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“Damn.” Nathaniel whistles. “This is the size of our entire apartment.”

“I highly doubt that.” The XOXO members live in averyexpensive apartment building. “Do you need... anything? Pajamas? There are towels and a spare toothbrush in the bathroom.”

“I’m good,” he says, leaning against the door.

“But what are you going to sleep in?” I say with a frown.

“The bed.”

“But in youroutsideclothes?” I wrinkle my nose.

“No.”

It takes me a second to realize what he’s saying. I should be embarrassed, but I’m more curious. Is that how he always sleeps? “But won’t you be cold?”

He laughs. “Maybe. Is that your room behind you?”

“Yes,” I say, then add quickly, “You can’t go in.”

I picture what he’d see if he walked into my room right now—stuffed animals covering every flat surface, including my bed.

“I wasn’t planning to,” he drawls.

I glare at him. Then, realizing we’re standing close, I take a big step back.

He frowns slightly at the movement.

“Well, I guess this is good night.” I press my back against my door, finding the knob.

Nathaniel studies my face, his gaze lingering on my nose, my eyes, my lips. “Night, Sori.”

I open my door and slip behind it, not moving until I hear the soft click of his door.

Sixteen

I must have been exhausted because I sleep the entire night through, only waking when my phone chirps with a message. Bleary-eyed, I roll over, stuffed animals tumbling off my bed as I reach for my phone on my nightstand. The message is from Secretary Lee, my father’s secretary:Your luncheon with Assemblyman Min and CEO Kim is scheduled for 13:00 today.He’s also provided the location—an upscale Japanese restaurant in Apgujeong—and a reminder to dress in suitable attire.

With a groan, I toss my phone across the bed. The last time I met my father and grandmother together was shortly after I returned to Korea following my father’s scandal, when my grandmother had contacted a reporter to come to her home for an exclusive interview. The experience was altogether unpleasant as I had to lie through my teeth, while enduring numerous insults against my mother from my grandmother, aunt, and cousins.

I take a deep breath and toss the memory to the back of my mind. The luncheon isn’t until this afternoon, and since I’m to meet Hyemi after her practice, I have the whole morning to spend exactly how I wish.

Is Nathaniel awake? My body feels oddly light, like there’s a balloon in my chest. He’s so close; only two doors and a hallway separate us. I feel more awake than I have all week, possibly all month. My mind races with ideas for the morning. He’ll definitelybe hungry. Digging through my stuffed animals, I find my phone on the bed again. More cascade off the side as I slide from the mattress, scrolling through SNS for recipe ideas. I can picture it in my head: Japanese soufflé pancakes served on porcelain plates; a white flower plucked from the garden in a crystal vase as a centerpiece, and maybe another flower for my hair.

After a quick shower, I change into a collared pale cream one-piece, the skirt swishing above my knees. In the bathroom, I apply eyeliner and curl my lashes. I’m only excited because I’ve never had a guest all to myself before. Ajumma was here both times Gi Taek and Angela visited, and Jenny as well. She’s not here now because it’s Monday, which means she won’t be at the house until later this afternoon. I’d be excited for any visitor, truly.

When I leave my room, the guest room door is slightly ajar. “Nathaniel?” I call out. When he doesn’t respond, I knock lightly on the door, then push it open. A double-sided shelf in the middle of the room blocks the bed from view.

Remembering our conversation from last night about pajamas, or the lack of them, my breaths turn shallow.

I clear my throat. “Nathaniel? I’m coming inside. You better be dressed.” Walking around the shelf, I raise my eyes to the king-sized bed situated on an elevated platform.

It’s... empty.

For a moment, I just stand there, confused. Then I check the bathroom, only to find it empty too.

My heart thumps heavily in my chest as I leave the room, walking downstairs and opening the cabinet in the entranceway. Insideare the guest slippers where Nathaniel had left his shoes the night before.

The balloon in my chest pops. He’s gone.