Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(15)

Unfortunately, Nǎinai decides to use Jet as confirmation for her blessing, “See how Jet is with you and you with Jet. You’re a natural.”

Jared and Maggie crack up at Nǎinai’s continuation.

F?qīn scolds Nǎinai in my defense, “Leave Emma be.”

F?qīn rarely intervenes and I nod my appreciation.

“Oh, Emma knows I’m just playing. Right, Emma . . .” Nǎinai retorts a little too proud of herself.

“Sure,” I calmly reply back as my focus turns back to Jet who is sitting on my lap and playing with a strand of my dirty blond hair as he tries to reach for the red sparkling studs in my ear lobes.

Conversations continue as Jade and Rey play on the floor with Sadie until lunch which we eat earlier to make it to our seats for the parade. While we eat, Nǎinai is talking the entire time with food in her mouth, and I watch in amusement at everyone's interactions. Maggie is picking at her food more than really eating it. She’s clearly nervous and anxious about meeting up with Henry. I hope he’s not like the other guys she’s dated before. I don’t want to be pessimistic. I really just want her to be happy. Maggie falls in love easily, a little too quickly, only to be dumped after a few months. She recovers pretty quickly, but heartbreak is painful none the less.

Maggie taps her watch discreetly at me to indicate that we need to get to the library to meet Henry.

Nǎinai catches Maggie out of the corner of her eye and blurts, “Are you running late for a date, Maggie?”

“What? No,” Maggie bashfully tries to deny.

“Don’t lie. I know when you’re lying,” Nǎinai alleges as she wags a finger at Maggie. “Are you going to see Henry?”

“No. We, umm . . . the parade will be starting soon. We should head out to our seats,” Maggie declares.

Jared tries hard to suppress a smile and giggle. Nǎinai watches Jared, Maggie and me carefully.

“Oh, just go already,” M?qīn shouts in desperation.

We always walk down to the parade together, so my guess is that M?qīn knows what’s going on. You can’t sneak anything past her.

“Thanks, M?qīn. Love you!” Maggie squeals as she jumps up out of her seat.

She practically runs to the closet by the front door to get our coats. I grab Sadie’s leash and hook it on after I put on my jacket.

Once on the street heading towards the library, Jared questions, “So, how do you want this to go down, Mags?”

“What?” Maggie’s definitely clueless to what Jared is talking about.

“Do you want us standing right there? You know, like you’re obviously with us or do you want us to stand off to the side talking?” Jared explains.

“I don’t know. Why?”

Maggie’s anxiety has just gone up a few levels. I can see it in her eyes.

“Well, it all depends on what kind of a vibe you want to give off. Do you want him to know you’re here with friends or not. Do you want to intimidate him a little with us being there or not?” Jared explains.

“I . . . I don’t know,” Maggie says with worry in her tone as she stops.

“Stop freaking her out, Jared,” I defend, punching him in the arm.

“I’m not trying to freak her out. I just want to know how she wants us to approach the guy. Should we go right away or wait for her signal?” Jared replies. He is honestly trying to help her, but his timing is horrible.

“How about we’ll play it by ear and if she wants us to move away before he gets there, she’ll let us know,” I offer.

“I like that,” Maggie express, calming a little.

Approaching the library about ten minute early, Maggie suddenly stops in her tracks.

“You okay, Maggie?” I ask with concern.

“Yeah . . .” she reacts as her voices trails off.

I notice she’s in a dead stare and follow her eyes. There are two men standing at the base of the stairs to the library talking. The Asian guy looks and stops too. His friend’s back is to us and they are too far for us to hear their conversation prior to them stopping.

Maggie moves forward toward who I assume is Henry while at the same time he instinctually moves toward her. Jared and I proceed to follow Maggie, but stay a few steps behind her to give some space. Clearly there is a connection between the two of them, there’s no denying it. They stop about a foot away from each other, eager to talk and touch bodies, but refrain themselves from physical contact.


Henry is as tall as me and his five foot eight inches stature towers a little over Maggie’s five foot three inch petite frame. He’s slim, but you can tell that he is muscular even under his lean, dark brown jacket, white with thin, red pin stripped button down dress shirt, dark khaki pants and brown casual dress shoes. I can tell his clothes are high quality without seeing the labels.

My attention is abruptly pulled away from Maggie and Henry chatting when my gaze falls upon the face of Henry’s friend who is following Henry a few steps back. I pause for a brief moment as we lock eyes. I regain my movement forward when I realize that I had suddenly stopped.

“You alright, Emma?” Jared asks.

Unable to pull my eyes away for a second, I finally look to Jared, finding a weird look on his face, and respond, “Yeah. I just wanted to give them a little more space.”

“Good idea,” Jared replies as he drapes his arm around my neck and whispers in my ear, “So do you think he’s gay or straight?”