Page 97 of Caper Crush
“Is that what you did with Rex?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Our relationship was announced onThe Squirrelgossip page via a photo of Rex and me kissing after a concert.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, that’s not the way you want to tell your parents—especially since the photo mostly showed my face and Rex’s bicep with a tattoo. I looked like I was kissing someone in a motorcycle gang instead of a scrawny LaGuardia High School student,” I say. “It wasn’t even a real tattoo. Rex had put on a fake one for the concert. His mother would’ve killed him if he’d gotten a real tattoo.”
“Was Rex upset?”
“No, he was happy about the publicity,” I say. “Our next concert was mobbed. And we were able to book venues that normally wouldn’t accept a high school rock band. It was crazy.”
“Did you consider being a rock star when you were in high school?” He pours us both some more sake.
“No,” I say. “It was just fun. I always knew I wanted to be an artist.”
William eats. “But then why not tell Tony?”
“We’ve been dating for one day,” I say. “It’s not like you normally introduce your girlfriends to your family in your first week.”
“No, but we’re going to see Uncle Takashi, and I’m not going to lie to him.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to lie to them.” I take another bite. “Fine, we can tell them—but only them.”
“William!” says a female voice.
It’s Kiyoko with two girlfriends, on their way out.
“I thought that was you. We were sitting in the back over there.” She looks at me with definite interest. I hope she doesn’t remember me as the waitstaff from William’s party.
“Hi, Kiyoko. This is Miranda,” William says.
“Hi,” I say. He doesn’t introduce me as his girlfriend. Cold whispers of doubt slither through my stomach.
Kiyoko introduces her two girlfriends. “We were on our way to a karaoke spot. Do you guys want to come?”
No.Not on our first official date, but these are William’s friends. And I don’t want to seem jealous. And maybe William will then look more fun in front of Kiyoko, and he can feel validated. He’ssonot boring.
The waiter clears our plates.
“You don’t have to sing,” Kiyoko says. “No pressure.”
“Miranda is the female lead singer of The Tempest.” William glances at me. “Do you want to go?”
“Sure, if you want to.”
The karaoke room has an L-shaped couch with little tables in front of it. A big video screen in the front of the room displays the lyrics. Other screens showcase the song’s video. William places an order for five beers. I also ask for a bottle of water. William leaves to go pick up our drinks.
Kiyoko and her girlfriends pick out songs from the catalog next to me on the fake-leather couch.
“How do you know William?” Kiyoko asks.
I’m dating him. But since he didn’t introduce us that way, I don’t think I can say that.
“His uncle Takashi is married to my uncle Tony,” I say.
“Oh, you’re family,” she says, seeming relieved. I’m not getting the disinterested vibe.
“Not by blood,” I say. Because I can’t help it.
