Page 55 of Let's Talk About Love

He turned on the oven. Weren’t chicken nuggets supposed to be fried?

She decided not to ask.

“I had a good feeling. They’re looking for extra help if you’re interested. Pay is generous for nonfamily members.”

“I do like money.” She glanced at the twins. “I’ll think about it.”

Takumi placed the raw chicken in a colander and rinsed it. Should she volunteer to help? He did say he would teach her how to cook.

She decided not to ask.

“They’ve never seen Winnie the Pooh,” he said. “I thought it might be too heavy for them, but they seem okay.”

“Why?” She lined up the ingredients in a straight line, labels out, to make herself seem useful.

“Because they’re smart. There’s an anxious piglet, a depressed donkey, and a bear with clear boundary issues. They’re going to have questions.”

“Yeah, that’s true, but the show itself sends a good message about Eeyore and Piglet. Both are surrounded by friends who love and support them, but it doesn’t fix their mental problems. They’re doing the best that they can and it’s enough. If the maniacal munchkins ask questions, just explain why it’s important to be a good friend.”

“Oh yeah,” Takumi said, squinting at her as he wiped his hands on a towel. “Essie told me about that. You like to write essays about TV shows.”

“Only sometimes,” she mumbled. “I have to be moved and in the right mood for it.”

“Alice!” one of the girls called.

“It’s a new song!”

“Come sing to us!”

“They also really like music,” he said, gently nudging her out of the kitchen. “You probably shouldn’t have started singing.”

“Screw you, damn it.”

She trudged back to the couch, leaving Takumi chuckling behind her.

CHAPTER

19

Takumi used the second bedroom in his apartment for storage and projects. A large desk, his computer, and camera equipment were set up against one wall. Another wall had a black futon with a lamp next to it.

Alice lounged on the futon while Takumi worked on editing a video he planned to give to his brother as a present. In an hour or so, she’d leave to sneak back into her apartment. She hadn’t seen or heard from Ryan and Feenie all week. Part of her worried she was taking advantage of Takumi’s offer, but it wasn’t a big enough part to make her stop. Why on earth should she confront her problems when running had such delicious benefits? Takumi had made her crab cakes and roasted asparagus forseconddinner that night.

“Are you moving into a two-bedroom when your lease is up?” she asked him when the silence began to bore her.

“One,” he said, still focusing. “Or a studio if I can find one I like.”

She thought of her own struggle to fit into her 0.5-size room. He had at least four times the stuff that she did. “What are you going todo with all your things if you get a studio? Are you keeping any of it?”

“The plan is liquidation—everything must go. Sell what I can. Donate what I can’t. Trash everything else.”

“You know what’s strange? I totally knew that. The vibe is way too heavy in here. Your style”—she thought for a moment—“your style is simple. Soothing colors, like greens or blues but not black, with muted gray tones for accents. Not a lot of furniture—open floor space would be best—and the walls would still be filled with pictures like it is now; just add in some mirrors. You should totally let me decorate your new apartment.”

Takumi rotated in the chair to face her. “Do you enjoy doing that?”

“Decorating?” She paused. “Promise not to laugh?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Only because you always make me laugh. I can’t control it, but it’s notlaughing at youlaughing. It’s more like delighted surprise laughing.”