Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean

Author:Emiko Jean
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

One week before Penny was to arrive, Thomas texted Mika.

He opened with a Hi. Mika was at work and stared at her phone next to her keyboard. She checked around the office. Everyone was busy, filing or plinking away softly on keyboards. Of course, they couldn’t tell the adopted father of Mika’s daughter was texting or that the two hadn’t spoken since the gallery opening where Hiromi had brought the world down around Mika’s ears.

Hi, she typed back, bending down, hiding in her cubicle.

It’s Thomas, he wrote.

She tapped out, Yes. I know.

Three dots inside a gray bubble appeared on the screen. Right. Sorry. Penny’s flight arrives Sunday. Can you pick her up? I’d rather she didn’t have to take an Uber or cab alone, he said.

She straightened. Already planning on it. Penny and Mika had agreed—Mika would pick Penny up from the airport, then drive her to the dorms at the University of Portland and help her settle in. If Penny was feeling up to it, they’d have dinner somewhere and hang out for a bit.

She’s never flown alone. I offered to fly with her. She declined. Then he added, Her no was quick and emphatic. Mika pictured him in his office. Sitting behind an enormous mahogany desk. Suit and tie on. Frown firmly in place. Did he hate her?

Gus, her boss, passed by her cubicle. Mika dropped her phone and swung back around, putting her hands to the keyboard. She waved at him. “Don’t work too hard,” he said with a genuine smile. She smiled, laughed a fake laugh, and waited until he was gone before replying to Thomas. I’ve got it covered.

Twenty minutes later, he responded. Are you sure? It’s not an inconvenience?

Really, it’s no problem. We’ve got the afternoon planned. Hookers, drugs, the whole shebang. Mika chewed her lip. That was a joke. Too soon?

Another few minutes passed, and Mika continued the spreadsheet she’d been working on. Thomas texted. Way too soon. So he hated her. Definitely hated her.

Please don’t worry, she responded. She’s in good hands. I promise.

Have her text me when she arrives, was all he answered.

* * *

That Sunday, Mika pulled into the arrivals terminal at the airport. Penny stood at the curb, waving to her with one hand, the other clutching the handle of a burgundy suitcase. Today Penny’s hair was whipped up into a glossy ponytail. Mika popped the trunk and got out of the car. They both said hey at the same time and hugged, falling into each other’s arms easily. Mika held on for a second too long. Then she slung Penny’s suitcase into the back, and they climbed into the rusted Corolla.

Penny buckled her seat belt. Either she didn’t notice the spider crack in the windshield or the tape holding the side mirror together, or she was politely ignoring it. “Whew. I almost didn’t make it. My dad dropped me off this morning, and I swear he was going to cry. I’m pretty sure he was considering kidnapping me.

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