He shrugs. “Suit yourself.”
The server comes back, dropping off our drinks. I blow on mine for a moment, eyeing him.
“Why?” I ask without thinking.
“Why what?”
“Why me? What’s the agenda?”
He stares at me so long I almost think he isn’t going to answer.
“You intrigue me.” When I roll my eyes, he reminds me, “I wouldn’t lie. Remember.”
“How do I know you telling me that isn’t a lie in itself?”
“You’ll have to trust me,” he says, taking a drink of his tea.
“Trust you?” I scoff. “Trust the heir of the Yakuza, who was raised to hate me,” I say skeptically.
“Were you not raised to hate me?” He raises a brow.
“I was raised to be wary of you, but hate? My father didn’t speak of you enough to breed hate.”
His eyes flash. “He didn’t?”
I shake my head. “He keeps me out of business. I think the only thing I’m even good for is this stupid marriage.”
He nods. “Probably.”
I glare at him. “Thanks for the comfort.”
“Don’t forget bringing in the next generation.” He smirks, making me glare.
He chuckles. “Would you rather I lie?” When I shake my head, he smiles. “So tell me. If you didn’t want a forced arranged marriage, what did you want?”
I let out a sigh. “Does it matter?”
“Humor me.”
“I wanted to go to college. Have a little slice of normalcy. Maybe go to a party. Date a boy. I don’t know. Live.”
“Is this your first date?”
“I, um…” I trail off, not wanting to give him all of my secrets.
“And last night? Was that your first kiss?”
I can feel my cheeks growing warm again. “I didn’t say that.”
“You’re not saying it wasn’t. So what am I to think?”
“Shut up.” I manage, unable to say anything else.
I could’ve lied, but as long as I believe he is telling me the truth, I feel I should also tell him the truth.
“That changes everything.”
My heart drops. Of course he doesn’t want a bumbling fool as a wife. I’m going to be stuck with one of the other two.
