Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(16)
“Who?” I question, confused as I try to retain my awareness and focus on the present.
“The friend,” Jared states playfully.
My eyes shift back to Henry’s friend and it feels like he never looked away. He smiles a half-cocked grin that curves up on the left side of his face. He too is wearing high-quality clothing in the form of a light blue button down dress shirt that makes his eyes sparkle, along with dark blue slacks and a pair of brown slip on casual dress shoes. His navy blue jacket is draped over his arm. This man is stunning. He has physical qualities that would allow him to be a male model if he choses, but he’s got an air of confidence and something else that I can’t quite make out in his stare. Luscious, thick dark brown hair adorns his head, but has flicks of what I would think is natural light brown highlights. He’s taller than me, but only by a few inches, and he is only about an inch or two shorter than Jared. This man is yummy, causing my lady parts to react.
“Definitely not gay,” I answer quietly.
For a gay man, Jared has miserable gay-dar. I’m his default detector.
“Damn,” he states, revealing his disappointment.
I force myself to pay attention to Maggie and Henry, but this guy’s ocean blue eyes have me mesmerized. The sound of Maggie’s voice mentioning my name brings me back to the moment and I force my gaze to meet her’s and then Henry’s.
“This is Jared and Emma.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Henry,” he offers, shaking Jared’s hand and then reaches for mine, though I do not return the gesture.
I have a thing about touching strangers.
“This my good friend, Joe,” Henry continues politely, almost sensing and understanding my uneasiness with physical contact and does not seem offended by my rudeness.
Crap. I have to look at his friend again. Compose yourself, Emma. I watch Joe and Jared shake hands and when Joe looks to me, I simply smile and nod. A look of disappointment appears on his face when I don’t shake his hand. Typically, I don’t care what others think of my habits. I shouldn’t care, yet for some strange reason — this time, I kind of do.
“You’ll have to excuse Emma. She’s not very personable with strangers,” Jared cuts in before the moment becomes too awkward and squeezes my shoulder into his body.
“Who is this?” Joe squats down to his knees to make himself eye level with Sadie, but keeps his attention on my face. His enigmatic smile has returned and he looks even yummier than before.
Instinctually, Sadie knows to place herself between me and anyone new. I don’t like getting too close to anyone I don’t know. She sits with her eyes glued on me watching and waiting for direction.
“That’s Sadie,” Maggie introduces for me.
Henry is a little timid to bend down like Joe. Joe doesn’t move to touch Sadie and seems to be waiting for permission from me or her. I’m not sure.
Looking back down to Sadie, I can tell she’s a little uneasy, which she is getting from me. I signal to her that it’s okay to greet and Joe is her first target since he’s right in front of her. He is the first person outside of Maggie, Jared and Maggie’s family whom she bares her belly to on first contact. I’m in complete shock. Joe pets her vigorously from head to toe as if he’s used to dogs and Sadie loves the attention. Sadie stays focused on Joe and keeps her body up against his like she’s hoping that he will keep petting her as she greets Henry. She senses Henry’s apprehension and goes easy on him.
Before Henry reaches to pet her, Maggie exclaims, “Sadie won’t hurt you! She’s a big softy and is great with my niece and nephews.”
The tension in Henry’s body relaxes a little as he reaches his hand forward to let Sadie sniff him.
“Here,” Maggie encourages Henry and Sadie by putting her hand next to his slightly touching it. “She’ll smell me mixed with you which will make it easier for you both.”
Sadie sniffs his hand and gladly lets Maggie guide Henry’s hand over her head.
“See, she likes you,” Maggie says reassuringly.
“We should walk and talk to make it back to our spots on the street,” Jared suggests.
Everyone agree and start moving towards the parade route. I’m surprised that they are both joining us. Maggie never introduces a guy to her family this quickly.
Maggie and Henry are in front, talking to each other. They seem very calm in the way they speak as if they’ve known each other for a long time. As we cross the street, I notice that Henry purposefully puts himself between Maggie and the street. Jared, Joe, Sadie and myself follow closely behind them not talking. Jared is closest to the store entrances as our arms are entwined, Sadie is between myself and Joe and Joe is along the curbside mirroring Henry.
We easily find Nǎinai and the rest of the family about fifteen minutes before the parade starts. Nǎinai gleams with enthusiasm, not for the parade, but at seeing Henry and Joe. Maggie makes introductions to the whole family in English. She explains who’s related to whom and Jared adds how he and I tie into the whole family, pretty much as brother and sister to Maggie. Maggie and Henry stand side by side followed by myself with Jared behind me, then Sadie and Joe. The whole family listens intently to Maggie and then begins asking Henry a few questions.
“My parents are somewhere here. This is our first time seeing the parade in Chinatown, usually we’re either back home in China or up in San Francisco to celebrate,” Henry answers openly.