Page 22 of Meet Me on Love Street
“I shouldn’t have thrown that tart. Thomas wasn’t worth it.” What a disaster. Although Abbey didn’t seem too bad. Just a little clumsy. “So, when her brother wasn’t being a blowhard, do you think you and Abbey hit it off? Like, did you talk on our way there at all?”
Miles shakes his head. “I tried to talk to her, but she only gave one-word answers.” We get to the subway station, tap our cards, and rush to get the train that is rolling in.
Once we’re seated, I smile at Miles. “Abbey is a bit quiet, but I thought you’d like that. She’s so pretty. You didn’t feel a spark?”
He raises a brow. Miles has really expressive brows. Like he could tell a whole story with his eyebrows. And his eyelashes.
I have to stop staring at the guy’s eyes.
“Why do you think I’d want someone quiet?” he asks.
“Maybe because you think I talk too much?”
“I don’t think you talk too much. I like talking to you. Even if most of the time we’re arguing.”
I look at him. I’ve been trying to tamp down this extremely inconvenient attraction I seem to have for MilesDesai, and it would be much easier if he didn’t say things like he enjoys talking to me. “Okay, so you want someone who never agrees with you and who is philosophically opposed to everything you believe in?”
He laughs, shaking his head. “I like people who speak their mind. Who have opinions on things. I think this setup idea is ridiculous, by the way. If the next date throws a fish at me, I’m done.”
I laugh. “Fair enough. I need to find someone with a mind of their own, conversation skills, no dickwad family members that they bring on dates, and who will not throw, drop, or launch a fish at you. Piece of cake.”
We spend the rest of the ride home talking about what we liked and didn’t like at the festival. Coming to this thing was a great idea, even if Miles didn’t have instalove with Abbey. I know I’ll do better next time.
The following night at home I’m trying to get some work done on my final project for my painting class, when I hear Mom call out for me. I wash my paintbrush and find her at the dining table with her laptop in front of her. Zuri is curled up in a ball on the table.
“You look like one of those lo-fi YouTube videos with the cat and all those plants,” I say. “You just need a scarf.”
Mom looks up at me, frowning, then takes her glasses off her face. Her curly hair is in a messy bun on her head again. “Can you watch the store tomorrow evening? My flower wholesaler’s in town.”
“Sorry, I’m at Cosmic tomorrow.”
She exhales. “Okay. I’ll figure something out.”
She puts her glasses back on and looks at her computer.
“Mom, are you okay? You look… stressed.”
She doesn’t take her eyes off her computer when she answers me. “Aren’t we all?”
I sit at the table. Zuri notices me and stretches out, so I scratch under her chin. “Yeah, I guess we all are.” I wonder if it’s time for me to tell her that I know she’s thinking of selling the building.
Mom takes off her glasses again and looks at me carefully. She’s always been gorgeous, but there are dark circles under her eyes and some new lines around her mouth.
“Areyoustressed, Sana? You’re working hard at Cosmic, plus the prom committee and the Love Street project. It’s your very last month of high school—you should be enjoying it.”
I shake my head. “The fact that school is almost over is why Ishouldbe focusing on Love Street. In a month I won’t be at that school anymore, but I’ll still be here, won’t I?” Unless Mom sells the building. But that won’t happen because the festivalwillsave the street.
Mom shakes her head. “Don’t give up your youth for this, Sana. How was the festival in Little Portugal?”
I chuckle. “A disaster. I brought this girl from school, Abbey, as a date for Miles, but she brought her asshole brother. She accidentally threw a grilled fish at him, which started a food fight, and we got kicked out.”
Mom laughs. “Sana Merali, you are a drama magnet. Why did her accidentally throwing a fish start a food fight?”
“Her brother started it. He was a complete creep to me. Like, he asked me to take him to my prom butonlyif I have a hotel room for the night.” I shudder.
“Oh dear. Can I assume you put him in his place?”Mom knows full well that I don’t tolerate that kind of thing.
“Actually.” I pause. “Miles told him off. Which is how the whole fish-launching happened.” I don’t think I really processed the fact that Miles came to my rescue.
