Inaya raised an eyebrow. “You look flustered. What happened?”
I fanned myself. “It’s the humidity. It’s killing me.”
She smirked but didn’t press further. We spent the next few hours touring boutique locations, but none fit our vision. Hungry, we grabbed lunch, and while the other dishes were underwhelming, the pizza stood out as the only thing worth mentioning.
“This pizza is the only good thing here,” Inaya said.
“I agree,” I replied, savoring a bite.
“Think we should try another part of town tomorrow?” she asked.
“I’m done for today, but maybe,” I answered with a chuckle.
“Agreed,” she said. “By the way, Ale’s coming to NYC tomorrow.”
I almost dropped my pizza. My mind immediately jumped to Ronan. If he saw a picture and decided to fly in to ‘talk to me about it, what would he do next?
“Why is he coming here?”
“Something with his dad,” Inaya replied. “He wants to hang out.”
I nodded, distracted by my thoughts, and went back to eating. After a while, Inaya stretched. “I’m heading back to the suite to read the draft again.”
“Sounds good. I’m visiting Mara,” I said.
After a quick hug, Inaya left, and I headed to Mara’s place. When I knocked, the door swung open to reveal her warm smile before she pulled me into a hug. “Nina! It’s so good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you too, Mara.”
Inside, the house was just as welcoming. Soft, earthy tones filled the space, with comfortable furniture and family photos decorating the walls. The scent of freshly baked cookies lingered in the air. I spotted her son, Isaiah, and Azzaria playing on the living room floor with a colorful array of toys.
“Hi!” Azzaria exclaimed as she looked up from the mat.
Dillon and Alex were sitting nearby, talking and laughing. When they noticed me, they both stood up to greet me.
“Nina, great to see you,” Dillon said, giving me a quick hug.
“Hey, Nina!” Alex said, offering a warm smile. “Welcome!”
“Hi, everyone,” I replied, feeling the warmth of their welcome.
After a few minutes of catching up, Mara gently nudged Alex. “Where are you going?”
“Taking the baby for a stroll,” he casually said, lifting Isaiah from the mat.
“Make sure his head and feet are covered.”
“Sure thing,” Alex said, picking up Isaiah. Dillon grabbed the stroller and the three of them headed out, leaving Mara, Azzaria, and me alone.
We settled into the comfy couches in the living room. Mara handed me a cup of tea, and we both took a moment to relax into the cushions.
“So,” Mara started, looking at me with a knowing smile. “How have you been?”
I took a sip of my tea, feeling its warmth spread through me. “I’ve been… busy. There’s so much going on with the boutique search.”
“You tried asking Dillon or Ronan for help?” Azzaria suggested.
“Nah,” I said, brushing it off, “I could, but it’s something I want to do myself. If I don’t have luck by next week, then I’ll ask Dillon.”
