Page 64 of Blossoms of the Heart
Akito had gone into the kitchen to start bringing the food out. “I’m going to see if Akito needs any help.” I stated, getting up.
Phoebe glanced at me as I got up to go, but I stared straight ahead.
Akito had the food all laid out on the counter. There was a feast here that I couldn’t wait to tuck into.
There were four trays of nigiri and maki sushi. The nigiri had shrimp on top and looked like the maki was a mix of teriyaki chicken and salmon wrapped in with the seaweed. It really was just like Rukia made it.
I guess Akito was making the special effort for Phoebe, and the fact that it had been such a long time since we’d all sat together like this.
“This looks amazing.” I smiled. Looking over to the other counter where there were more trays. One with a combo of tempura, tonkatsu, ebi and chicken katsu, and another with the jack pot. Wagyu steak with sansho daikon ponzu. As a kid I hated daikon radishes, but cooked it like this with yuzu ponzu sauce and I was game.
“The girls made most the beef and the sushi. Least I could do was offer to serve. I made this though.” Akito’s face lit up when he pulled out a Pyrex bowl from the oven.
“Baked gyozya.” I laughed. That was just for me.
“With minced pork and shrimp.”
“Thanks, Uncle.”
He set it on the counter and gave me a pat on my back then gave me a pensive look with his lips pressed together like he was contemplating something.
I didn’t need to ask what that was.
“Candace?” I offered.
“Yes. You two back together?” A tentative look now filled his face, like he didn’t think it was a good idea.
“No. She just thinks it’s a good idea to ride my fucking ass until I take her back.”
He frowned at my use of language.
“Sorry.” I pressed my lips together to stop from laughing. “I mean she won’t leave me alone.”
“Got to sort that out, son.”
“Yeah. I know. I’m trying.” I quickly filled him in on what happened yesterday.
“Well you have to tell her soon. You look repressed and depressed. Not like a man who wants to take back a woman he once loved. She will be able to pick up on that and that’s disrespectful. Also, you can’t look at Phoebe the way you do in front of Candace. That’s also disrespectful.”
Embarrassment took me. I wasn’t aware that he’d seen the way I look at Phoebe.
“Oh, right.”
“I’m serious, Tai. You guys might make fun of me for coming from a different time but in my day we just got straight to the point.”
I could have laughed at myself because he was completely right.
“I’ll tell her tomorrow.”
“Yes, you don’t want any unnecessary trouble.”
Like fuck. Trouble was getting ready to rear its ugly head.
* * *
Trouble seeped into me the minute I sat back down.
I noticed the other day that I could be normal around Phoebe for about five minutes before her presence started taking effect.
