Mel smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.” But there was something about her tone that made Riya pause. Like Mel could see right through her—or at least suspected there was more to this so-called bookstore date than either of them was saying.
Mel cleared her throat. “Okay. New topic! Talent Show. Are you performing, Kian? Since you play guitar and all?”
Kian slowly looked up. “...I don’t know. Last time I did a public performance it didn’t end well.”
“But Riya needs talent!” Mel grinned. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind this time.”
Riya wasn’t sure about that.
“I’ll think on it....” Kian pursed his mouth. “Haveyouthought about performing at the Talent Show?”
“I play harp. Not exactly the most portable instrument.” Mel sighed. “Plus, Riya already asked, and I said no. I’ve gotmadstage fright.”
“But harps are cool. You could play a song, dedicate it to Andrew.”
“Please refrain from giving Mel bad ideas,” said Riya flatly. “I’ll find more people to sign up.”
“But it’s not a bad idea....” Mel whispered, her mind clearly working at warp speed. “A public declaration of love? The spotlight, thedrama, theromance?”
Riya bit back a groan.
“But... ugh, I’d be way too nervous!” Mel whined. “Even the thought makes me want to puke!”
“I get it. But,” Kian said gently, “the way I see it is this. If you feel there’s a spark, it’s probably not just you. He might feel it, too. But you won’t know unless yousay something.”
“I can’t!”
A quiet ache stirred in Riya. She didn’t know what it felt like to pine for someone, but she did know the fear that came with needing something too much.
“Then you don’t have to,” she said. “You said it yourself. Love is scary. No one can force you into it. Not even you.”
“Ugh, but—but it’s scariernotto try!” Mel’s voice rose, eyes blazing. “Do you know how painful it is to be in a one-sided love? Especially when youknowthat you’d be perfect together, but they just don’t see it yet?”
Riya stared at her. There was a fire in Mel now, a determination she hadn’t seen before.
“I don’t know if I’ll use the Talent Show,” Mel went on. “But Iwilltell Andrew how I feel. I just need to try.”
“Attagirl,” said Kian, patting her back. His eyes met Riya’s. Warm and glittering.
A reluctant smile tugged at her mouth.
“Love really is terrifying.”
Chapter 21
The smell hit her first—woody incense that clung like a bad idea.
Of course, she didn’t expect much from Underwood Books. But it was the last place on her list. If she didn’t find anything here... she didn’t know what she’d do next.
The interior was a cramped maze of uneven wooden shelves bowing under the weight of secondhand books, their spines jutting out at awkward angles. Homemade candles flickered from jars adorned with dried flowers and twine. Tarot decks, crystals, charms—a patchwork of superstitious nonsense.
“This place is incredible,” Mel gushed, spinning in place. “I want to live here! It’s just so warm and cozy and—safe, somehow.”
Riya, however, did not feel safe. If anything, she felt cornered.
Kian reappeared from behind a shelf, his beanie tugged low, eyes swollen. He’d met up with them at the entrance to the bookstore, after he’d finished detention.
“There’s a whole board for community events,” he said, gesturing to a wall of flyers. “They do park cleanups. Blood drives. Animal adoptions. Can you believe it’s already the fourteenth?”
