Page 53 of Room One Hundred and Twenty Nine

“Yeah, but maybe things changed. Haruko told me that her and her father share everything and if she’s with him and Elijah is sitting right next to them, maybe she can’t handle not telling him.”

“True,” Nick remarks.

Our conversation seems to have calmed him, and we drive the rest of the way, just listening to the rumble of the engine. I hold his hand the whole way, running my thumb over his knuckles and occasionally bringing it to my lips for a kiss.

It’s so nice to act like a couple now that we’re on the same page. Before, most of our intimacy came from sex and a sense of friendship, but not as people who are in love with each other. It’s freeing and I’m so glad Nick figured out where his feelings lay. We’re so close to having everything we want. All we need is to have a conversation that’ll hopefully go well with Haruko’s father. Then a team meeting over what our future looks like and we’ll be home free.

We park and I take Nick’s hand as we enter the restaurant. We get a few looks as we tell the hostess we're looking for Simon Kaswell, who’s with his daughter and friend. But I ignore them. I look at Nick, who seems on edge about the looks. It’s easier to be like this at Club Sin where we know no one is judging us. They don’t look at us like something they’ve never seen before or disapprove of us. I hold his hand tighter, letting him know it’s okay, and he squeezes me back, giving me a thankful smile.

When we get closer to the table, we see Haruko and light up. She looks stunning in her dress, and I notice her hair looks a touch messy and she’s lipstick free. I look to Elijah, who has a very satisfied smile on her face.

Oh, yeah. He fucked her. And by the look on both of their faces, it was great.

“Hello, everyone,” I say, and Simon turns around in his chair, a look of surprise on his face.

Ah, they didn’t tell him we were coming.

“Hello, Sir,” I say, freeing my hand from Nick’s then sticking it out to shake Simon’s.

“Hello gentlemen,” he says and then shakes Nick’s hand.

“Mind if we join you?” I ask. We’ve met Simon a couple times so he’s familiar with us so hopefully he’ll say yes.

“Not a problem at all. Please find a chair and take a seat.” Simon waves to the table and we ask the hostess if we can take a couple of chairs from a free table. Thankfully, she says yes, so we don’t have to stand like idiots.

I notice as we sit down that Haruko is biting her nail. She’s nervous. This is it. This is more important than dealing with the HR violation issue. This is a moment between a father and a daughter, whether that relationship will last and whether Elijah will stay friends with Simon.

I give her a reassuring smile. Silently trying to give her some calm and confidence. She smiles back, releases her nail from her teeth and gives me a nod, signaling that she’s easing up a bit.

“Still doing the nail-biting thing I see,” Simon says, and she chuckles nervously. “Anyway, so what have you boys been up to?”

“Um, Dad?” Haruko interrupts.

Okay, she’s ready like now, now. Yup, rip the Band-Aid off. That’s my girl.

I shift in my seat, suddenly feeling nervous.

“Yes, sweetie?” he asks.

“Uh, the boys—I mean, men—I mean, my bosses.Ugh. Nicholas and Parker are here because we have something to tell you.”

Elijah is a statue. Nick shifts in his seat and I just smile at Simon, trying to tell him telepathically that we’re nice guys. We’re nice guys and care very much for his daughter. That we’re falling in love with her. Hell, that we’realreadyin love with her.

“Okay, what is it?” Simon says slowly, leaning towards his daughter.

“Well,” she clears her throat. “See, there’s this situation that has arisen. I’d like to start with it’s not what you think and it’s amazing.”

“Okay. What is it, sweetie? You’re kind of freaking me out here.” He looks around the table as if looking for someone to spill it.But it should be Haruko. This is her father, and she should tell him the way she feels is right. Plus, if we, as her bosses, were to come in and tell Simon, it‘ll be harder to convince him that this isn’t some creepy arrangement where we’re manipulating Haruko.

“Sorry, Dad. There isn’t a great way to say this that doesn’t involve a lot of explaining, but… here it goes.”

Haruko takes a deep breath.

“I love my bosses.”

Different reactions spring from all of us. Haruko looks both relieved it’s out and shocked. I think because she just admitted for the first time she’s in love with us, not just starting to. Nick and I look shocked, probably because this is the first time we’re hearing that she loves us. Elijah looks proud and Simon's jaw is on the floor.

We’re all silent. Even the restaurant is silent. At least that’s what it feels like to me. Like the whole place is frozen, and it’s just us in this moment where we all try to wrap our brains around Haruko’s admission.

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