Miles chuckles. “Wow. That’s a little—”
“Yeah, I know. Cheesy. Anyway, last week Priya asked if Amber could wear my dress, since she and Amber are inloveso they should match at prom, not me and Priya. I had a week to find a new dress.”
He cringes. “Ouch. That’s harsh. Why did you give her the dress?”
I shrug. “She had a point; it would have been weird to wear it. I sold it to Amber and found a better dress. It’s fine.”
“Well, I don’t think that dress looked very good on Amber. That isnother color.”
I laugh out loud, shaking my head with amazement. “Look at you, Miles Desai, fashion critic. I still have no idea why Amber gave me that look when we were on the dance floor.”
Miles grins. “Here’s what I think happened: Amber told your ex to get her your dress because she wanted to sabotage your night. But then the dress didn’t fit her well, and you show up looking like…that. I’d say you got the best revenge.”
I raise a brow. “What do you mean… likethat?”
He looks at me. “You said it yourself, Sana. You look fabulous tonight.”
“Ithink I look fabulous tonight, but I didn’t thinkyouthought it too.”
“Are you trying to get me to compliment you?”
“Maybe.” I grin at him. “C’mon, Miles, say it. I lookhottonight, and you have no idea what to do with that.”
He rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “You’re impossible, Sana.”
“I know. Would it be easier if I complimented you first?”
He laughs softly.
I turn my body a bit so I’m facing him. “We’re friends now, Miles. And I’m the kind of friend whoalwaystells my friends their strong points. You’reexceedinglygood-looking, and you look fantastic in that suit, but I think I liked you in the flowered shirt you wore to High Park best.”
I swear, Miles Desai turns as red as the cake. He’s… adorable. Too adorable. I exhale. I shouldn’t have said that. This crush isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s only getting stronger. I turn back and rest my back against the counter. I take another bite of cake. “This cake is seriously so good,” I say.
We’re both silent for a while again. It’s not as comfortable as it was before. Probably because I made things awkward by flirting.
“I still don’t get how you do it,” Miles says.
“Do what?”
“All of this.” He motions to the cake, then to the flower shop. “Your obsession with love. The romance books. The hearts. Aren’t you at allcynicalafter your parents split? Or after Priya?”
I look down at the cake. “No, the opposite. Those relationships didn’t work out, so I want tosurroundmyself with love thatdoeswork, you know? It feels… good when I read or watch movies about people falling in love. I want to celebratehappiness.”
“It must annoy your mother that you’re all into truelove and romance, though. You said she’s not a romantic person.”
I shrug. Does it annoy Mom? She doesn’t read romance. She’s more into thrillers or thinky literary fiction. We sometimes watch rom-com movies together. Honestly, Mom doesn’t seem to have any issue with her romance-obsessed daughter even if it’s not her style. “Mom’s cool about whatever I’m into. But I don’t think she ever wanted the hearts and flowers kind of love. Ironic for a florist who specializes in weddings. She personally agrees with you that prom is just a dance, but since I care about it, she does.”
Miles takes a bite of cake, then offers the last bite to me. “I actuallydidlook forward to my prom. We even got matching outfits. Do you remember I told you that my ex Giselle cheated on me with my best friend? I found outatour prom.”
I look at him, shocked. “Holy crap! That’s why you hate prom!” This makes it so amazing that he offered to come to mine. He’s mentally done with high school, is a total introvert, and had a terrible experience at his own prom. But he knew I was upset about not having a date, so he asked me anyway. And he went all the way to his parents’ house to get his suit and made me a corsage out of Lego while there. Miles isincrediblythoughtful and generous. I can’t believe he did all that for me. I put the bite of cake in my mouth, because my eyes sting a bit like they are going to tear up.
“Yeah, my terrible night was probably why I was so harsh to you about prom. I left the dance really early. The only saving grace was the takeout we ordered beforehand, because I didn’t even get dinner.”
“So was this a better prom night than your own?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, your prom was way better than mine. Especially this cake part.” We’re both silent for a bit again, the low hum of the flower fridges the only sound in the room. “You know,” he says suddenly. “You never did answer the question I asked you back when we were working on the proposal. Haveyoubeen in love?”
I swallow the cake in my mouth. Moment of truth. “No.”
