Something moved in my chest. I ignored it.
“What do you want?”
“I’m having a party tonight. I want you to come.”
“A party.”
“Yeah. At Upstage. It’s a new spot. I’m part owner.” He shrugged. “Thought you might need a break from all this.”
I gestured around the bakery. “I’m a little busy.”
“You’re not gonna be here at midnight.”
“My sister is in jail. I’m not really in the partying mood.”
He set down his coffee and leaned forward. Those dark eyes locked on mine.
“Look. I get it. Your sister’s going through something, and you feel like you gotta put your whole life on pause. But you standing here running yourself into the ground ain’t gonna get her out any faster.” He tilted his head. “When’s the last timeyou did something for yourself? Not for her. Not for this bakery. Just… for you?”
I didn’t have an answer.
“That’s what I thought.” He stood up, pulled out his wallet, dropped a fifty on the counter. “Bring your girl Serenity. Make it a whole thing. You deserve one night to breathe.”
“How do you know about Serenity?”
“I been asking about you. I know you live with my cousin.” He walked toward the door, then turned back. “I’ll send y’all a car around 10:30. I’ll text you when the driver’s on the way. ”
“You don’t have my number.”
He pulled out his phone. Read off my number like it was nothing.
My mouth fell open. “How did you?—”
“I told you.” That smirk again. “I been asking about you.”
“That’s creepy.”
“That’s thorough.” He pushed the door open. “See you tonight, Mehar.”
He walked out.
I watched him through the window. Watched him climb into that red Porsche and pull off without looking back.
Brooke appeared beside me. “So… we not gonna talk about that?”
“Nothing to talk about.”
“Girl. That man basically admitted to stalking you, knew your number without you giving it to him, and you didn’t call the cops. That’s something.”
“Shut up and restock the napkins.”
She laughed and walked away.
I looked at the fifty on the counter. Then at the door where he’d disappeared.
A party. Tonight. With Thad.
I should say no. I knew I should say no. My sister was locked up, about to be shipped across the country for a murder she didn’t commit. Going to a party felt wrong. Selfish.
