Oh my god, gag me.
Mom’s expression shifts—just the slightest knowing tilt of her head as she glances at me.I narrow my gaze when she turns her back to me so she can face Joel.
“You’re looking well,” she adds, stepping past Ethan to glide into my kitchen like she owns the place.She pats Joel’s arm as she passes.
Pats.
His.
Arm.
I watch in horror as she gives him the kind of warm, affectionate look that is usually reserved for the good Korean sons who become doctors or lawyers, not the should-be exiled best friend of my brother who ruinedmygoddamn life.
Joel grins like he knows exactly what’s happening and is enjoying every second of it.I envision that throat punch again.
I grab Ethan’s sleeve, dragging him slightly onto my back porch so I can hiss, “Youtoldher.Why would you tell her about Joel?”
He pulls back with mock horror.“She’s our mother, Anna.She gets things out of people.”
I glare harder.“Good god, grow a spine, man.”
He shrugs like the traitor he is.“She might’ve mentioned you’ve been MIA the past few days, and Imight’velet it slip that Joel’s been staying in your spare room, so you’re probably occupied with all of that.”
Fantastic.Just fantastic.
I head inside to find Mom now perched in my dining chair, completely at home, like she’s settling in for a long chat.
“Well,” she says, giving me her most innocent smile.“Since we’re here to finalize plans for Mina’s doljanchi, Joel suggested we might as well have breakfast together.”
I whip around so fast I nearly give myself whiplash.“I’m sorry, Joel suggested what now?It’s not evenhishouse.”
Joel sips his coffee, looking as pleased as a cat who just knocked a vase off the counter.“I just thought, since everyone is here, why not make it a family affair?”
A family affair.
I stare at him, then at my mother—who is beaming for som god awful reason—then at Ethan, who is already helping himself to the pancakes like a traitorous bastard.
This cannot be happening.
But it is.
Because my mother is nodding like this is the best idea she’s ever heard, and Joel is setting out plates like he’s a charming and respectable member of society instead of the actual bane of my existence.
I pinch the bridge of my nose.“Mom, I was heading out.We don’t need to?—”
“Nonsense,” she says, waving a dismissive hand.“We have so much to discuss.And you know food always makes planning easier.We were going to see if you’d like to go to Perkins, but this is better.”
Joel grins like he knows exactly how much I want to throw something at him.“See, Ace?Even your mom agrees with me.”
I whip back around.“I swear to god, if you don’t stop calling me that?—”
“Sit,” Mom orders, voice sharp with motherly authority.
My entire body moves against my will.Damn it.
I drop into the chair next to Ethan, who is already on his second pancake.He nudges my plate toward me.“Might as well eat.You’re gonna need the energy.”
I grab a pancake and stab it with my fork, ignoring the way Joel sits across from me, looking far too smug for someone I am actively considering murdering.