If We Were Perfect - Ana Huang Page 0,26

breakup than Sammy had been.

“I didn’t realize you were back in the city.” Sammy hoped to God Lucy didn’t remember his letter. He’d sent it a decade ago. There was no way she could remember...right?

He ignored Kevin’s shit-eating grin. He’d committed the grievous mistake of telling his brother about the letter when Kevin had been in the dumps himself over a breakup. In true sibling fashion, Kevin had never let him live it down.

That was what Sammy got for trying to empathize.

“My parents are still in Colorado, but I moved back for work. Software engineering,” Lucy explained.

Edison interrupted their catchup by clearing his throat—loudly—and tapping on his teacup with a chopstick.

Sammy and Kevin exchanged can-you-believe-this-guy? expressions. Kevin held the same low opinion of their cousin that Sammy did.

“Sorry to interrupt everyone’s meal,” Edison oozed, as sincere as a commission-starved car salesman. “But I have a big announcement.” He prattled on for a few minutes about nothing in particular before he cleared his throat again. Sammy resisted the urge to offer him a cough drop. “Mom, Dad, po po, gung gung, beloved aunties and uncles and cousins—”

Gina rolled her eyes so hard Sammy was surprised she didn’t enter another dimension. “Get to the fucking point, Bighead,” she muttered, tapping furiously on her phone.

Sammy’s mouth twitched. Atta girl. He didn’t reprimand her for cursing. She clearly had good judgment if she could see through Edison’s bullshit.

“I’m proud to announce that—” A dramatic pause long enough for Sammy to replicate Gina’s eye roll. “You are looking at the newest junior partner of Sterling, Wilson & Cartwright!”

There were exactly two seconds of silence before everyone reacted. Sammy’s grandparents beamed. Gina yawned. Kevin shoved a shumai in his mouth, no doubt to prevent himself from saying something snarky. Auntie Ling jumped from her seat and squealed, hugging her smirking son and talking loudly about how of course Edison made partner because he’d always been the smartest person in the room.

Gee, thanks, Auntie.

Sammy’s mom snorted. “Whatever. People make partner all the time,” she sniffed. “But you, Sammy, you’re on magazine covers! You were named one of Forbes 30 Under 30!” She glared at Auntie Ling. “I’ll bring copies next week. Edison, the smartest person in the room, my ass.”

Her husband coughed.

She whirled on him. “You agree? You think Edison is smarter than our son?”

Sammy made a sympathetic face at his father, who resembled a deer caught in headlights.

“Of course not.” Richard poured himself another cup of tea and stirred in a sugar cube. “My drink merely went down the wrong pipe.”

Before Amy could say anything else, Edison raised his voice over the chatter. “Wait, that’s not all! To celebrate my promotion—” He puffed out his chest. “I’m treating everyone to a weekend trip to Lake Tahoe! I’ve rented a big chalet—”

Loud, excited chatter drowned out the rest of his words. His promotion was big news, but nothing got the Yu’s atwitter like a free vacation. Even Gina looked up with interest.

“Wow,” Lucy said. “That’s really generous.”

“That’s Eddie,” Sammy said dryly. “Generous to a fault.”

While the rest of Sammy’s family discussed what they would pack and do at Lake Tahoe—even his mom got into it; clearly, an all-expenses-paid trip was enough to overcome her lifelong rivalry with Auntie Ling—Sammy and Lucy finished catching each other up on their lives. She was pleasant, smart, and kind, as always, but there was zero chemistry. Whatever romantic attraction they’d had in high school had fizzled, and while Sammy enjoyed talking with her, he knew they’d never date again. He could tell she felt the same way.

“I don’t get it,” his mother complained after they’d finished dim sum and Lucy excused herself to run errands. “You and Lucy are perfect for each other! You looked so cute together in high school. Remember when you two went to homecoming? You in your little bow tie and she in that pink dress. I still have the pictures. She’d give me beautiful grandchildren.” She glared at him. “Don’t you want me to have grandchildren, Sammy?”

“Don’t start.” Sammy crossed his arms over his chest. “I have a bone to pick with you about trying to set me up with Lucy Wang, of all people.”

He couldn’t really blame his mom, since he’d never told her about the letter, but he was mortified enough from having to face Lucy again that reason had jumped out the window.

“What’s wrong with Lucy?” She sounded indignant. “She’s pretty and she works for Google. Google! As a software engineer!” Amy waved