Page 21 of Summer Haze & Tokyo Craze

“I’m sorry to say, but that’s just you.” Lucy sounds way too happy about my misery. I’ll have to get her back after her next escapade. “Oh, your brother’s here. You want to say hi?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Come on, he misses you!”

“I do not,” I hear Colin’s voice in the background, right before there’s some shuffling, and I know Lucy is handing him the phone anyways.

God, the two of them. I love my brother and sister-in-law, but in this moment I want to ask them to draw some chalk pictures on a highway.

“You’re hurting my feelings,” I scold, finally picking up the phone, pinching my eyes closed when the screen is way too bright for a moment.

“Wow. You look like death, sis,” Colin remarks and I bite my lip to bite back a comment I’d regret once I feel better.

“Thank you very much,” I say instead and roll my eyes. “How’s the renovation going?”

The two of them have started renovating their house two months back and it’s not going so well. Walls and furniture keep breaking, I think they had a water leak at some point, and one of their windows broke with no apparent reason.

Instead of answering, Colin is giving me the stink-eye and that’s when I decide that I’ve entertained them enough with my misery.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m all out of ‘staring at each other in silence’ time. Unless you both want to watch me either puke or shower, I’m logging off.”

“Ehww,” Colin grimaces in disgust and shudders.

“Have fun in Tokyo,” Lucy snatches the phone back from him and shoots me a smile before the screen goes dark.

I make it through a shower without throwing up, and thankfully, I’m starting to feel better afterward and the world even stops spinning. Once I’m somewhat presentable and sure my stomach has calmed down, I head down to breakfast.

It’s almost time for it to close, but I need something light to start the day, so I hurry and get myself some miso soup to test the waters of what my stomach can… well, stomach.

Once I have my bowl and look for a seat, I spot Adam sitting alone. Heat rushes into my cheeks and I want to turn around and run away. Then again, I’ll have to face him sooner or later. I might as well get it over with.

I take a deep breath. Then another one. Then I straighten my spine and keep my head held high as I walk over to sit at the table next to his.

Of course, Adam is looking perfect, not at all like he overdid it last night. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen him drink more than two beers. Then again, I was occupied with keeping up with Eve and didn’t really pay much attention to him.

“I’m so sorry for yesterday,” I apologize immediately when he looks up. It takes everything in me to not turn around and run away or hide my beet red cheeks behind my hands. “I’m not sure what got into me. Eve always manages to bring out my competitive streak. Thank you for getting me to the hotel.”

“It was my pleasure,” he chuckles, and it makes my cheeks even hotter. “It was interesting, actually. I’ve never seen such a quiet drunk person before.” Amusement sparkles in his eyes and a grin keeps tugging at the corners of his mouth. “My brothers usually tend to destroy shit when they’re wasted, so this was a nice change.”

“Oh god,” I give in and bury my face in my hands, only looking at him through a gap between my fingers.

“And you kept your word. Eve did not get a word out of you,” he continues, nodding, impressed.

“Even drunk me is competitive.” I lower my hands but avoid his gaze. “Too competitive to tell someone my plans.”

“You can thank me though.” Adam leans over, bridging the gap between our tables until he’s suddenly uncomfortably close, his eyes jumping between mine as I stare at him in shock at the sudden proximity.

“Huh?” My voice is only a high squeak and my eyes wide as saucers, my heart beating loudly in my chest. I mean… what?

“Show me around Tokyo,” he demands, his voice rumbling through my whole body, before he leans back and crosses his arms in front of his chest.

“Show you around?” I clear my throat when my voice breaks and raise an eyebrow at him, trying to mask my discomposure. With flustered, shaky hands, I lift my bowl of soup and take a small sip of the soup, just to do something to distract myself from his intense gaze.

“Those spots you told Felix, they look interesting but also very boring to go to alone. Plus, you’ve lived here. You must know some nice spots that are not among the regular tourist traps. Like that museum thing you showed us.”

“That museum literally comes up when you research ‘what to do in Tokyo,’” I point out and cross my arms in front of my chest. “I’m sorry to have to burst your bubble, but my year herewas a lot more boring than you’re imagining it. I didn’t have much of a budget to do any cool stuff or visit any good spots.” I lift my hands for quotation marks but he shakes his head like he doesn’t believe me.

“Come on, there must be something. Spend next week’s afternoons with me and show me around. All your favorite spots.”

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