into Asia’s eyes.
“Well, that’s a new trick.”
“I’ll never let go,” she promised. With a sweet smile she kissed the excess raindrops from my bottom lip before leading me to her black Jeep parked at the other end of the lookout.
“How’d you know I was here?”
Her lips pouted. “Easy, I followed my heart.”
“And the cherry blossom tree?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise.” She smiled. “Come on, there’s some friends I’d like you to meet.”
“Okay.” I climbed in the truck and sunk into the seat.
Onboard Asia’s massive yacht I sat in silence as four sets of judgmental eyes searched me up and down. Four intense little girls watched me with uncertain stares and inquisitive smirks. The two oldest girls looked like sisters, maybe even twins. They held hands and stared at me as if they knew everything about me. The youngest of the four sat behind the sisters and seemed scared to make eye contact with me. Finally, Asia’s icy bodyguard judged me with her hands on her hips and a pout on her lips. She didn’t like me much. It made me uncomfortable. I nervously popped the knuckles in one hand and cleared my throat. Just as the situation became unbearable Asia spoke up.
“Max, I’d like you to meet my new friends, Star, Lennon, Pepper, and you’ve already met King.”
“Friends?” I asked, unsure.
“Yes,” King scolded.
Offering her a polite smile I leaned into Asia. “What’s with their names?”
“I told them they could pick their own names. They were free now. They deserved more than a number. I wanted their first step to be completely theirs. So, they each picked their own.” Asia walked up to them and placed her hands on the two oldest. “Star and Lennon are like you, Max, music lovers. They discovere d The Beatle s and quickly decided on Star, like Ringo Starr, and Lennon, for John Lennon, of course.”
“Crazy , The Beatle s are one of my favorite bands. Great taste, girls!” I applauded.
“Indeed, but Star insisted that we call her Ringo for the first day or so. I recently convinced her to embrace his last name,” Asia teased. Star rolled her eyes, embarrassed.
“How old are you?” I asked, politely.
“Eight,” they said at the same time.
“Okay, King, what’s your story?” I playfully inquired. She tilted her head and walked away from me. Asia sighed and spoke for her.
“King is seven, and has some trust issues. She can be a bit moody.”
“You don’t say…” I smiled. Asia nodded my way as if to say , you should talk , and continued.
“She is our literature addict. She chose the name of her favorite author.”
“Stephen King,” I said. King whipped around toward me surprised. I added, “He’s my favorite too.”
“Really?” she sulked.
Stepping up to her, I asked, “Have you rea d Fire-Starte r yet?” She shook her head no. “Hmm…give me a chance and maybe I’ll letcha borrow my copy.”
Asia raised an eyebrow and I winked her way. Thunder lightly tickled the windows and I smiled. King eased her stance and sat back down next to her sisters.
“And what about you, Pepper, what are you named after? A spice?” I teased, trying to ease her nerves. Asia placed an arm around her and snuggled her closer. Pepper’s arms locked around Asia’s waist, instantly.
“Not exactly,” Asia laughed. “She was the first to pick her name.”
“And why’s that?” I asked.
“She’s named after the soft-drink , Dr. Peppe r . She discovered it on the plane ride home. She’s addicted to the stuff.” Pepper nodded my way with a small smile on the verge of her lips. Asia held her tighter. “I’ve never been around a more caring six year old, Max.” Asia grinned while caressing Pepper’s chestnut hair. “I, personally, love each one of their choices,” Asia smiled at each of them. It was more than obvious that she had connected with them emotionally already.
“Pleased to meet you all,” I announced
“You’re like us,
“Well, that’s a new trick.”
“I’ll never let go,” she promised. With a sweet smile she kissed the excess raindrops from my bottom lip before leading me to her black Jeep parked at the other end of the lookout.
“How’d you know I was here?”
Her lips pouted. “Easy, I followed my heart.”
“And the cherry blossom tree?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise.” She smiled. “Come on, there’s some friends I’d like you to meet.”
“Okay.” I climbed in the truck and sunk into the seat.
Onboard Asia’s massive yacht I sat in silence as four sets of judgmental eyes searched me up and down. Four intense little girls watched me with uncertain stares and inquisitive smirks. The two oldest girls looked like sisters, maybe even twins. They held hands and stared at me as if they knew everything about me. The youngest of the four sat behind the sisters and seemed scared to make eye contact with me. Finally, Asia’s icy bodyguard judged me with her hands on her hips and a pout on her lips. She didn’t like me much. It made me uncomfortable. I nervously popped the knuckles in one hand and cleared my throat. Just as the situation became unbearable Asia spoke up.
“Max, I’d like you to meet my new friends, Star, Lennon, Pepper, and you’ve already met King.”
“Friends?” I asked, unsure.
“Yes,” King scolded.
Offering her a polite smile I leaned into Asia. “What’s with their names?”
“I told them they could pick their own names. They were free now. They deserved more than a number. I wanted their first step to be completely theirs. So, they each picked their own.” Asia walked up to them and placed her hands on the two oldest. “Star and Lennon are like you, Max, music lovers. They discovere d The Beatle s and quickly decided on Star, like Ringo Starr, and Lennon, for John Lennon, of course.”
“Crazy , The Beatle s are one of my favorite bands. Great taste, girls!” I applauded.
“Indeed, but Star insisted that we call her Ringo for the first day or so. I recently convinced her to embrace his last name,” Asia teased. Star rolled her eyes, embarrassed.
“How old are you?” I asked, politely.
“Eight,” they said at the same time.
“Okay, King, what’s your story?” I playfully inquired. She tilted her head and walked away from me. Asia sighed and spoke for her.
“King is seven, and has some trust issues. She can be a bit moody.”
“You don’t say…” I smiled. Asia nodded my way as if to say , you should talk , and continued.
“She is our literature addict. She chose the name of her favorite author.”
“Stephen King,” I said. King whipped around toward me surprised. I added, “He’s my favorite too.”
“Really?” she sulked.
Stepping up to her, I asked, “Have you rea d Fire-Starte r yet?” She shook her head no. “Hmm…give me a chance and maybe I’ll letcha borrow my copy.”
Asia raised an eyebrow and I winked her way. Thunder lightly tickled the windows and I smiled. King eased her stance and sat back down next to her sisters.
“And what about you, Pepper, what are you named after? A spice?” I teased, trying to ease her nerves. Asia placed an arm around her and snuggled her closer. Pepper’s arms locked around Asia’s waist, instantly.
“Not exactly,” Asia laughed. “She was the first to pick her name.”
“And why’s that?” I asked.
“She’s named after the soft-drink , Dr. Peppe r . She discovered it on the plane ride home. She’s addicted to the stuff.” Pepper nodded my way with a small smile on the verge of her lips. Asia held her tighter. “I’ve never been around a more caring six year old, Max.” Asia grinned while caressing Pepper’s chestnut hair. “I, personally, love each one of their choices,” Asia smiled at each of them. It was more than obvious that she had connected with them emotionally already.
“Pleased to meet you all,” I announced
“You’re like us,
Similar Books
