: Similar Tastes
4
Caelan Corbin chose a very elegant restaurant.
The three of them were discussing what to order, while I was stuck stewing over his "grumpy but cute" comment, utterly miserable.
'What kind of bizarre description was that?'
'Am I fierce?'
'Aren't I kind and cute, beautiful and generous?'
"Your mommy likes sea bass."
Just as I was getting annoyed, Caelan Corbin suddenly turned to my son and said with a straight face, "And sweet and sour dishes. She likes those too."
"Uncle, how do you know everything?"
My son looked at Caelan Corbin innocently, his face full of curiosity. Caelan just lifted his eyes to look at me and smiled.
He spoke slowly, "Oh, I know a lot more than that."
Me: "..."
'What is this bastard saying in front of a child!'
When the food arrived, half of the dishes were my favorites. Ivy Corbin had also ordered some seafood.
She didn't talk much with the adults, but she got along great with my son. She even enthusiastically recommended her favorite seafood dishes to him.
Unfortunately, my son is allergic to seafood.
The moment those words were out, Caelan Corbin's eyes lit up.
"Leo, what about mangoes? Can you eat those? And do you like spicy food?"
My son shook his head, then nodded.
"What a coincidence. It's the same for me."
The light in Caelan Corbin's eyes intensified. He glanced at me with a hint of smugness, as if he'd just confirmed something for sure.
I huffed and turned my face away.
'If I'd had a choice, I never would have let my son take after him.'
"Really?!"
My son, oblivious to the silent battle raging between Caelan Corbin and me, happily picked up a piece of spicy chicken with his chopsticks and placed it on Caelan's plate.
He even complained about me, "Mommy only knows how to make sweet and sour stuff. It's so syrupy."
'This kid!'
'I'm a Southerner, so what if I like sweet food?'
'All that stuff Caelan Corbin eats will give you heartburn thirty days a month. What's so great about that?'
'Sweet food is the GOAT!'
"From now on, Uncle will take you out for spicy food. I guarantee you'll get your fill."
Caelan Corbin glanced at me, and seeing me glaring at him, he wisely added, "But kids have delicate stomachs, so you can't be too greedy with the spice, or you'll get a tummy ache. Got it?"
"Okay! I'll eat whatever Uncle tells me to eat."
My son nodded enthusiastically.
I shot Caelan Corbin several frustrated glares. 'Is he doing this on purpose, trying to compete for my son's affection?'
'Can I even keep this son of mine anymore?!'