Page 94 of The Close-Up

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“I can’t come over tomorrow. I forgot I have this family thing.”

“What family thing?”

“My mom’s cousin is visiting from the Philippines so everyone is going to my parents’ house in San Jose tomorrow. It totally slipped my mind, sorry.” I quickly unmute myself.

“Anak, who are you talking to?” Mom chimes in.

“Um, Simon.”

“Oh! Have him come tomorrow too.”

“Well, I don’t know if he’s even—”

“Bring him! It’ll be fun. He’ll get to meet the family. And oh! We can have him taste-test the differentpansiteveryone will bring! Oh, this will be perfect! We’ll have an unbiased taster to help us figure out who really makes the most delicious one.”

I sigh at the prospect of poor Simon being force-fed endless plates ofpansitfrom my relatives and him politely saying that all of them are equally yummy.

“Mom, you’re not going to make him do that.”

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow when he’s here, okay? Can’t wait to see you both!”

“Mom, I’m not even sure—”

“And don’t bring anything, okay?” she says, cutting me off. “We’ll have more than enough food.”

She says I love you, hangs up, and leaves me staring at the phone. I glance up at Simon, who’s sporting an amused face.

“Good phone call, then?”

I let loose an exasperated noise. “My mom just invited you to our family gathering tomorrow. She’s insisting that you come, but don’t worry, you don’t have to. I’ll make up an excuse.”

“I can come, you know.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. You went to my family dinner. I’d like to meet your family too.”

I swallow as nerves whir inside of me. Simon takes a step toward me, his smile deliciously smug. “You’re freaking out.”

“I’m not.”

The way he tilts his head tells me he doesn’t buy my lie one bit. “Come on, Naomi. You don’t have to hide your nervousness from me.”

I step over to him and hug my arms around his torso. “It’s kind of a big step, meeting family.”

“Is it? You’ve met mine. Three times, if you count that FaceTime conversation at Lake Tahoe.”

I chuckle into his chest. “Okay, fair point. It’s just different this time. Since we’re officially together.”

I hold my breath, wondering what he’ll say.

“I get it.”

I lean back to look at him.

“Really, I do,” he says with an easy expression on his face. “And if you don’t want me to come because you’re not comfortable or you’re not ready, that’s okay. But I’d like to. I think it would be fun to see your family. And we don’t have to put any pressure on things. You can introduce me as your friend or work colleague, not as the guy you’re seeing. I know the kind of frenzy that would cause at a family gathering.”

I kiss him.