Page 51 of Kiss Me

Inside, we’re greeted by a guy who looks to be in his early twenties.

“Oh man,” he says as his eyes widen. “I know I had to sign an NDA for this, but I didn’t really expect Tania Casey to show up.”

My eyes widen and I turn to Taehyun. He’s frowning at the young man.

“Sorry,” the guy, who I assume works here—wherever ‘here’ is—says before retaking his seat on the stool behind the glass counter. “I’m just a huge fan of yours.”

I give him an uneasy smile. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you. My little sister looks up to you as well. She’s adopted, and … well,” his face reddens, “where we live, she’s one of the only Black girls in her class. One of the kids in her class told her that Black girls didn’t ski or snowboard.

“The next day my dad showed her a competition of yours on the Sports Network and she’s been a huge fan ever since.

“That was three years ago. She started taking snowboarding lessons right after that.”

His smile is bright enough to make me forget all about my fear of someone discovering my secret.

“What’s your sister’s name?”

“Sasha.”

“Do you have a pen and paper?”

He nods eagerly and rushes to grab a notebook and pen for me.

I write out a quick note of encouragement for Sasha before signing it and handing it to the young man.

“Tell her I look forward to seeing her on the slopes sometime soon.”

“Aw man, she’s gonna love this.”

Taehyun’s hand on my back causes me to lean into his body as I smile up at him. Yes, the guilt over lying to my audience about my injury is still there, but hearing this young man’s storyabout his sister warms the places of my heart that had begun to grow tired and cold.

“Are we ready?” Taehyun asks once the guy finishes telling me he watched my last competition with his sister.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Kim,” he says. “Right this way.”

He stands from his stool for us to follow him. That’s when I remember that I still don’t know why we’re here in the first place.

We’re led to a room with at least a dozen different types of snowboards on the walls.

“Pick whichever you want,” the guy says with his arms wide. “It’s an honor to have you ride any of our family’s boards.”

Again, I look over at Taehyun but the young guy whose name is Steven interrupts first.

“Don’t worry. No one will ever know you’re here. I’ve already signed the NDA.” He nods at Taehyun.

“Thank you. I’ll call if we need you,” he says in obvious dismissal.

The guy, to my surprise, nods pleasantly before disappearing out of the door he just showed us in.

“What is this?” I whirl on Taehyun as soon as we’re alone.

“You said the one regret you have being here is your inability to get on a snowboard.”

I remember telling him that three nights ago. After our first time together.

“Is that still true?” he asks.

---