mason and I need to have a date here. It’s the perfect place.”

“You bet it is,” Mia says, then waves to the staff. “Annyeonghaseyo!”

“Annyeonghaseyo, Mia, Rylee, and Zoey,” the hostess greets. “Table for three?”

“Yes, please,” we say.

“But we want to say hi to Halmeoni, and Harabeoji first,” Mia tells her.

“No problem. I’ll reserve your table.”

“Gamsahamnida.”

Rylee and I follow Mia into the kitchen, where Mia’s grandma is giving orders to the staff. As soon as she sees us, she smiles widely and hurries over, enveloping all three of us in her warm embrace. “What a surprise! My beautiful granddaughter and her beautiful friends.”

“You give the best hugs,” Rylee says. “I see where Mia gets it from.”

“Thank you. Are you hungry? I think there are enough tables. If not, I’ll set you up here.”

Whenever the place is packed and there are no available tables, Halmeoni serves us food here in the kitchen. This is Mia’s second home, and her friends are always welcome here.

Mia tells her grandmother that the hostess reserved us a table. Then they start talking in Korean. Mia and her sister grew up speaking Korean to their grandparents, but they speak English with their mom and dad. Rylee and I have picked up on only a few words and phrases.

“Thank you. It’s always such a treat to have you and your friends here.” Halmeoni squeezes her cheek to Mia’s. “Now go and order food.”

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