Page 35 of Strictly Against Policy

Before Jonathan could say anything, I took a sip of the broth and the iconic, rich, and deep flavor of phở exploded in my mouth. It was savory and well-spiced.

“Oh my God,” I groaned, taking another sip. Jonathan’s knee jerked abruptly and bumped into mine. “This is so good.”

“I’m happy to hear you like it.” Julie’s nervous smile broadened. She glanced at Andy, Anthony, and Shoua with a set of glittering eyes.

“Julie was anxious about you trying the phở. Everyone likes their phở a little different from others, so I wasn’t sure if you’d like it either,” laughed Shoua.

I shook my head. “No need to worry. This is amazing.”

“Julie and Shoua always make the best homemade phở and they make a ton, whenever they do,” Anthony stated.

“And we expect you to come by and help us finish it now,” chimed in Andy.

The two of them shared the same broad grin as they ate their noodle soup, glancing at Jonathan. Mischief shimmered across their eyes as they sent him nonverbal messages.

“Since you live so close, you can always come over for dinner if you’d like! Andy and I love having guests,” gushed Julie.

I tried to stammer out a response, but Jonathan interrupted me. “Just tell them no because it’s awkward.”

“Let her answer for herself, Jonathan. She has her own autonomy.” Julie pursed her lips, and he scoffed.

“Julie, you can’t just say something like that without letting Lina warm up to you first. Don’t just push yourself onto her,” he stated. “It makes your invitation too forward.”

Jonathan and I glanced at each other for a second. I tore my gaze away, only to catch Andy’s hazel-green eyes on us. He looked over to where both Shoua and Anthony sat. The smile the twins shared stretched even wider. I flushed at that and turned to Julie.

“Sorry about that, Lina. I got a little carried away,” she said, sounding apologetic. “I work from home so my interactions with people are limited.”

Andy shook his head, chuckling. “You all have no idea how chatty she is at the doctor’s. She makes a new friend every time we go. Even all the nurses know her by name now.”

Jonathan scoffed. “Julie, you need to make friends outside of the doctor’s office and my pharmacy.”

“Your pharmacy?” smiled Julie, batting her eyes at him sweetly. “As far as I’m aware, you don’t own that place. You’re only the manager, Jonathan.”

“Kids, please. We have a guest,” Shoua laughed, interrupting them.

Anthony and Andy laughed with her. “Julie, you’re so fiery these days,” chuckled Anthony.

She glanced at him and patted her swelling belly. “You can thank your brother for that,” she beamed. Andy’s cheeks reddened with a happy smirk.

Anthony let out a loud snicker. He glanced at Jonathan with brotherly love—something I had never seen from my own brother. He turned to me with that same caring look, and I attempted to flash a wobbly smile back.

“Jonathan’s always ready for a fight. I’m sure you know perfectly well, Lina,” he said.

“He’s always ready for a fight, and I’m always ready to win.” I shrugged.

Everyone whooped in laughter apart from Jonathan. He cocked an eyebrow at me with the tiniest of an arrogant smirk on his lips.

“You? Win?” he stated. “I believe I’m the one who wins.”

I smiled tightly, trying to be agreeable since I was in front of his friends and family. Whatever he was spewing out wasn’t true, but I didn’t want to be rude. “Sure thing, Jonathan,” I said, stretching the curve of my lips tighter.

CHAPTER 17

Lina

He abandoned that tiny drag on his wide lips the moment I nodded my head at him. His black brows furrowed into a divot, and his head tilted into his iconic coy and sly manner. He studied me quietly for a second as his friends and family observed us.

“You’re being awfully polite. I can’t say I’m used to this, Lina,” he mused, turning back to his friends and family. He looked at his sister and brother-in-law and changed the topic of the conversation breezily. “So, have you both thought of more baby names?”