Page 70 of Exes and O's

My family always says I look like a younger, happier version of her, minus the weathered skin creased between her eyes, giving the illusion she’s perma-scowling, even when she’s not.

Everyone cheers when Crystal enters the kitchen. Before Mel and I follow her in, I direct her to the mudroom to remove our coats on account of the sweltering heat emanating from the steaming pots on the stove. It reminds me of chaotic summers working in the restaurant as a teen. The staff, even those who aren’t literal family, feel like family. On any given day, no matter the time, everyone can be heard singing and tossing loving yet scorching burnsback and forth in a mix of English and Mandarin, all while working diligently to prepare massive vats of delicious food.

“Explain the family dynamics to me,” Mel requests on our way back to the kitchen.

“Okay, so Dad is the second eldest. He’s the favorite, to the dismay of the aunties and Uncle Michael, who isn’t here. See, they all work at the restaurant, except Dad, and he still gets preferential treatment.” I point to Aunt Lisa and Aunt Rachel, who are hovering around Mei as she chops water chestnuts. “Those two have an unspoken rivalry going on. They like to one-up each other with material possessions. Like when Aunt Lisa got a Louis Vuitton tote, Aunt Rachel had to get two.”

Mel gives her best attempt at a laugh, a far cry from her typical enthusiasm for juicy gossip. Now that I think of it, she’s been uncharacteristically quiet all day.

“You okay?” I ask.

She fusses with the ruffled collar of her blouse. “Yeah. It’s just... you’re really lucky to have such a close extended family. On both sides.” I don’t know much about Mel’s extended family, aside from the fact that she isn’t close with them.

“You’re always more than welcome at our family gatherings,” I pledge.

“I’m fairly certain your family doesn’t want some rando at their holidays.”

“You would be wrong.” I nod toward Dad, who’s barreling around the corner to give Mel a high-five greeting.

He slaps her delicate hand far too hard, barely noticing her wince. “Mel! Good to see you. Maybe today I can finally teach you how to use chopsticks,” he teases.

She cracks a smile. A couple of months ago, she dropped a massive fish ball on the floor at family hot pot night. Hillary lunged out of Mom’s arms and gobbled it up before Mom could wrench it from her teeth. “I’m not that bad, am I?” While Mel is Chinese, she was adopted as an infant and raised by her white parents, whom she doesn’t talk about much. She doesn’t know a lot about her roots, aside from what she picks up from me and Crystal.

“Terrible.” Dad shakes his head solemnly and gives her a fatherly arm pat. “But no fear. We’ll get you in tip-top shape.”

“See?” I side hug her, nuzzling my head against her shoulder even though I know she detests hugs. “You’re stuck with us as your family. Sorry about your luck.”

For once, she’s not entirely disturbed by my lack of boundaries, accepting my hug without a fuss. “I love you guys.”

In pure Chen fashion, Grandma Mei, Aunt Lisa, Aunt Rachel, and my tween cousins, Kendall and Maddie, descend on us the moment our butts touch the stools on the island.

Aunt Lisa, the most direct sibling, quickly becomes bored with Aunt Rachel soliciting Mel’s advice on eyebrow microblading and angles herself to me, bracelets clinking against the granite counter. “I saw online you’re dating your ex-boyfriends?”

I’m taken aback as Mei passes me a full plate of carefully selected appetizers she knows I’ll eat. She’s one of the only family members who doesn’t snark on my picky eating habits. “I didn’t know you knew about my book account.”

“Your dad linked me.” She regards me like I’m a sad lamb, as she has since my wedding was called off.

“I always liked the skinny little one with the bowl cut whocame to the restaurant with you,” Aunt Rachel cuts in, stealing a fried wonton from my plate.

“Daniel Nakamura?”

Aunt Lisa nods vigorously. “Oh, I liked that boy too. Never spoke a word, the little thing,” she says with an evil grin, turning to Aunt Rachel. “You know I like a man who can be easily controlled.”

Aunt Rachel makes a whip motion with her hand, followed by aswishsound. “I think Tara needs an equal. A man who can match her personality and energy. Someone outgoing, extroverted, not afraid to take up space.”

Aunt Lisa disagrees. “Oh, no. It never works when both parties are talkers. Only leads to frustration and resentment. Opposites are ideal.”

I move my fried rice around my plate absentmindedly while they bicker about which ex is least likely to grow tired of me. My mind trails to Trevor again and how he explicitly stated he never gets sick of my stories. That was weeks ago. I wonder if that’s still the case.

Aunt Rachel clasps both hands together, prayer-style. “Oh, I hope your true love is Cody. I always adored him. Such a little gentleman.”

I sigh, dipping my sesame ball. “Turns out, Cody Venner is happily married with kids.” I sayhappilysarcastically, though my meaning goes over Aunt Lisa’s head.

“You’re telling me he’s married? Happily? Nonsense,” she says, waving my words away.

As Mei pushes a basket of dumplings in front of Mel and me, my phone lights up with a text.

TREVOR:Hey. Hope you’re having a good bachelorette day. Scott almost threw up at the Ninja Warrior gym. Too many pancakes this morning.

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