Page 78 of Dangerous Rhythm

He looked over his right shoulder to see where Lina was when an arm hooked around his left elbow. He looked to his side and found her smiling up at him.

“I got you,” Lina said. “Have enough of my family yet?”

Curtis smiled back. “I’m good. I just missed you.”

She didn’t say she missed him, too, but the glance she gave him was meaningful enough to Curtis.

“Did my brother behave?” she asked.

“Define behave.” He chuckled.

“He likes to think I need his protection.”

“He means well. As a brother, I know where he’s coming from,” Curtis said. “Even a badass woman can use a little back-up.”

Lina bumped his hip with hers. “Where do you keep getting these lines? I’m telling ya, if Canis Major ever broke up, fortune cookie writing could be the job for you.”

“God, no.” Curtis hoped his band would keep creating together. He couldn’t see himself doing anything but music.

They slowed down and let the others walk ahead so they could have a little privacy. They walked to a nearby pop-up flower market that was only around a couple of weeks before the Lunar New Year.

Curtis could see the explosion of colors ahead of them—oranges, pink blossoms, and orchids. Soon, they were engulfed by rows of colorful plants and flowers.

“Holy mother freaking flowers,” Curtis muttered in awe.

“Aren’t they beautiful? All these plants have significant meanings,” Lina explained as she touched a mini bamboo plant. “The lucky bamboo supposedly will bring wealth and luck.” She pointed at a plant with beautiful blossoms the size of his fist. “So will red peonies.”

“People buy these plants for the new year?” Curtis asked.

“Yes. They take these plants into their homes to bring whatever blessings they need or want,” she said.

“It’s amazing.” Curtis made a circle where he stood and absorbed the surrounding beauty. “Oh, those are gorgeous.”

He pulled Lina toward a row of medium-size trees full of small pink blossoms. With her hand in his, he walked around one tree bursting with flowers. When a breeze blew through, some petals flew like snowflakes.

“You got some on your hair.” Curtis brushed them off.

Lina laughed as she picked a petal off his sweater. “So do you.”

“Oh, look at that.” Agnes smiled at them from the other side of the tree.

“What is this tree, Agnes?” Curtis asked.

“It’s peach blossom—the love tree,” she answered.

“The what now?” Lina questioned.

“It is believed when you walk around a peach blossom tree three times, you’ll find love,” Agnes elaborated.

“If a petal falls on you, you’ll find your lifelong partner,” Sui Lin added.

“And if you walk around the tree with your lover, it will strengthen your bond,” Agnes said with a peculiar smile.

Lina stared at her mother and aunt as if she wanted them to poof into thin air. Curtis took it as the sign he needed.

“Well, the tree has spoken,” he said.

Lina turned her skeptical gaze toward him. “You can’t possibly believe all that.”

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