And my brother would be proud of me.
He’s always telling me to live in the moment. That fear casts long shadows if you let it. Today, I didn’t.
I could lose myself in New York City and come out the other side just fine. One small body moving through a city of millions, unnoticed.
Invisible.
Free.
Despite a city that begged to be photographed, I didn’t take a single selfie.
One photo would’ve been a breadcrumb.
Followed by the paps descending like seagulls.
I didn’t want proof. I wanted presence.
And it was so worth it.
Times Square. Rockefeller Center. Serendipity 3 and their gargantuan ice cream sundaes.
I didn’t even come close to finishing it. Rookie mistake.
But the next time I’m in New York, I’ll bring reinforcements. Between me, Connor, Ollie, and Snook, their Cotton Candy Burrito Sundae won’t stand a chance.
Will there be a next time?
My phone buzzes. Again. Kali’s blue hair and the nickname Wild Kard light up the screen.
And as much as I know Kali would’ve loved to come along, every time I think about answering, Harrison’s stern, broody face pushes in.
I let it ring out and slip my phone back into my pocket.
Kali. Myra. Pierce. The studio.
Thirty-eight missed calls I don’t care about.
I finish the last of my soft pretzel, swipe the mustard from my fingers, and toss the napkin into the trash.
When I feel the buzz against my pocket again, I ignore it completely.
Consequences be damned.
One week without me.
What’s the worst that could happen?
You might not be Princess Luna.
I shove the thought aside and drift through the lobby, feet aching and soul full, already imagining a bubble bath.
A perfect end to a perfect day.
“Good evening, Miss Alvarez,” the concierge says with a wave. “There’s someone waiting for you in your suite.”
I stop short.
What does he mean there’s someone in my suite?
