Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee
Author:Emery Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-03-02T00:00:00+00:00
Eighteen
Gabi
When we get back to the house, only my dad is home. Itâs late enough that the shop is closed for the day and my momâs off at night classes, but still early enough that my dad hasnât started on dinner yet, and he gives me a weird, eyebrow-raised look as Theo and I enter.
âThought you were working tonight, Gabi,â he says.
âWe are,â I say. âIs it okay if we use the kitchen? We just need to put together some drinks for Theoâs parents.â
My dad sighs. âYouâre gonna make stuff and let it sit in the fridge overnight?â he says, then shakes his head. âThe Moris really donât know how to run a business, huh?â
I glance at Theo, but he looks pretty unaffected. I chuckle awkwardly in an attempt to defuse the tension and repeat, âCan we use the kitchen?â
My dad shrugs and waves us off. âFine, fine.â
I motion Theo to the kitchen so we can get away before things get messy. We unload our stuff and get to work, but the air is silent, and my brain runs through all these scenarios about Theo hating me now that my dad insulted his parents.
But finally, Theo says, âWe should try to finish early so we can squeeze in some soccer practice tomorrow before school.â
My hand freezes over the faucet as I turn to face him. âYouâre not mad?â I say.
âMad about what?â
But now Iâm worried that if I explain it, heâll just realize he shouldâve been mad all along. âUm, nothing,â I say.
We work in silence, and I desperately want to break it, but Iâm terrified to try. Usually, at Justinâs, everything flows easily, but being at home has my whole body on high alert again. What if I say the wrong thing or steer the conversation the wrong way, and my dad overhears, and suddenly heâs grilling me on my sexuality? Or worse, telling me I shouldnât spend time with Theo anymore.
âOkay,â Theo says as he tallies up our finished products, âI think weâre almost done. We can just leave the toppings off the menu in the morning until we can make them at lunch.â
âWe donât have to practice tomorrow,â I say. âI mean, if youâd rather make the toppings.â
Theo smirks. âGabi, youâre not getting out of soccer practice, okay? This is for the good of our school.â
I roll my eyes, but Iâm feeling a little bit breathless suddenly.
My dad enters the kitchen and takes a quick look around before turning to me and saying, âGabi, you boys almost done? I want to make dinner before your mom gets home.â
âYup, almost done,â I say.
My dad nods. âBueno, donât want to spend too much time with the enemy.â
Theo still seems unbothered as we start cleaning up, but something about my dadâs comment gets under my skin, and before I can think better of it, I blurt out, âTheoâs teaching me how to play soccer. Or, how to play well, I guess. âCause I know how to play, even though I suck at it.
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