Emma raises an eyebrow, and Rick gives Bo a sad look of surprise.
“Why do you say that, sweetie?” Emma asks.
Bo hesitates, and I give her hand a little squeeze.
You’re doing great, my hand says.
Bo takes a deep breath, then finally goes on. “I guess it just kind of feels like, you two are exploring my culture for me, and I’m only kind of watching. I want to be the one to do the exploring for a while. Like even if it’s just going to Chinese restaurants or watching C-dramas or whatever, I think it should be on my terms, you know?” She finally lets go of my hand and inhales, like it took her whole breath to say all that.
Bo’s mom’s covers her mouth with her hand. “Oh, honey, I’m so, so sorry we made you feel like that.”
“We never wanted to hurt you, Bo. That was never why we did any of that. You know that, right?” Rick says.
“I know, I know. You guys love me and just wanted to help. But, like, intentions don’t change the impact. And it took me a while to realize how I felt about it, anyway.”
“Sit with us,” Emma says, patting the space on the couch next to her.
I take a step back, suddenly realizing how awkward it is that I’m in the middle of this very intimate family discussion. Bo looks back at me, and I try to send a telepathic message, like I would to Cesar.
Do you want me to stay?
“You don’t have to stick around for this part, Yami. Thanks.” She reaches out to give my hand one final squeeze before sitting down with her parents. I’m almost too shocked that she actually got my message to leave, but I manage to give her a reassuring smile before heading upstairs to the guest room.
I could get used to being on vacation. I know I’ll have to work twice as hard when I get back home, but that can be my New Year’s resolution. Mom and Cesar come home for New Year’s tomorrow, so I have one more day to enjoy before I have to worry about working, and I intend to make the most of it. It’s easier not to worry when my mom’s not around. I feel guilty for thinking that, but it’s true. Without her around to remind me what I have to lose, all I have to worry about is ice blocking.
Taking a big block of ice and riding it down a hill is already pretty fun as it is, but the Taylor family apparently takes it to the extreme. They even freeze ropes into the blocks to act as handles, so you can steer yourself.
We wait until around ten thirty at night to leave the house and head for the park, so we can be outside when the fireworks go off. Our ice sleds sit in two different chests, and we have to lug them all the way to the top of the hill above the lake when it’s time.
I take the spot on the top of the hill where the grass looks shortest. It’s better that way, since there’s less traction. The first slide down is just to get a feel for the hill, but Bo happens to slide down at the same time as me, and I’m a competitive bitch. There’s no way I’m letting her beat me to the bottom. We’re neck and neck, but there’s a lump in the ground up ahead. I yank my rope to the side, but go too far left and bump into Bo’s sled. She’s thrown off track for a second, but then she pulls her rope and bumps me right back. We’re officially bumper sledding.
After a few hits, we both end up falling off our blocks before we make it to the bottom.
“Ha! I win!” Rick shouts as he speeds by us.
“We were racing?” Bo’s mom calls out from the top of the hill.
Bo laughs and rolls her eyes, then hands me her phone.
“Yami, can you record this? I want to try something.” I nod, and she runs up the hill with her ice. She stands on her block, hunching down low enough to reach the handles. “Okay, are you recording?”
I throw her a thumbs-up. She leans forward and starts ice block surfing down the hill. I don’t know how she manages to look clumsy and badass at the same time. She’s an enigma. She’s surfing right toward me, and we both start screaming like we’re about to die. I’m as frozen as her sled when she and her ice block tackle me to the ground.