“It’s nice to meet you.” Olivia noted the easy confidence in Yun’s handshake. “Gabe mentioned you when we met last week.” As soon as he was in leash reach, Samson pressed against Olivia, pushing in between her and Yun and dragging the full length of his body against her leg. His hips and tail wagged happily as he did.

“Someone’s happy to see you,” Yun said. Then she shot Gabe a pointed look. “If he’s talked about me, he probably told you I spend way too much time attempting to manage his life. It’s a control thing; there’s no denying it. I get it from my mom, but I’m in recovery mode.”

Gabe chuckled. “I didn’t tell her anything close to that, but Yun’s not kidding. We almost had a parting of ways a couple years ago when she gave me a thesis-length study schedule for final exams.”

Yun gave him a dismissive wave. “He can be a little too fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants, in case you haven’t noticed yet.”

Olivia laughed, and the unease slipped away that had formed at the realization Gabe had such a close friend who was clearly both beautiful and brilliant. The more they talked, the more it was obvious that while Gabe and Yun were close, it was a familial sort of closeness. “Is he? Based on all the equipment and supplies he keeps in the back of his truck, I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

“You’ve got a point. He’s a well-prepared free spirit. So, I don’t want to be a third wheel, but I ran by my parents’ on the way here. My mom had the day off work, and she turned it into one of her big cooking days. I dropped off a couple containers of gimbap and kimchi. They’re on your counter.”

Gabe had been reaching down to unclip Samson’s leash, and when he stood back up, he flattened a hand over that washboard stomach visible through his shirt. “Ahh, gimbap. Man, I love your mom.” To Olivia, he said, “It’s my favorite thing she makes. If you’re up for it, we could hang out in the park and have some appetizers before we head out. You ever had it?”

“That sounds great, and I don’t think so. The name isn’t familiar. I like kimchi though.” Her sister had been on a kick recently of having a small serving of the spicy pickled vegetables before each meal. Each week, she bought a few jars from a global grocery store down the street from her house. Whenever Olivia was over for a meal, Ava almost always served a plate of kimchi as an appetizer.