Page 71 of XO Karma

Amara

Meet me at Mocha Muse?

Without a moment of hesitation, I type out a resounding:

Me

Be right there

“Do you think it’s a birthday surprise?” Aster asks as we head towards his bike a few minutes later.

“No.” I shake my head. “She doesn’t know when it is.”

He grabs my hand, spinning me around the gravel lot, before tugging me towards him. “Then I’m glad I got you the pie.” He grips my waist, positioning us in a waltz pose, and sways us. The hum of the street is our only music. “It would be a tragedy for you to go the entire day with no one celebrating you.”

“I prefer it that way,” I admit.

“Why?”

I shrug, still unsure how much I’m ready to share with him. Liam’s and my birthday used to always be a big deal. But that was largely due to Violet, who had absolutely no chill about anything. A tinge of sadness twists in my chest. It’s not the same without her.

My phone buzzes again, and I use it as an excuse to break this far too intimate contact and step away, tugging it out.

Amara

How far away are you?

Ten minutes later, Aster’s dropped me off down the block, and I’m rushing to Mocha Muse. As I round the corner, the sound of scraping glass infiltrates my ears, and my eyes fall to shards along the entire sidewalk.

“What the hell?” I mutter to myself, quickening my pace. Every small business on 58th Street has had a window graffitied or shattered. The pottery studio is flooded. The art supply store was ransacked. The front door of the corner bar that hosts open mic nights every week is busted off the hinges.

Once finally before the cafe, I glance in to see Amara sweeping the floor below the front window. “What’s happened?” I ask and she pauses, turning her attention to me.

A sheen of sweat lines her forehead, and her exhausted eyes meet mine. “Probably a group of drunk idiots.” I rush inside, heart thumping. I should have come quicker. “Sorry to bother you. Val is home with Zuri, and I really didn’t want to be here alone.”

“Stop it.” I place a hand on her shoulder, and her eyes meet mine. “Never apologize for asking for help. What are friends for?”

“Thank you, Lil.” She smiles weakly, and I tug her in for a hug, squeezing tightly.

Pulling away, I say, “Did you call the police?”

She glances to the ground. “They won’t be able to do anything.”

“Why not?” I look around at the chaos. Art prints are crooked. There are broken sculptures on the ground. Anger thrums through me. “Liam can come.”

“No.” She rests her hand on mine. “I’ve got it handled.”

“You sure? I’m sure he won’t mind.”

She waves me off. “They were already here earlier.” They were? “There’s no proof, so nothing really for them to go off.”

“Okay…” I say and reach out a hand for the broom. “Well, put me to work. How can I help?”

After a night of cleaning and a morning of making lattes so Amara could head home for some rest, I’m finally walking into my room, prepared for some R&R of my own.

My phone rings, and when I see Unknown on the caller ID, tears nearly prick my vision. What do I really want for my birthday? Some goddamn sleep! They either need to give me answers or leave me the hell alone.

Unfortunately, my morbid curiosity has me accepting the call and bringing the phone to my ear. “Hello?”