Page 30 of Meet Me on Love Street
“Sana! You’ve been holding out on me! Tell me all about the new hottie you’re seeing! Are you bringinghimto prom?”
I raise one eyebrow. What is she talking about? Or rather,who? “What hottie? I’m not seeing anyone.”
“The guy in your Instagram.”
Oh. She’s talking about Miles. “He’s a friend—we’re not dating. He works at the bookstore a few doors down from me.”
Priya frowns, looking genuinely disappointed, which is sweet. She does want me to be happy.
“I wanted to ask you something,” she says. “You knowthe vintage dress you got for prom that matches mine?”
Of course I know the dress. I found it at Cosmic and fell in love with the rose-pink tulle skirt and satin corset bodice. And then I’d scoured vintage and thrift stores all over the city to find Priya a dress in the same shade, so we’d match like we’d always planned to.
“Yeah, what about it?”
“Could Amber borrow it for prom? Or… could we buy it off you? You two are about the same size.”
Priya wants my prom dress?
“I—I mean…” She stutters, probably picking up on the WTF expression on my face. “I assume you aren’t going to wear it… because you probably don’t want to match me anymore… and you work in a vintage store, so maybe you already found something better to wear? I don’t have time to shop again, because you know… I have those college prep classes and my Indian dance lessons. But if you’re going to wear it, then it’s totally fine. I just thought—”
I shake my head. “No, it’s fine, you can have the dress. I got it with my employee discount, so pay me what I paid for it.”
Priya beams and wraps her arms around me. “Thank you thank you thank you!” She lets me go. “See! Amber said there was no way you’d give her your prom dress, but I knew you’d understand. This is why I adore you, Sana! I have to run… but I’ll come by this week to pick up the dress!”
She smiles and leaves. I sigh, clutching my bag to my chest. Okay, so maybe Priya doesn’t care as much about my happiness as I thought. Why did I say yes? Ugh. Now I need to find a new prom dress on top of everything else I have going on.
At Cosmic that night I scour the formal-wear section, but I can’t find anything in my size that I like for prom. I tell Jenn my situation, and she says she’ll keep her eye out for a dress. I know it’s probably too late to find something vintage that would work—I may have to go to the mall.
When I leave Cosmic after my shift, I see Miles at the counter on his laptop in Second Story Books. He’s looking out the window as I pass, so I smile and wave. He waves back but doesn’t smile.
My new friend isstingywith his smiles. I keep waving furiously and smiling until he finally laughs, and I bow proudly before walking away. As I’m climbing up the stairs to my apartment, he texts me.
Miles: If you’re free now do you want to go over the proposal?
I’m smiling as I write back.
Sana: Is that a ploy to see me, Mr. Desai? What were you doing in the bookstore on your computer?
Miles: I just saw you. I was applying for internships, but we can work on the proposal over the phone instead.
Sana: Okay, but I’m terrible on the phone. Do you want to work at my place?
He doesn’t respond.
Sana: I’ll tell my cat not to hiss at you.
Miles: Okay. When?
Sana: Give me 15 to change and get dinner.
Mom’s still in the flower shop, so I quickly make two quesadillas with leftovers in the fridge and plate them with some salad. After taking one plate down to Mom, I ask her if she minds if Miles and I work in the apartment on the festival proposal. She says it’s fine and that she’ll be working late on a large funeral order.
After I change into sweats, I start eating on the couch when there’s a knock on my door. When I run down and open it, Miles is there in worn jeans, a faded red T-shirt, and his old brown messenger bag on his shoulder. And a smile on his face. So much for being stingy.
I grin and motion for him to follow me up the stairs. “I’m still eating. Want a quesadilla?” There’s enough black beans and roasted red peppers to make another one.
“No, I’m good. I just had a burger.”
