Page 6 of Six Years
I did, in fact, not know that.
I never cared much about that family, even if Ji-Hoon Li is my father’s ultimate rival. They’re both in the baby business, both producing unnecessarily expensive items like toys and clothes or pacifiers etcetera. Hayesland isn’t as known as Li Co. is, even though Hayesland was founded years before Li Co., hence why my father despises Ji-Hoon Li.
Deep down, I believe my father still hopes I might take over one day, but I’m not interested. At all. I’d rather keep on coaching soccer to my girls. They’re all doing so great this season, especially the U6. It’s their first actual season playing games and such. Last year we didn’t participate because I thought little four-year-olds shouldn’t be getting all violent on the field. Neither should five-year-olds but whatever. U5 will forever be thepracticeyear to me. Just fun games, no losses. Even the U6 don’t have losses because there aren’t anybiggames like the U16 have going. It’s all just fun at that age.
My father respects it though, so it’s not like he’d ever force me to take over.
Grey had gone inside about five minutes ago, and still I’m staring up at the balcony, waiting for him to come out again. Maybe he didn’t see me, why would he? I probably look like an ant from down here.
The lights to the room connected to the balcony are still on, but I don’t think Grey is still in there because my eyes catch a little movement down in their backyard, and then on the stairs to the beach.
Their entire beach part is fenced. The fence is tall enough to show little of what’s happening on the other side. All I can see is some movement, shadows. And then the gate opens, and a tall Korean boy comes walking out of there.
Who the hell wears long pants to the beach? He wore something similar yesterday. Black cargo pants, a black shirt. His shoes are white though.
Grey has a powerful walk. I never thought that existed. He walks like he owns the entire world, like he could get anyone to die by just walking past them. Determined. Straight-forward. He doesn’t look away or gets distracted. His eyes remain focused on me, knowing exactly where he’s headed.
I wish I looked only half as powerful as he does right now.
“Jesus,” I hear Doro mutter under her breath. “Now I understand what you meant with ‘he was blasé.’”
Yeah. Blasé.
If he’s the son of Ji-Hoon Li, of course he is used to random people approaching him. Of course he knows how not to show interest, how to stay a mystery.
Grey maybe-Li is intimidating. And yet, when he finally stands before me, all the intimidation leaves like it’s just him and I again, by the beach, at night, me talking his ears off.
“Was about time you made it,” I say and smile at the guy like I didn’t just think about running for the hills. “You know, the last time someone almost stood me up, I… Actually, that never happened. You would’ve been a first.”
He doesn’t smile back at me or even gives me a sign he heard me. But he does take a seat next to me, so I’ll call that a win.
“So, you are local then?” I try to get him to talk back. I’m not sure if he’s seen me, but if he has, maybe that’ll be an icebreaker.
It isn’t.
“No,” he answers.
“You just came out of the Li’s house. Unless you’re dating their only daughter or are related to them, I don’t think you’d even make it inside.” His family name might not be known to most people. Maybe the name is, but not the people behind the brand. However, around El Matador Beach, the Li’s might as well be celebrities.
“How do you know they only have one daughter?” he asks, not looking at me. Hey, at least he’s talking.
“There was never a mention of a second or even a third one.” I should know. My father sent me to a school across the entire city just because the Li kids went to the one I was supposed to go to. If there’s one family my dad would never allow me to get involved with, it would be them.
But since I never really cared, I only know they have two sons and a daughter. Their names don’t exist in my brain, nor do their faces. Honestly, I am not even sure there everwerefaces to the names online before.
Grey slowly lifts his head and meets my eyes. He’s got dark eyes, but I already knew that from last night. Full lips. Black hair and a tattoo that goes down the front of his neck; Korean letters, I’d assume. I don’t know what it means, but I won’t ask either.
“So, I take it the big Grey Li doesn’t like Malibu all that much, huh?” I grin, proud to have figured that one out. I hope.
“Davis,” he corrects. “It’s Grey Davis.”
Huh? “Why?”
Instead of providing me with an answer, he turns to Josh and orders himself a drink. I do the same, only I don’t order a whiskey but apple juice. God, I love apple juice.
I look next to me to find my best friend, but she’s gone. How dare she leave me behind with a stranger? Granted, I wanted to be left alone with said stranger, but that was before he confused me.
Taking a deep breath, I turn back to look at Grey only to find him already staring at me.
