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I text Sarina in the morning to see how her ankle is. She writes back right away.

Sarina: It’s a bit swollen but so much better than last night. I texted a picture to Cara, and she said to keep off it and ice it, so that’s what I’m doing!

Sana: I hope it didn’t completely ruin your trip to High Park.

Sarina: No! I had such a great time. Miles and I talked the whole way back to my house… You’re right. He’s so smart! Such a great guy.

I exhale. I wanted Miles and Sarina to hit it off, but now it feels…

Sana: Glad you had fun. We should do it again!

Sarina: Yes! Text me anytime. Well, in a few weeks when my foot’s healed.

What exactly happened between Miles and Sarina on that Uber ride to Vaughan? Should I ask Miles? Did they exchange numbers? Are they going to date? After two failed setup attempts, one finally worked, and I can’t enjoy it because I have a stupid crush on the guy now. Ugh .

I realized when I was looking at that picture of Miles and me with all those cherry blossom petals behind us that there’s literally no one I like looking at pictures of more than Miles Desai.

I like looking at him in person even more.

I like talking to him, even when we’re clashing on the festival plans.

And I really like making him happy. A lot.

It’s shocking how much I’ve grown to like him.

I mean, I always thought he was cute—going right back to when I first saw him in LoveBug.

I also found him arrogant and annoying back then.

But now that I know him better, I realize that he’s not a know-it-all, he just actually knows a lot and he wants to share that knowledge.

He’s an introvert, and maybe a little awkward, but he’s not antisocial.

He cares about sustainability, equity, and community engagement—all the same things I care about.

But I have to get over this crush. Because he doesn’t feel the same way. If he did, he wouldn’t let me continue to set him up with girls. Also, this festival is way too important for me to risk it by falling for the person I’m planning it with.

I need some space from him. If I don’t see or talk to Miles for a while, maybe this crush will fade.

And as for Sarina, I should avoid her, too.

If they’re meant to be together, they can figure it out for themselves.

I need to focus on what’s important—saving my mother’s flower shop, and all the other businesses on Love Street.

I’m officially retiring from matchmaking for Miles Desai. My emotions just can’t take it.

On Wednesday Cara and I go through the formal-wear section of Cosmic one last time to see if there’s a suitable prom dress that I somehow missed.

Prom is on Friday—only two days away—so I already put aside a vintage dress to wear if I can’t find anything else.

But I’m not completely sold on it—it’s very similar to the one I sold to Amber, but the pale blue color does nothing for my skin tone.

While we’re looking, I tell Cara I’m worried about what Sarina may have said about me to Miles on their car ride home.

“What is she going to even say?” Cara asks. “I don’t get why you still don’t like her. What did she do when you were kids?”

I exhale. “She just… I don’t know. We were kids and we were forced to be sisters, even though we were so different. She used to say I wasn’t allowed to touch her stuff because I would ruin it, and she made cracks about me not being in a gifted program like her.”

Cara’s head tilts sympathetically. “That sucks . Your father should have put a stop to that.”

I shrug. “Probably. Anyway, Sarina’s been fine since…

” I pause. “Since I was twelve or thirteen, but we’re not close.

She is close to her mother, though. And Noureen is still very passive-aggressive to me.

Maybe Sarina agrees with everything her mother says and is just too polite to say it to my face now. ”

Cara still looks sympathetic. “I’m sure she doesn’t. What exactly does your stepmother say about you?”

I sigh. “Noureen and Dad think I need to grow up and stop this… bohemian lifestyle. They think I should dress more conservatively and give up on being an artist.” I hold up a minidress with sequins in a peacock pattern. I like colorful clothes, but this might be a bit much for my prom.

“Bohemian? Sana, this isn’t the 1960s. They’re being ridiculous. How you dress doesn’t mean you’re not serious.”

I turn to look at Cara. Maybe she isn’t the right person to talk to about this. She’s dressed… conventionally again. Jeans and a polo shirt. I don’t think I’ve seen Cara in all black once since Hannah came back to town. I hope she’s not dressing conservatively for Hannah.

Anyway, I just need to put the whole Miles and Sarina situation out of my mind. “Hey, do you want to go to Kensington Market tomorrow night?” I ask. Neither of us is working tomorrow. “I’m sure I can find something for prom there.”

Cara shakes her head. “I’m not sure Hannah would be into that.”

I don’t recall inviting Hannah, but okay. “If she’s not into shopping, we could meet up with her after? How about dumplings in Chinatown?”

Cara doesn’t look at me as she flips through dresses. “No, I mean I don’t think she’s into us all hanging out.”

I blink. Is Cara telling me that her girlfriend doesn’t like me? Which… fine. I’m not a huge Hannah fan either. “You can come without her, you know,” I point out. “You two don’t have to do everything together.”

Cara shrugs. And is still quiet. I don’t even know what to say. Is Cara not allowed to do things without Hannah?

Cara is so, so happy to have Hannah back in the city.

I’d ruin our friendship if I told Cara that I think her girlfriend is controlling.

Although at this rate I’m probably going to lose Cara as a close friend either way, since Hannah doesn’t seem keen on Cara hanging out with me outside of work.

Cara is such a great friend, I need to say something.

Maybe Cara can’t see what’s right in front of her face.

“Cara, does Hannah let … I mean, is she okay with you doing things without her?”

Cara looks at me, irritation all over her face. “Of course I can do things without her. We’re a couple. We want to spend time together. You would understand if you…”

I exhale. I would understand if I were in a relationship.

For a moment the only sound is the rustling of clothes as we swipe through our respective racks, until Cara says calmly, “We’re fine.

Hannah just likes spending time with me alone, that’s all.

” Cara takes a beige off-the-shoulder gown off the rack and holds it up to me.

I cringe and shake my head. I am not a beige person.

She puts the dress back. “Back to Sarina and Miles,” Cara says.

“Sarina’s been in Cosmic more than once.

I don’t think she looks down on your wardrobe.

And Miles… why do you even care what she says to him?

You guys are friends, now, right? He wouldn’t be more influenced by someone he just met over his actual friend. ”

He might if he had feelings for Sarina.

I sigh. I’m not going to tell Cara that my own feelings for Miles go way beyond friendship.

Because maybe if I never say it aloud, the feelings will go away.

“I don’t want him to think less of me.” I pause.

“I admit—Sarina brings out my insecurities. I thought it would be fine if I saw her without Dad or Noureen, but maybe I’ve internalized everything Noureen’s said about Sarina being better than me in every way. ”

“Well, that’s ridiculous,” Cara says. “Your stepmother is wrong about you.”

“Thanks.” I smile sadly. “I’m probably overthinking. I hate being in a funk. This prom situation is getting to me. I mean, I’ve been looking forward to prom for four years, and I’ve been planning it since September, and now here I am days away and I don’t have a date or a dress. Pathetic, right?”

“It’s not pathetic, Sana,” Jenn says, making me jump. I totally hadn’t noticed that she’d joined me and Cara at the formal dresses. She was probably listening to our conversation. “Sometimes life throws us curveballs, that’s all.”

I don’t have pity parties very often. In fact, I pride myself on being a positive person, on finding the upside of every situation.

But these days I just haven’t been feeling like my usual sunny self.

I exhale. “A few weeks ago I thought the fact that Priya didn’t want to go to the dance with me anymore was an opportunity .

I was so excited to find someone new. Didn’t quite work out, did it? ”

Maybe Miles is right… Maybe society does place too much importance on romantic love. Maybe if it didn’t I wouldn’t feel so crappy about my lack of a love life.

Neither Jenn nor Cara says anything. I guess they aren’t used to dealing with a pessimistic Sana. Heck, I don’t know how to deal with it.

“Enough of this,” I say. “I need to think positively . The perfect dress is here. I can feel it.” I scan the dresses on the next rack. There’s a bubble-gum pink dress that could work. I pick it up. It’s clearly not my size. Cara cringes and shakes her head at the dress.

Jenn finally holds up a dress for me. I’d seen it on the rack and hadn’t looked twice at it because it’s not my style.

I’m into big, puffy, and vibrant. This dress is dark plum satin and…

slinky. It’s sleeveless with a halter neck and a slit up one leg.

It is gorgeous… but it’s so not my usual aesthetic.

Before I can even say no, Jenn says, “Try it on. It should fit—I think you’d look stunning in it.”

I nod. She has a point—how can I know it won’t work without trying it? I take the dress to the fitting room, put it on, and come back out to look in the mirror.