Doctor Kim

Chapter 21

The horror I felt was expressed perfectly on Somi's stunned face. What the hell was she doing in Minji's side yard, staring at us through the window? And how long had she been watching while I had a boob out and Minji's mouth on me?

She grabbed my wrist and yanked me stumbling along until we were out of her view, barely giving me a chance to pull the strap up and cover myself.

"Did she see us?" I asked, which was pointless. Of course she had, and her somber expression confirmed it. I tried to bolt, not having any plan, but she trapped my waist in her hands. Her voice was soothing and calm. "Stay here. I'll . . . handle this."

I stared up at her. Even though she was looking down at me, it was clear I wasn't really registering. I could see the gears turning in her head, working. She was too focused on damage control.

And that was exactly how I felt right now. I was doing nothing to her but damage. I shook off her hold and strode toward her room, needing to flee as if that would somehow help our situation. "I should get dressed too."

She didn't argue. Instead, she followed me toward the bedroom, but she moved much faster than I did and beat me through the doorway. She snagged a t-shirt from a drawer, yanked it on, and gave me a serious look. "Stay put, okay?" she asked quietly. "I've got this."

My mouth dropped open to speak, but she turned and pulled the door nearly closed. Her heavy footsteps grew quieter as she hurried toward the back-patio door in the kitchen.

I scrambled into the wrinkled clothes I'd packed for today and raked a hairbrush through my tangled hair, trying to make it look presentable. The only makeup on my face was whatever was left over from last night. God, I was the opposite of Somi in every way this morning.

A door closed, and two pairs of footsteps drifted in from the kitchen. I reached for the doorknob, but hesitated when I heard her voice, full of righteousness.

"Her car's in the driveway."

Minji's tone was pointed. "And?"

There came a sound like she was flustered. "Well, when no one answered the door, I thought she'd spent the night with Jay while you weren't home. I assumed you're a good parent who doesn't allow that sort of thing."

"What 'sort of thing?'" Minji's words were sharp, and I pictured her expression matching her voice.

"You know what I mean. Letting your son's teenage girlfriend sleep over." She said the word teenage the same way I imagined prim and conservative Somi would say atheist democrat.

A long and very stress sigh rang out. "First of all, Hanni isn't Jay's girlfriend—"

"Well, I'd certainly hope not."

"And she's an adult. Second, how I raise my son isn't really your business. Did I ask you to come into my yard and look through my windows?"

The pitch and volume of her voice climbed. "I was doing you a favor! I thought you'd want to know how that girl spent the night, because it's so inappropriate." Somi drew in a deep breath. "Lordy, I had no idea just how inappropriate it really was."

"Somi—"

"She's a child. What are you doing with her?"

I slumped against the wall.

"That's definitely none of your business," Minji answered, maintaining an even keel, but I heard the edge beneath. She was close to losing her patience.

"This is why you're not interested?" she spat out. "I'm not young enough for you."

I sucked in a sharp breath.