Page 18 of Meet Me on Love Street
“I think I misjudged you too,” I add. “I don’t really like that guy you were sitting with at the BOA meeting, and I thought you were like him. You guys friends?”
He cringes, shaking his head. “No. That was the first time I met him, and I agree he’s a jerk. Maybe you and I can start over?”
“Maybe. One question first. Do you reallyhatemy idea of a festival? I thought you wanted Love Street to succeed.”
He moves to the edge of my balcony, sitting with his back against the railing. “Idowant Love Street to succeed. But grandiose plans will fail if you don’t follow processes and procedures. People spend years planning a festival. To do it in only a few months is nearly impossible.”
I grin as I sit across from him, my back against the brick wall. “You saidnearly. Which means itmightbe possible.”
He shakes his head. “You’re impossible.” He’s smiling, so I know he doesn’t mean impossible in a bad way. I like Miles so much better when he’s smiling.
“No, I’mdetermined. And optimistic. I used to go to neighborhood festivals with my dad every weekend. They were always so busy, and everyone was so happy. Love Street needs that. So, tell me, how would you tackle it, Planner Boy?”
“Tackle what?”
I stretch my legs in front of me. “Planning a festival in only a few months.”
He tilts his head, thinking a moment, and it really looks like he’s giving the idea serious thought. “I think your biggest hurdle will be permits. The applications for summer permits are put in months in advance. You could try reaching out to the city councillor and have her fast-track the application. You’d need a proposal for why the communityneedsthe festival and how it can help the whole ward, not just Love Street.” He pauses, his eyes unfocused. “Su Lin Tran is the councillor for this ward. She’s big into progress. She’d want to see how a festival like this could impact the area economically as well as culturally. She’s also a huge diversity advocate—so I’d highlight the diversity of the businesses on the street and how the event would be inclusive to all.”
This information is golden. Cara and I have no idea about any of this stuff. I feel like I should be taking notes.
An idea comes to me. I move my legs so my feet are next to his. “You should join our festival committee. You’re all strategy, and Cara and I are all ideas. We’re like yin and yang.”
He raises a brow. “Seriously? You want toworkwith me?”
I grin, nodding vigorously. “Yes! C’mon. Planning a neighborhood festival would be perfect for your résumé! The city councillor will see our kick-ass proposal andbam. Now you have connections in city government.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know.” With the sun setting, his face is defined in light and shadow. The thought pops into my head that I would love to sketch his face one day, but I shove it back down.
“Is it because you don’t like the love theme?” I ask. He doesn’t answer the question. “Wait, are you aromantic or asexual? I’m pansexual… but I get that not everyone is interested in romance for themselves.” I probably should have asked him before. I hope I haven’t said anything offensive to him.
He shakes his head and looks down. “No. I’m straight. Not… asexual, either. I’ve just seen too many so-called perfect relationships go up in flames, causing destruction for everyone in their wake.”
I recoil at that.Flamesanddestruction? What happened to this guy? “Are you talking about your parents’ split?”
“Partially.” He looks at me. “Why are you obsessed with romance if your parents had a messy divorce too?”
I shrug. “My parents never had… I don’t know… alovingrelationship. Maybe if they did, they would’ve been able to make it work. But they’re notromanticpeople. I mean, my mom went to her prom with a guy only because she liked his dog.”
Miles shrugs. “Prom’s just a dance. I don’t get why society tells us it should be as important as our wedding.”
I shake my head. “Promisimportant. It’s like the… symbolic end to your high school years. I’m the chair of my prom committee, so I know. And anyway, a few relationships not working out doesn’t mean love isn’t the best thing in the entire universe. There’s a reason ballads are written about love! All those songwriters can’t be wrong.”
Miles snorts, rolls his eyes, and shakes his head at me. A full trifecta of disdain. “My parentsdidhave the hearts and flowers kind of romance, and the end isugly. That’s the thing. Lovechangespeople—and not for the better. It’s destructive more often than it’s not. I don’t see why our society puts so much importance on something that inevitably causes pain, not just to the couple but to everyone around them too.”
I blink. Did he basically say that there’s no point to falling in love because love always ends? I give him a sympathetic smile. “Your parents shouldn’t be lettingtheirugly split affectyou. I’m sorry you’re going through that. But society says love is important because falling in love is the best feeling in the world! My parents didn’t prioritize their relationship, and it ended, but that’s their issue, not mine. And it makes me evenmoresure that true love—real, actual love with the right person—ismagical.” I don’t want to end up like my parents—alone or with a wife who doesn’t care about hurting people to get the “perfect” family she thinks she deserves.
Miles shakes his head. “You’re too influenced by the commercialization of romance. Romance is a billion-dollar industry. Movies, books, music, weddings, and even Valentine’s Day have convinced you that ‘true love is real,and it beats all.’ It’s to get you to spend more money.”
Wow. This guy was clearly messed up by his parents’ split. My heart kind of breaks for him. Maybe he had a breakup of his own too? “Have you ever even been in love?” I ask.
Miles doesn’t say anything, but the look on his face tells me the answer. Yes, he has. And it also ended in disaster. Which is probably further contributing to his cynicism now. But Miles is wrong. True loveisreal, and it’s as wonderful and important as I’ve always believed it to be. I may not have experienced it, but I havefeltit while reading books, listening to songs, and watching movies. Love isn’tcommercialized; it’smagic.
I grin, an idea striking me.
“So you never said,” I say, still smiling. “Are you going to help us with the festival?”
“Are you sure you want to work with me?”
