Only for the Summer

Phensiri Thai Restaurant is one of those places we frequent for special occasions: someone's birthday, graduation, and tonight, my brother's engagement. My parents have rented out the place for the night, as a family reunion of sorts. The engagement party is last minute, but both of our families have lived in Chaweng Noi and Nathon—the town over—their entire lives. The extended family will be making the journey for the party tomorrow night or making an appearance at the wedding. Whenever that might be.

I haven't had a moment alone with Sun to get any kind of information from him. From what I've heard about Chanda, she seems like a lovely woman, but it does seem kind of fast. They'd only been dating for three months when my brother popped the question. I don't know if that's enough time to get to know someone enough to marry them. I'd been busy working more the last few weeks, but the last time Sun and I spoke, it sounded like he was falling for her.

"Chanda, this is my little sister Engfa," Sun says with his arm around a beautiful blonde. I'm thankful he didn't introduce me with his dreaded nickname.

"Oh my gosh! It's so nice to finally meet you! I've heard so much about you!" Without hesitating, she throws her tanned arms around me and gives me a tight squeeze. I'm not much of a hugger, but I guess she is.

"It's nice to meet you too." I smile, taking her in. She's bleach blonde, and the hairstylist in me wants to know if it's natural or not. Her hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, curled almost professionally. Across her cheeks are a few freckles and a fresh sunburn. She looks like something out of a Baywatch episode."

"I love your hair!" She eyes the side of my shaved head, and a hand touches it reflexively. My mother had given me hell when I first sent her a photo, but I like it. I have the power to hide it if I want to, but it's something I've always wanted to do.

"Thank you." I smile. Sun looks thankful that we're getting along. I've been introduced to my fair share of Sun's girlfriends that weren't my cup of tea, to say the least.

"I'm Charlotte by the way." Char slides between us for a handshake, but Chanda hugs her instead.

"You must be Engfa's girlfriend! You're so pretty!" she gushes, and my cheeks turn bright red.

"Oh, no—" Sun starts to say, but we're interrupted by the chime of the doors and more people arriving.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to introduce everyone. But I do hope to talk to you both more later." She smiles and walks toward people I assume are her parents. Tall and tan like her, they have small similar features, including bleach-blond hair. So, it must be natural.

"I'm sorry she thought you were my girlfriend," I say, looking at Char. Less than a day here, and I already feel so awkward with her.

"No biggie." She shrugs as if someone called her the wrong name and not accidentally said she was dating her best friend. Before I have time to press her about it, Chanda and Sun ask us all to sit for dinner."

Charlotte and I take a seat at one end of the table closest to my parents. My grandmother is on my left, and Char is on my right. We all quietly introduce ourselves to each other, most of Chanda's family is too far away to get exactly who's who, but I get the gist. Chanda has two older sisters, one younger sister, one brother-in-law, one almost brother-in-law, two nieces, and one nephew. Her younger sister is away at college but has made it home for the weekend for the engagement party.

Charlotte and I order glasses of red wine, which honestly feels weird. I'm over twenty-one, but it's one of the first times I've had alcohol in front of my parents.

"We all order our food, getting to know each other over small talk and thai food. Char fits in perfectly with everyone, which makes this dinner somewhat easier. It's nice getting to see my family so happy like this.