“She… used to be kind of mean to me when we were kids.”
Cara shrugs. “So? People grow up. She’s great now.”
Yeah, Cara’s right. Sarinahasgrown, and she’s probably not that bad a person. She doesn’t really talk to me when we have brunch, so I figured we were polar opposites. But Sarinaismore cheerful and chatty away from our parents. Today she has been perfectly pleasant—just a littleclumsy. I need to stop resenting her like this. Why wouldn’t Miles be into her?
I don’t realize I’m clenching my jaw until Hannah speaks up.
“I don’t think she’s into Miles,” Hannah says.
“Why not?” Cara asked.
Hannah shrugs. “She didn’t look interested in him.” She kisses Cara on the cheek. “You’re coming back to my place after, right?”
Cara nods, smiling widely. She really does look happy.
We all hang out in High Park for about an hour more, taking pictures of the flowers, then eating the little veggie sandwiches and warm chai Ajit brought. As the sun sets, the hazy dusk adds a really cool vibe to the park. It’s actually gorgeous.
But I don’t enjoy it. I still feel down. I should be happy that I finally succeeded at setting up Miles, but I feel far from happy right now.
CHAPTER THIRTEENSAY WHATEVER TO THE DRESS
I text Sarina in the morning to see how her ankle is. She writes back right away.
Sarina: It’s a bit swollen but so much better than last night. I texted a picture to Cara, and she said to keep off it and ice it, so that’s what I’m doing!
Sana: I hope it didn’t completely ruin your trip to High Park.
Sarina: No! I had such a great time. Miles and I talked the whole way back to my house… You’re right. He’s so smart! Such a great guy.
I exhale. I wanted Miles and Sarina to hit it off, but now it feels…
Sana: Glad you had fun. We should do it again!
Sarina: Yes! Text me anytime. Well, in a few weeks when my foot’s healed.
What exactly happened between Miles and Sarina on that Uber ride to Vaughan? Should I ask Miles? Did they exchange numbers? Are they going to date? After two failed setup attempts, one finally worked, and I can’t enjoyit because I have a stupid crush on the guy now.Ugh.
I realized when I was looking at that picture of Miles and me with all those cherry blossom petals behind us that there’s literallyno oneI like looking at pictures of more than Miles Desai. I like looking at him in person even more. I like talking to him, even when we’re clashing on the festival plans. And I really like making him happy. A lot. It’s shocking how much I’ve grown to like him.
I mean, I always thought he was cute—going right back to when I first saw him in LoveBug. I also found him arrogant and annoying back then. But now that I know him better, I realize that he’s not a know-it-all, he just actually knows a lot and he wants to share that knowledge. He’s an introvert, and maybe a little awkward, but he’s not antisocial. He cares about sustainability, equity, and community engagement—all the same things I care about.
But Ihaveto get over this crush. Because he doesn’t feel the same way. If he did, he wouldn’t let me continue to set him up with girls. Also, this festival is way too important for me to risk it by falling for the person I’m planning it with.
I need some space from him. If I don’t see or talk to Miles for a while, maybe this crush will fade. And as for Sarina, I should avoid her, too. If they’re meant to be together, they can figure it out for themselves. I need to focus on what’s important—saving my mother’s flower shop, and all the other businesses on Love Street. I’m officially retiring from matchmaking for Miles Desai. My emotions just can’t take it.
On Wednesday Cara and I go through the formal-wear section of Cosmic one last time to see if there’s a suitableprom dress that I somehow missed. Prom is on Friday—only two days away—so I already put aside a vintage dress to wear if I can’t find anything else. But I’m not completely sold on it—it’s very similar to the one I sold to Amber, but the pale blue color does nothing for my skin tone. While we’re looking, I tell Cara I’m worried about what Sarina may have said about me to Miles on their car ride home.
“What is she going to even say?” Cara asks. “I don’t get why you still don’t like her. What did she do when you were kids?”
I exhale. “She just… I don’t know. We were kids and we were forced to be sisters, even though we were so different. She used to say I wasn’t allowed to touch her stuff because I would ruin it, and she made cracks about me not being in a gifted program like her.”
Cara’s head tilts sympathetically. “Thatsucks. Your father should have put a stop to that.”
I shrug. “Probably. Anyway, Sarina’s been fine since…” I pause. “Since I was twelve or thirteen, but we’renotclose. Sheisclose to her mother, though. And Noureen is still very passive-aggressive to me. Maybe Sarina agrees with everything her mother says and is just too polite to say it to my face now.”
Cara still looks sympathetic. “I’m sure she doesn’t. What exactly does your stepmother say about you?”
I sigh. “Noureen and Dad think I need to grow up and stop this…bohemianlifestyle. They think I should dress more conservatively and give up on being an artist.” I hold up a minidress with sequins in a peacock pattern. I like colorful clothes, but this might be a bit much for my prom.
