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Mom steps out a moment later, and she puts a hand on my forehead with concern. 'You don't look so good. Are you coming down with something?' I gently move her hand away. 'I'm fine, Mom. Just tired.' 'Were you up talking to Grace again? What could be so important at that time of night?' 'Noth--' I stop myself. 'Her heart's been broken, and she needed someone to talk to.' 'And what do you know about a broken heart?' Her tone is sharp, but not condescending. Rather it's threaded with worry, and for a second, I'm tempted to tell her the truth about everything.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#family #mother-daughter relationships

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'I'm really glad you're my friend.' 'Best friend,' I tease, pointing at a picture of us on her desk. 'Don't be downgrading me like that. I worked hard to get here.' 'Shut up.' 'You shut up.' Grace pokes me hard in the ribs, and I shove her away.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#Grace Chiu #Liza Yang #friendship

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'We've been talking a lot during the breaks, and he's really sweet. We've even hung out and listened to opera.' 'Opera?' Her eyes sparkle with excitement. 'Yeah! In fact, he showed me some videos of Taiwanese opera, and it was...' Weird? Creepy? Annoying? 'Really interesting! The elaborate costumes, the sets, and the singing! It's so unique.' I guess opera really does transcend culture, though I'm still not a fan.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#Ben Chen #Grace Chiu #Liza Yang #my thoughts exactly #it's an Asian thing #that Asian American life

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'There you are,' Ben calls out. 'We've been looking all over for you two!' I keep my voice light. 'In each other's mouths?' Ben blushes madly, while Grace just shrugs. 'The moment presented itself, so I took it.' I bite down on the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. That's peak Grace. She's never been shy about going after what she wants.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#that awkward moment #third wheel #Grace Chiu #Ben Chen #Liza Yang

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'I'm just glad I had time to remake the batter and have the cake come out okay.' 'That was way better than okay. It was perfect. Even my mom would say so, and she never says that about anything. James breaks into a dazzling smile. I stare, transfixed, at his crinkled eyes and that irresistible dimple. 'I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.' I aim for a careless shrug. 'Technically, I was complimenting your cake.' As he leans in, my heart slams against my rib cage like a bird trying to take flight. 'Does that mean I haven't changed your mind about me yet?' 'A-about you?' 'Well, I know I didn't make the best first impression, but I was hoping...' James catches himself then, and I resist the urge to scream. Hoping for what? His face twitches as it tries to settle on an emotion, but it never quite finds one. Instead, he straightens and drags a hand through his hair. 'Anyway, I'm glad you liked my cake. It means a lot, coming from you.'

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#James Wong #Liza Yang #technicalities #read between the lines

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I avert my gaze and spin around only to crash into James. Knocked off balance, he stumbles, and my legs get tangled up in his. We both hit the ground hard. He groans. 'Any chance you could find a less painful way to greet me?'

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#James Wong #Liza Yang #that awkward moment

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I hear James's soft voice just over my shoulder. 'Three is one other reason why I haven't dated anyone.' As if compelled by our newfound connection, I turn to face him. With the moon at his back, I can't make out his expression, but I nevertheless feel the intensity of his gaze. 'I haven't met anyone worth risking my heart for.'

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#James Wong #Liza Yang #confession time

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'Broken hearts are unavoidable,' he says quietly. 'Even when you do everything possible to protect yourself.' There's a melancholy to his voice I've never heard before. My heart clenches. 'Are you speaking from experience?' 'Actually, I've never really been in a relationship,' he admits rubbing the back of his neck. I nearly trip on my own feet.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#James Wong #Liza Yang #that single life

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'That's kind of how I feel about Ben. Sometimes I forget we're only cousins. I always wanted a brother, but my parents weren't able to have another kid after Gigi.' 'I hope you won't take this the wrong way,' I say after a beat, 'but it's funny when I see you guys together.' He leans against the trunk and eyes me curiously. 'Why?' 'I guess it's because you're so different. Ben is so cheerful and friendly, and you're...' I search for the right words. The ones I choose now don't match the ones I would have used just days ago.' 'You're quiet, more reserved.' James smirks. 'You know, I could say the same about you and Grace.' I open my mouth to deny it, but nothing comes out. He's right. Grace and I are pretty different. He smiles and pushes himself off the tree, and we start walking again.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#Grace Chiu #Liza Yang #James Wong #Ben Chen #friendship

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'You and Grace seem really close.' I nod, the memories flooding back immediately. 'We've known each other for years. I knew the day I met her that we were going to be best friends.' 'Really? How?' 'Well, we met at pool the summer before sixth grade. She was on one of the swim teams and was practicing in the deep end. I didn't actually know how to swim, so I was taking swimming lessons,' I reply softly as I glance at the water. 'Some of the other kids were pointing and laughing because I was the oldest one there. Not only did Grace stand up for me, she offered to teach me herself.' 'That was really nice of her.' 'It was more than nice. I'm really luck to have a friend like her.'

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#Grace Chiu #James Wong #Liza Yang #friendship #fictional first meeting

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'Hi guys. This is our friend Sarah. Sarah, this is Ben and his cousin James.' She sticks out her hand. 'It's nice to meet you! I've heard absolutely nothing about either of you.' Ben shakes her hand with a lighthearted chuckle. James nods politely.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#fictional first meetings #that awkward moment when #James Wong #Ben Chan

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'I can't believe you're not into him. He's hot, and not just for an Asian guy.' I grimace. 'That sounds really bad, Sarah.' She shakes her head frantically. 'I was only trying to say that he's really...' 'Hot. Yeah, I got that. But you make it sound like Asian guys are not as hot as other guys.' 'I definitely wasn't trying to say that.' Sarah cocks her head to the side. 'I just meant that I'm not usually into Asian guys but--' I groan. 'Stop. You're making it worse.' Her face crumples, and she wrings her hands in her lap. 'I'm really terrible at this, aren't I?' she mumbles. 'I never know how to explain myself. Mom calls it verbal diarrhea.' 'First of all, that was a mental picture I didn't need,' I answer. 'Second of all, if you're not sure you should say something, just don't. Think about how you'd feel hearing someone say it to you.' 'What do you mean?' I twist in my chair to face her more fully. 'Okay. For example, how would you feel if I told you that someone you like was only hot for a white guy?'

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#words of wisdom #life lessons #Asian problems #not okay

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'Don't do anything I wouldn't do,' I tease. 'That's not a lot to go on, Liza.' She runs off to call Nathan before I can smack her on the arm.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#Liza Yang #I got all my sisters and me

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My denial dies instantly when Chef Anthony tips the giant cookie up slightly for everyone to see. The girl on the cookie is an obvious match to my flyer photo, down to the painted smile on my face. The edges of my vision begin to blur as Mom claps her hands together. 'Isn't this lovely! The likeness...it's so striking!' The minute she proclaims this, everyone in the room turns to stare at me. With all the heat I'm taking, it's a wonder I don't spontaneously combust. Come on, Human Torch. I glance down at my hands...not even a tiny flicker.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#that awkward moment #humor #make me a match

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Next up is a pair of twins, David and Albert Kuan. Honestly, I don't know who's who. They've shown up in identical clothes and parted their hair in the exact same spot. Mrs. Lee graces them with her signature smile. 'Hello, boys.' 'Hello. We're really happy to be here, Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Yang, and Liza.' They talk as if they're one person, not missing a single syllable. I shudder at the major The Shining vibes. Mom must have picked them thinking she'd have twice the chance of success. I'd say she's twice as likely to fail.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#make me a match #that awkward moment #that single life

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'I'm sure I'll be the first to go. I'm only doing this because Mom made me.' 'So...you haven't done much baking, then?' 'Only if you count the good stuff,' he quips with a waggle of the brows. 'You know, like brownies?' Someone in the audience lets out a loud squeak. We turn to see a woman--I presume, Mrs. Huang--waving a finger at him. When the camera pans to her, she ducks her head and plays with her earring. Jay rolls his eyes. 'I'm kidding, obviously. My body is a temple.'

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#Jay Huang #underappreciated side characters #sarcasm #Asian moms #don't mess

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Pull yourself together, Liza. Mom'll never forgive you otherwise. Just like that, my brain stops spinning. Nothing's more motivating than the fear of disappointing your tiger mom.

Jennifer Yen, A Taste for Love

#It's an Asian thing #that Asian American life #Asian moms #don't mess