Page 8 of Champagne Kisses
It’s_Personal:HAHAHA! Well, since youasked…26/F/NYC.
It’s_Personal:You?
APark644:28/M/NYC. What are the odds?
It’s_Personal:I’d say pretty high, considering there are like 8 million people living in NYC.
APark644:So we have ourselves a smart aleck, huh?
It’s_Personal:Who me?
APark644:OK. Emily just confirmed I got the venue address right, so we’re all good. Thanks again.
APark644:In the meantime, PLEASE let me know ASAP if anything else changes. The MOH will literally kill me if I mess this up.
It’s_Personal:Will do, Mr. Park. Have a nice night.
Well! That was something. Adam Park not only seems like a reasonable guy, but a super flirty one. The oven’s been off for a while, but my cheeks suddenly feel warm. Some men just can’t help themselves.
I might need to use this chat feature more often. Too bad that Emily girl had to kill the vibe.
I put away the thread still in bags by the couch and bring up “The Great British Bake Off” on my laptop. Time to binge a few episodes while I knock out the backpacks for the Poughkeepsie High School senior trip.
Chapter three
Adam
“Custom champagne glasses just for the engagement party? I knew Bryan’s family was loaded, but damn!” Cory jokes. He smiles wide around a mouth full of bibimbap and pours himself another glass of soju.
Cory’s the youngest of my big brothers, and the biggest bachelor of us all. He doesn’t even give the ladies fifteen minutes to cuddle before calling them an Uber, so the idea of basically a mini-wedding before the real wedding is blowing his mind.
It’s Sunday, which means all five of the Park men are gathered in the dining room of Mom and Dad’s Clinton Hill brownstone for the weekly family dinner. Mom’s pulled out all the stops with a traditional Korean dinner this week, probably because Damon—my next oldest brother and a point guard for some team in Portugal—is home for the off-season. He’s ignoring Cory in favor of sneaking another helping of tteokbokki.
“It’s tacky to talk about money at the dinner table, boys,” Dad warns. Dad is definitely old school. He married Mom at twenty-three after just two months of dating. That’s not even long enough for your work benefits to kick in these days. He even asked for her dad’s permission.
I can’t imagine any of my brothers doing that, including the twins, Noah and Henry, Jr. They’re the oldest, which supposedly makes them the most responsible—or so Henry, Jr. keeps telling us. Healsosays that one look at the alimony payments his firm secures for their clients is enough to make him swear off marriage forever.
“Sorry, Dad,” we all say in unison. Mom and Dad always emphasized the importance of being respectful and having manners. It just never seemed to translate to dating. All five of the Park boys are focused on their careers over women and proud of it, to my mother’s great disappointment.
“Money aside, they are having a ton of events,” I say in between bites. “There’s an engagement party, a bridal shower, and, of course, a bachelor and bachelorette party.” Noah gives a low whistle and snatches the last steamed bun before Damon can get it. Damon grumbles to himself as Noah grins triumphantly.
“Then, the week of the wedding, there’s going to be a welcome dinner, the rehearsal dinner,anda going away brunch after the ceremony and reception.“ I blow out a sigh, exhausted just talking about it. “It’s going to be four days of torture.” If Cory and Noah’s smiles are any indication, they’ve got no sympathy for me at all. Dicks.
“You could do with some romance in your life, Adam,” my mom says as she adds more kimchi to her bowl. “All of you, actually. Are none of you going to make me a grandma?”
Everyone shifts uncomfortably in their seats. Dad clears his throat and pours himself more soju.
“Leave the boys alone, Marie. Not everyone is lucky enough to have what we have.” He leans over and gives her a peck on the cheek, which earns him a blush and a quiet giggle.
“C’mon, Dad,” protests Damon. “I’m still sowing my wild oats.”
If Mom were any less of a lady, I would swear I saw her roll her eyes.
“Son, you’ve sown enough oats to give Quaker a run for their money.”
The whole table erupts in laughter. Even Dad chuckles to himself after trying to hide his laugh behind a cough. His “dad jokes” have been getting funnier lately, except when they’re directed at me, of course.
Noah stands and dings his fork on his wine glass.
