Back to the Good Fortune Diner (7 page)

Long, as usual,
he replied. And longer than usual since Tiffany had come home, he admitted to himself.
Lots of kids are signing up for summer driving lessons, but Dad wants me to spend more time at the diner. I don’t know what he expects. I already work there thirty-five hours a week.

How’s your sister? Maybe she can fill in for you.

Physically, she’s doing better, but she won’t go near the diner if she doesn’t have to. She hates it there.
Besides which, he couldn’t imagine her doing him any favors. They’d never really gotten along, mainly because their parents had always encouraged sibling rivalry between them. He understood that his parents believed “friendly competition” would bring out the best in their children, but the constant comparisons had left a huge chip on Tiff’s shoulder. He knew being home was bringing old resentments back to the surface.

You could hire someone. You should talk to your father about it. You work too hard.

We’re not really a talking family.
It was hard to explain his family dynamic to anyone on the outside. The Cheungs did not discuss feelings or personal problems; likewise, he did not question his father on matters about the diner. He did the books, sure, but his dad was the one who had final say in any expenditure. It drove him crazy that he wouldn’t spend money on anything, not even if it meant more business. But that was Tony. Tightfisted and immovable.

Well, that’s a shame,
Selena wrote.
You’re too loyal.

He wasn’t sure if she meant it as a compliment or a criticism. He decided to take it for the former.
That’s me. Dutiful firstborn son.
He added a smiley face.

He switched topics.
So, can you make it up for your vacation?

Yes! I’ve got the time booked off and I’m arranging to have my partners take on any emergency calls. I’ll be all yours for two whole weeks. Yay!

Daniel wanted to dance around the room, but settled with sending a string of emoticons.
Huzzah!

I miss you so much. I’ve been thinking about you a lot.

Me, too.

I think a lot about that one wild night when you came down at Christmas. Especially when I’m in the shower.

He grinned. Since the first time they’d met face-to-face, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
I can’t wait for a repeat.

Though, if she was coming up to visit him in Everville, they were going to have to find a hotel in the next township.
Poh-poh
was around the house all the time, and while his parents would insist Selena stay with them to be good hosts, they’d probably give her Tiffany’s room, or make her share. He didn’t want to think about how Tiff would react to that.

The next words that popped up on screen made all thoughts of his family fly away.
I wish you were touching me right now.

Daniel flushed hot even as his hands turned cold. He glanced at his door once more to make sure it was closed.

Is your webcam working yet?

He hesitated. She’d asked him this before, but he felt too exposed, knowing things would heat up fast if they got to see each other, play striptease, show each other what they were doing, what they wanted the other to do. As tech savvy as he was, he wasn’t entirely convinced those images couldn’t be intercepted or recorded and spread over the internet.

Sorry, no,
he wrote back.
But I’m still thinking of you.

Too bad. I bought the prettiest new bra today. It’s black satin with lace and a cute little pink bow. And it pushes my tits up really high.

His cell phone buzzed. Selena had sent him a photo. With slightly shaky hands, he opened the file to see said new bra doing what bras did best.

A loud knock shattered the lusty haze. “
Ah-Day,
you want some
tong sui?
”
Poh-poh
yelled through the door.

“No, thank you,” he groaned, trying hard to keep the frustration out of his tone.

“I’ll leave some for you on the table.”

“I don’t need dessert,” he yelled, mood thoroughly killed.

“What are you doing in there? Talking to your girlfriend?”

He stared up at the ceiling, praying for patience. “I’m on the computer. I’ll come out later, thank you.”

I’ve got more to show you as soon as your webcam is working,
he read.
I’ve been taking pole-dancing classes.

I’ll get it working,
he promised, mouth dry.

Another loud knock on his door had him shooting out of his chair. Furious, he yanked the door open to find Tiffany, knuckles poised to knock again. “What do you want?”

“I need to pick up a couple of books I saw on your shelf.” She pushed past him. Little sisters apparently did not grow out of invading personal space.

He was about to toss her out, but then she stopped in front of his computer, the IM window still open on his screen and clearly readable. “Omigod, you
do
have a girlfriend,” she hooted. “Are you guys having cybersex?”

Heat exploded on his face. “Get out.”

“I hope you’re using virus protection. Though you should wait until you’re cybermarried before you jump into things,” she snickered. “Seriously, she’s for real?”

“Yes, she’s real, her name is Selena and I’m trying to spend some quality time with her. Now, will you please respect my privacy?”

“You’re expecting privacy in this house?” Tiff laughed, and dodged the bunched-up socks he whipped at her. “All right, all right, I’ll come back later.”

He really needed to put a lock on his door. Unfortunately, it was an older door and the old lockless hardware had become one with the wood beneath the hardened layers of paint, so it’d be a huge job to replace the doorknob. His father didn’t like him putting holes in the wall or on the doors, either, so he couldn’t install a latch or dead bolt. On top of that, his grandmother would get suspicious of what he was up to behind locked doors and would end up pestering him twice as often.

He really needed to move out.

Hello? You there, honey bear?
he read when he returned to his computer.

Sorry. Stupid interruptions. Stupid little sister... : (

Did you talk to her?

She came in to get something.

You should talk to her. She needs her big brother.

Daniel sighed. He thought he was being a big brother by leaving his sister alone. She’d never reached out to him before.

Damn, I’m getting paged. Sorry. We’ll continue this tomorrow night. If you’re good, I’ll show you the panties that match. ; )

Daniel swore a blue streak and wrote back.
Okay. Sorry for the interruptions.

It’s all right. I know how much your family means to you.

He wanted to deny it, but instead typed,
Good night. xoxo

Tiffany was standing outside his door when he opened it, and he glowered down at her. “Do you still have that copy of Shakespeare’s complete works?” she asked without preamble. “And any of the SparkNotes that go with the plays?”

He stood firmly in his doorway. “Listen. When I’m in my room and the door is closed, it’s private time, okay?” He locked eyes with her. “I’ve made this clear to Mom and Dad and
Poh-poh.
I work with them all day, so I need this space for myself.”

Her lips pursed and she nodded. “You’re right. Sorry I barged in like that. Old habits.”

Daniel gestured for her to come in. “What do you need these for?” he asked as he pulled the books off his shelf.

“Chris wants me to tutor his son in English.”

“Ah.” He’d wondered why Chris wanted to talk to his sister. He’d never asked about her before. Tiffany was trying to sound blasé, but he knew she’d been crushing on Chris since her freshman year in high school. “Sorry again that I told him about your layoff,” he said.

“I overreacted. I should be the one saying sorry.” She sat on the edge of his bed. Her fingers clutched the bedspread convulsively. “I hate that after all the work I put in, this is where I’m at. I was supposed to be an editor at a publishing house by now. But here I am, thirty-two and back living with my parents.”

“Hey—” he jabbed his thumbs into his chest “—thirty-four, and it’s like I never left.”

Her mouth tugged up at the corners. “Yeah, what’s with that? Can’t you afford to move out?”

“Where would I go? To an apartment fifteen minutes away?” His defensiveness surprised him; others had asked this question, but coming from his sister, it sounded like an accusation. “If I live here, I can save for a down payment on a place of my own and never have to deal with rentals.”

“And exactly when do you think you’ll save enough?” Tiff asked cynically. “Five, ten years from now? Do you think your girlfriend’s okay with that?”

“You don’t know her.” Anger flashed through him. “What gives you any right to judge?”

“Hey, I’m just trying to show you how she might see things. You’re thirty-four and still working at our parents’ restaurant. I mean, why’d you bother with an MBA if all you were going to do was wait tables and make chow mein?”

“I
like
being here. Mom and Dad needed me, so I stayed,” he snapped. “I didn’t run away and turn my back on the family.”

Tiffany’s eyes narrowed and he immediately regretted his hasty words. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

Too late. He’d put their parents between them, made it Tiffany versus the family. Her face settled into that impassive mask she wore whenever she was mad. “You never cut the apron strings,” she bit out. “Sooner or later, Selena’s going to realize it, too.” When Tiffany’s claws emerged, they were like razors, so sharp and precise you didn’t know you’d been cut until you saw the blood.

“Selena doesn’t care about that,” he retorted hotly. “She thinks it’s good I’m so close to Mom and Dad.”

“Really? That’s what she said?”

Not in those exact words. But she’d never complained about his dedication to them. She had family she cherished. She would understand his situation. He sidestepped Tiff’s question by saying, “She’s coming in July to meet everyone.” He raised his chin defiantly. “If all goes well, I’ve got my eye on an engagement ring.”

Tiffany’s lips compressed and her eyebrows rose a fraction. “So, how did you meet this paragon of virtue?” she asked lightly.

“Online. On a dating website.”

“What did you put in your preferences? ‘Must be a doctor or lawyer, must like Chinese food, must have wide birthing hips to produce sons’?”

“You’ve watched
Mulan
too many times.” But he had to admit Selena’s self-professed love for kung-fu movies and the profile photo of her standing on the Great Wall of China had caught his eye...as had her straight talk about wanting children.

“How many times have you two met in person?”

“Six.” He left out the fact that it had been only six times in one year. “She’s busy building her practice, so it’s hard to make time. She’s amazing and beautiful and I know Mom and Dad will approve.”

“Is she Chinese?”

The blunt question pulled him up short. “Why would that matter?”

“Remember when I was dating Jordan? Mom and Dad flipped when they found out he was white.”

“They flipped because he had tattoos on his neck and those disgusting hole things in his ears.
And
they found out about him on Facebook instead of from you.” Of course, Daniel had been the one to show them the photo and her relationship status. But he’d only done so because the guy was clearly unsuitable for his sister. “Besides, why do you care? You broke up with him two weeks later.”

“He owned his own auto body business and made three times as much as I did. But instead of taking that into consideration, Mom and Dad took one look at him and made a snap judgment. Did you know Mom actually called me and told me not to date
gwai-los
anymore?”

“That’s not going to happen with Selena,” he said fiercely. Daniel refused to believe his parents were that racist. “So what if she’s not Chinese? She’s everything they could ever want.”

“Are you even listening to yourself?” Tiffany laughed nervously. “She’s everything
you
could ever want, you mean. I sure hope that’s what you mean.”

“Of course it is,” he growled, his cheeks prickling with heat. “Not that any of this is your business. Selena and I are both ready for the next step in our lives. She wants kids, and so do I.”

“
You
want kids, or Mom and Dad want grandkids?”

He’d had enough. “If you’re going to sit there and question my feelings all night, you can get out right now.”

Tiffany crossed her feet at the ankles and her arms over her chest. “I’m just being realistic. If you’re both ready for the next step, that’s great. I’m happy for you.” She had that infuriating matter-of-fact tone their mother sometimes used to convince someone to do something they didn’t want to. “But I hope you’ve thought about the future. For instance, is she going to live here, share a room with
Poh-poh?
”