Page 28 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 13-16

“I’ll see about getting you those meetings,” Bryce said. “Congrats, brother. I mean it. I thought you were never settling down.”

Damian smothered a yawn as he left the Narita International Airport that evening, heading for the train into Tokyo. A dinner meeting in Shibuya and then drinks at the station with a contact was everything that he was there for. He slumped onto a bench to wait for the next train, dialed, and closed his eyes.

Jun picked up. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” Damian smothered another yawn. He needed to grab a can of coffee or one of those energy booster little bottles, but he’d forgotten to buy any as he left the airport. Now he was on the other side of the gate from all the shops. Maybe there was a vending machine somewhere? “Bad time?” he asked.

“Just,” Jun made a sound, “making up Habibi’s bottle. Collin and I spent the night at the Parsonage. The floor in the front room is all laid now.”

Of course, it was morning in Chicago right now. Less than twenty-four hours and he’d be back. “How’s it look?”

“Really good. Habibi, no! That’s hot. That’s your uncle’s drink. You’re too young for coffee.”

“Gods, I want coffee.”

Jun chuckled. “Émeric is spoiling me. Drip coffee doesn’t taste as good now.”

“Émeric is a food snob.”

“So are you. You have more opinions about Korean cuisine than I do.”

“You have to have standards.”

Jun snorted, making more noise, and then there were suckling sounds of a contented infant. Armada’s voice drifted through the background and Jaewoong called out that toast was ready.

“You sure you have time to talk?” Damian asked.

“One sec.” Jun grunted and Collin’s voice came closer, offering to take Habibi. Damian’s heart warmed. Kids had never been on his radar, but somehow, his community had come together and now included them.

Jun’s voice came back, his mouth closer to the phone’s pickup. “I just handed off Habibi to Collin and Jaewoong gave me breakfast. We can talk in the old office while I eat. Mi Hi is coming over and we’re finalizing arrangements for the release party. Are you still good for the fifth of next month?”

“It’s blocked out. No trips allowed.”

“Richard and Émeric are clear too. Gigi confirmed last night and Matthew said Hypatia put in to have those hours covered by a different doctor if there’s an emergency. We’ll send out the rest of the invitations this afternoon.”

“Who all are you inviting?”

“The mayor, a bunch of people from some dance studios, whole bunch of reporters who have been talking to Mi Hi, about twenty talk show personalities from South Korea and a whole list of artists. Most of them won’t make it, but we’re inviting everyone anyway, everyone we’d normally ask for something like this.” Jun sounded excited and focused. “We’re also going to invite other artists in the U.S. Aunt May and Aunt Josie are canvassing the neighborhood to invite everyone local.”

“Have you figured out catering?”

Jun groaned. “Do you know what that stuff costs?”

Damian chuckled. “Yes.”

“We’re thinking of going with eating places that we plan to have in the Church complex. None of the really local shops serve Korean alcohol, so we’re sourcing from the South Loop area. Oh, and I’m meeting with the city to see about getting the streets shut down for the day, so we can make it a block party.”

Damian’s heart swelled. Jun really was taking point. “Did you use the phone number I gave you to get through?”

“It worked. Soon as we finish with Mi Hi, I’m heading over. Armada is going with me.”

Hearing Jun’s voice was what Damian needed to salve the headache behind his eyes. He slumped in his seat, listening to details about event tents and renting tables.

“My U.S. IDs came through.”

Damian’s ears perked up. “They did?”

“Yes.” Jun sounded amused. “Feels weird.”