That’s what all of us on this street are doing—our best. Our best to keep afloat in this expensive city. Our best to look out for one another. Our best to keep the little community that has always had our back.
I hug Zuri close. I don’t know how I’m going to leave this street. And I don’t know how I’m going to forget Miles.
There’s a knock on the apartment door. Keeping Zuri on my shoulder, I open the door. It’s Cara, and she’s holding some brown paper bags. Why is she here? “I have cake and empanadas. I heard you might need them.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
She nods, then comes in and closes the door behind her. “Iamworking. Technically on the clock. Jenn told me my duties for tonight are to support my friend who needs me. She called Mrs. Kotch and Ben and told them you needed some cheer-up treats, and they donated these day-olds. Ajit is currently making a masala chai for you anda matcha latte for me, and Charlene will bring them over when they’re ready.”
I shake my head, amazed. I love this community. Cara starts unpacking the food onto the table. Looks like we have two of Mrs. Kotch’s Cakes for Two and four big veggie empanadas.
“Wow. This is a lot,” I say.
Cara nods. “Yep. Grab some plates and then talk, because I have no idea what happened.”
I get plates and forks, and we each take an empanada. Charlene shows up with our drinks, wearing a dancing hamster T-shirt. She smiles as she hands them to me, until she notices Zuri at my feet. She glares at my cat, then leaves quickly. I snort a weak laugh at that.
I hand Cara her latte and sit on my armchair with my food and tea. The sweet milky and lightly spiced scent of the chai calms me instantly. I relax after taking a sip.
“Okay, now, what happened?” Cara asks. “Something to do with the festival?”
I shake my head. “No. Well, sort of.” I tell her about Su Lin and the condo developers’ visit to Cosmic Vintage.
“Oh my god. She brought actualdevelopersinto the store?” Cara shakes her head. “She’s got some nerve to bring those vultures through. No wonder you’re pissed.”
“There’s more. One of them mentioned that they finalized negotiations to buy the flower shop and the apartment over it.”
Cara’s already-wide eyes grow about three times bigger. “Holy crap.Thisapartment?”
I nod. “Mom is selling…has soldthis building.” My voice cracks again. I still can’t believe it.
“Damn. Are you moving?”
I nod.
“When?”
“Don’t know yet.” I sigh. “I feel betrayed. My mom, my dad, Miles… they all kept this from me.”
“What does Miles have to do with it? Or your dad?”
“Miles took a job as an intern with the same developers. My father referred him for it. And my dad’s the real estate agent who brought this opportunity to Mom.” I tell her about Mom’s plan for an online flower shop.
“Holy hell.” Cara seems as shocked as I was.
“I know.” I shake my head. “I get why she sold. I just wish she’d told me beforehand. And I can’t believe Miles would keep this from me. I thought I knew him.”
But I always knew, from the very beginning, that Miles didn’t really believe in love. Not in the same way I do.
I take a bite of my empanada. It’s filled with kale and mushrooms—my favorite. The slightly spicy filling and the rich, flaky dough are exactly what I need tonight. Carbs. Precious, delicious carbs.
“You had no idea Miles was hiding anything from you?”
I exhale. “Actually, Ididknow that he was keepingsomethingfrom me,” I say. “Something about Sarina being into someone that she didn’t want me to know about. Maybe that was a lie, and maybe it was really about this internship? I should have known he would keep secrets from me. I’m such an idiot.” I take another big bite.
Cara squeezes her lips together and goes very still. I feel that familiar thud of my heartbeat picking up again. She looks like she’s hiding something too.
“What?” I ask.
