Page 80 of You'll Love it Here

There’s a beat of silence on the other end, then a long exhale. “My aunt has endured enough stress over this already.”

“I won’t ask for any favors—you don’t have to rent me that new apartment and I will no longer hold you to working with my firm; in fact, I can reach out to my office right now to put a halt to it—”

“Trust me, Mona, you won’t be doing her any favors confusing her with false hopes,” Lana interrupts, with a sharpness to her voice. “And if you no longer support me and my client’s best interests maybe we should—”

“I do support this.” I interrupt this time. There’s no way I’m letting Lana slip away now. Not after everything. “I think I’m just missing the vision? Can you send me the proposal when you can?”

“Sure.” Her voice softens a touch. “And Mona, I know you’ve put a lot of work into this place, but you can relax now. You have a better life awaiting you. Be happy about that. Enjoy the weekend, even.”

“Thanks.” I nod even though she can’t see me. And even though I no longer believe that’s true. It can’t be if this building is destroyed. If all my friends are displaced.

Despite the happy smell of maple syrup, I tense as I enter the diner.

“Hey, Mona!” Sami says, the wrinkle between his eyes smoothing and his lips quirking upward. Since yesterday morning, we’ve seen each other twice for our Ernest exchanges, both conversations lasting way longer than what would be considered reasonable.

And how many times did I rush past this diner to get to my office in the morning without seeing that grin? It seems unfathomable that I knew he existed, yet never allowed myself to meet him.

My stomach does a flip-flop as I head for my usual stool. “This seat taken?”

“Of course. You’ve got your pick of the lot.”

I glance around. Yet again the diner is completely devoid of other customers.

He places a glass of water in front of me and leans across the counter to bend his head closer to mine. “Are you free Monday night? My meat vendor will be making his delivery, and I added some nice steaks for us.”

“That sounds great.” Though I’m not sure Sami will want to talk to me by then. Not after I tell him what I came here to say.

“But Sami, actually I...”

I pause, my whole body physically resisting the words. Once I tell him the truth, it’ll be over—and I don’t want it to be. He’s looking at me with that adorable grin, his eyes glinting with affection. He’s always made me feel so comfortable, like I can totally be myself with him.

It’s like a Band-Aid. The longer I wait, the worse it’ll be. If I confess now, at least there’s a chance he could forgive me one day. No matter what, he deserves my honesty.

I take a deep breath, open my mouth, and say, “What’s the soup of the day?”

He quirks a brow. “We have broccoli cheddar.”

“Great. I’ll take a bowl of that.” I’m not stalling, I just need soup first.

Sami brings over a bowl, and I stir it in a haze, watching the yellow and green chunks swirl around.

I came here with a plan. But in order to initiate it, I have to come clean.

I clear my throat. “Hey, Sami, I—”

Abu comes bursting down the stairs. He’s in a nice suit, his hair combed back and gelled, making the thinner areas more prominent. He makes his way across the floor and thwacks Sami’s arm. “Why are you staring at Mona like a creepy type of guy?”

Sami winces and rubs the part of his arm where his dad hit. “Dad, what the hell?”

Abu shrugs and gives Sami an exasperated stare, like he had no other choice. “You stare too hard when you look at Mona. It’s very rude.”

Ava comes bounding down the stairs behind Abu, wearing a flowery dress and smiling at us sweetly, her hair curled and fluffed. “Hello, Mona joon.”

“Hello.” I grin. “You two are looking sharp.”

“That’s because Ava and I have very nice funeral to go to.” Hesmiles brightly. “It’s going to be a good one. I brought my big belt for the food.”

Sami rolls his eyes. “Dad, that’s... A man is dead.”