“Good,” he says with some surprise. “It was…frightening.” He goes red. “A stupid thing to say.”
“No, I get it.” I did, too. Lili is no Todd, but there can be people in our lives who take on more of a presence and influence than they deserve. “How is she now?”
“She won’t speak with me, but my father agreed with me. She’s furious at us both.” His dimples show in a wry smile. “She’ll understand one day. I hope.”
I tuck myself under his arm. “You did good.”
“Not as good as you with Eppy.”
“Thanks to you.”
He shrugs. “No one would have cared if it didn’t work. It does. You were great on the interviews.”
“You saw them?”
“Of course. In part because I couldn’t miss them. You were everywhere.”
I grin. “I know.” There goes keeping under the radar and not taking risks. “Robin Banerjee called. I don’t have to find a job. I can work on Eppy because he’s funding me.”
Sam whoops. “I knew he would. That’s my Gracie.”
His Gracie. I probably like the sound of that more than I should.
“You’ll be busier.” He runs his hand over my hair.
“You’re one to talk,” I point out. “Don’t you leave to shoot a movie soon?”
“Yeah.” He coughs. “Hey. Do you think you can add one more task into your Eppy list?”
“Like what?”
“A relationship? I’m thinking in the long-term plans section.”
I look at him.
“I want to give us a chance,” he says. “Sam and Gracie.”
“You’re a movie star.”
“Sure am.”
“Surrounded by beautiful people.”
“Like the woman I’m with now. Should I point out you’re a CEO, surrounded by brilliant people?” He shrugs. “I trust you, Gracie. Do you trust me? Trust that what I feel for you is real?”
He pulls back completely like he doesn’t want to sway my answer. I grab him because I know. “I trust you.”
“Plus, I like that you’re a CEO.” He puffs out his chest. “A good ego boost for me.” He catches my eyes. “Don’t say it,” he warns.
“Not like you need it.”
“You said it.” He shakes his head.
I want this. His chest is pressed against me and I can feel his heart pound against my skin. It’s fast.
Despite the light tone, he’s nervous, too.
I take a chance. “I think I want to try. You and me. Let’s do it.”
“A ringing endorsement.” He leans in. “I’ll take what I can get from you.”
My lips capture his and I feel him smile against my mouth.
He pulls back. “I’m so glad you walked into that coffee shop.”
“Me, too, even though that muffin was terrible.”
He laughs and strokes my hair. This time, when he kisses me, I know it’s absolutely all for me.
THE END
Reading Group Guide
1. Gracie is biracial and at times struggles with other people’s perception of what that means. What preconceptions do you think you have about biracial identity, or what do you see in the media? How do you react when people discuss experiences that may not be familiar to you?
2. The author is also biracial. How much of an author’s experience do you think is incorporated into a book? Would you feel different about a book if the author is writing about an experience they have not had first-hand?
3. Gracie has a particular fondness for lists and organizational methods. Is this something you find useful in your own life? Which of the various methods Gracie explores would you most be interested in trying?
4. Gracie and Sam’s mothers have different philosophical approaches to life: one cautious and one assertive. How has this impacted Gracie and Sam?
5. Why do you think it was so important for Gracie to get her mother into Xin Guang? What would you be willing to do in Gracie’s place?
6. Gracie finds a moment of empowerment when she ditches her attempts to blend in and chooses her own specific power red lipstick—a shade distinct from Fangli’s. Is there a personal token （whether it’s makeup or some other item） that makes you feel powerful? What do you think it is that gives you that feeling?
7. If you were going to be mistaken for a celebrity—and then step into their life for a week—who would you want it to be? Why? Who would you least like to trade lives with?