My Summer in Seoul

When the door finally closed behind her, I gulped and said in a low voice, “I’m not against going to the store and buying more Pringles.”

I could have sworn I earned a sexy look from every single member.

Huh, maybe all it took was food.

“Or um, fried chicken? Technically it’s still chicken, so you wouldn’t be lying.”

Sookie threw his head back against the couch and groaned, then put the chip into his mouth and chewed.

“No,” Rae said in a soft voice. “We’ll binge all the fried chicken after our comeback.”

Lucas said something under his breath, earning a death glare from Kai and Rae.

Sookie chose that moment to dive across the couch and intercept the Pringles, putting one last chip into his mouth and chewing. I could have sworn I could see the words worth it plastered across his face as he swallowed.

The sound of his stomach rumbling overshadowed the actors talking on screen. The guy needed more food, but when I opened my mouth to say something, Rae was already shaking his head at me, silently telling me to drop it.

Poor Sookie slumped into the couch and crossed his arms, staring straight ahead, his ears turning slightly red as Lucas pressed play again.

Jay mumbled something about the studio, Sookie remained frozen in place, Rae went into the kitchen, and I didn’t trust anyone else to make sure Lucas didn’t sneak off to the roof.

So, there I sat, attempting not to cry as the show kept going. Lucas didn’t look away from the TV. Kai finally sat down, still on his phone, then looked up and scowled.

Sookie’s stomach was still grumbling.

“You know, if you like vegetables, you should be able to eat as many as physically possible without gaining weight,” I said it all into the app, waiting for it to translate, then continued when Sookie turned toward me. “You could also intermittently fast for the next few days, then at least you won’t need to do so much chicken—isn’t Korea notorious for seafood dishes? I’m sure if we just make sure we don’t add salt, and you’re drinking plenty of—”

“Jungji.”

It instantly translated to stop.

Sookie gave me a sad smile and then shrugged while Kai peered around him at me and made a cutting motion across his neck.

My jaw dropped in horror. What sort of Dateline episode with hot guys did I just get dropped into?

And then laughter sounded behind me. I whipped around to see Lucas laughing his butt off.

He had a nice laugh—even though it was most likely directed at me.

Soon Sookie joined in, then Kai even.

What had I missed?

Lucas snatched my phone and spoke quickly into it, then hit translate. “He’s not actually going to slice you across the neck; it’s a gesture—sarcasm?”

I cleared my throat and carefully grabbed my phone. “I knew that…”

Rae strolled back into the room and frowned. “Are you sick?”

“No, just getting sarcastic death threats.” I glared at Kai and then did the whole I’m watching you motion with my fingers.

He didn’t look afraid.

If anything, he was more amused than ever.

But hey, at least it made Lucas laugh, so I’ll just count it as a win.

Rae said something to the guys, who stopped giggling like schoolgirls and then jerked his head toward the kitchen like he wanted me to follow him. I could still see Lucas if I didn’t go all the way in, and even though he’d been laughing a few seconds ago, I knew how quick the anxiety could creep back in—choking, suffocating, shaming.

“Management’s fighting to get Lucas taken off all of the upcoming press, stating stress and sickness.” He cleared his throat. “They’re even thinking about taking him off the comeback stage.”

My eyes snapped open in horror. “Why the hell would they do that?”

Rae’s expression fell as he pulled me farther away from the group. “Fans aren’t happy.”

“This is ridiculous!” I was so frustrated I wanted to throw something. After everything he’d been through? The stress? The practicing? Even I was tired on his behalf, and now he was going to have to sit out? That was like practicing for the World Series then having your coach pull you for no reason other than you spit out your gum and someone accidentally stepped on it.

I dug my fingertips into my temples, trying to alleviate the growing pressure from a tension headache that had pretty much existed since landing in Seoul. “Okay, think… so bear with me here. In the States, you’d just pull a publicity stunt, call in a favor, wait for another celeb to check into rehab, start fake dating your co-star, or well, fake something even bigger, then say no comment and let it blow over…”

Rae crossed his arms over his chest, bringing my attention to how sculpted he was. Heat swamped my face, and I suppressed the urge to fan myself. And was his shirt tighter today?