“Oh, shut up.” I walked back over and opened my Styrofoam box. “At least Wren makes good egg rolls.”
“Nah.” Jay shook his head. “The food’s good but nothing compared to what you make.”
My mom nodded and stood a bit taller than her full five foot three inches. “I taught her to cook good Taiwanese food. No shortcuts. Wren takes some in his business.”
Jay nodded and then I saw the mischief forming as he tilted his head. “She doesn’t make the food much, though. I can’t remember the last time you had me over for dinner, Mikka.”
He sounded affronted and when I turned to my mother she looked as offended as he did. “Mikka, why haven’t you cooked Taiwanese for Jay lately?”
“Mom.” I didn’t know where to even start. “Of course I cook Taiwanese. I just make it for Dougie and me.”
“Dougie doesn’t deserve a meal.” She mumbled as she picked up her food and turned to sort through some receipts. “Did he find a job yet?”
I tried not to slam my fist onto the glass counter especially when I glared at Jay and he followed up by fluttering his obnoxiously long eyelashes at me. “Yes, Mikka. Answer the question. Does Dougie have a job yet?”
“You’re technically jobless half the time, Jay,” I retorted and shoved some rice in my mouth.
He pointed his fork at me with narrowed eyes. “You know as well as I do my career hiatuses are not the same as being jobless.”
My mother was sorting things and didn’t look up to agree with him. “I saw Jay’s name in the magazine over there.” She pointed toward a little lounge area where she did set up consultations for new customers wanting to explore their fantasies. “The magazine says he makes millions. You should find a man like Jay, cook for him.”
She nodded like that was the best idea ever and Jay nodded along with her, completely proud of himself.
I snapped the Styrofoam box shut and pushed away from the counter. Time to change the subject and start the wheels in motion to leave as soon as possible. The two of them would kill me if I didn’t get out of there soon. “What can I help you with, Mom? We can only be here a few hours.”
“Look around.” She made an all-encompassing circle above her head, still not glancing up from her work. “The store is a mess.”
It was immaculate. Jay side-eyed me. “So, um, Meek, why don’t you show me what I can do?”
We spent the rest of the afternoon working. Jay was enamored with my mother’s take-no-shit attitude and helped change lights that weren’t even dimming but only he could reach. He cleaned imaginary cobwebs from the corners and carried heavy boxes to the front of the store for us to unpack.
At one point, he wiped the imaginary sweat from his brow and unbuttoned his collared shirt. “What are you doing?” I hissed.
“It’s hot, little one.” He winked at me.
“Get real,” I said, but it sounded breathless as I glanced down at his abs. I’d seen them before, but the eight pack looked more accessible, and somehow more defined than ever before. I licked my lips because my mouth was suddenly very dry.
Jay grabbed my hand and brought it to his stomach. “All yours, Meek. Whenever you want it.”
I yanked it back. “Are you always this idiotic? How are we friends?”
“You’re friends because he’s a good worker, Mikka.” My mother rounded the corner into our aisle. She enunciated the word “worker” and I almost screamed at Jay for being such a good sport through the day.
“Yup. He’s a great friend, Mom.” I enunciated the word in rebuttal.
“I’m happy to be more any day, though, Ms. Chang.” Jay leaned against the shelving as he re-buttoned the shirt, completely relaxed and enjoying our not-so-subtle banter.
“He’s lying. Jay can’t commit to what he wants to eat for lunch, let alone a woman.”
“Anyone would commit to you, Mikka. You’re the best. You’re worth it to anyone.” My mother was hard on me, but she was fiercely proud of me too.
I blinked a few times before I pulled her in for a hug. I hated coming and working through every visit I had with her, but I also loved the hell out of it. I missed her when I was in LA, especially because she’d been my only friend back in San Francisco for so long. “We’ve got to go but I’ll text you when I get home tonight.”
She nodded and turned to Jay. “Take care of my daughter in that godforsaken city. No one there takes care of her.”
And we were back to me hating the visit. I started to protest and remind her of Dougie, but Jay cut me off. “Of course. I don’t know if you saw my last few movies, but I’m always happy to help a damsel in distress.”
“Oh my God, are you kidding?” I shoved him as he went to give my mom a hug. “She doesn’t watch rom-coms where the guy never puts his shirt on.”