“Exactly,” Sunny raises her glass. “Apre-bitch.”
They fight, then they’re friends.
Make it make sense, please.
We let music intervene our conversation.
“Mm,” Sunny swallows her drink quickly. “Did you know this one’s going onLove? Check!?” She gestures her glass towards me.
“Ain’t no fucking way.” Azar’s eyes widen. “What the hell do you mean she’s going onLove? Check!”
Sunny and Azar share a look.
“It’s not like I’m going yet,” I muffle the last part into an empty—now fogged up—glass
“Nova,” Azar scratches the space between hisbrows. “Dating shows are performative. They’re not for genuine people like you.”
“That’s what I told her,” Sunny adds while looking around the room.
Azar pushes my cheeks together. My lips purse forward and I’m sure I look like a blobfish. “You are a cute little bunny who can’t survive swimming with sharks.”
I swat his hand away. I’m used to this. Being the underestimated one. The one who needs to stay where she’s comfortable being because she’s never been outside before. Theprotectedone. This is why I didn’t want to tell them. I knew they’d act like this. Sunny already gave me the biggest lecture before, saying that it’s stupid to go on a dating show right now.
Imagine if I told my sisters.
The thought sends a shiver down my spine.
“Itcanbe for genuine people.” I shrug out of Azar’s hold, “Look at Liana and Malachi.”
“They found each other, but you might not.”
“I’m going for the experience.” The orchestra begins performing a rendition ofEspresso.
“Maybe I’ll find my person.” I smile with all of my teeth showing. “And I’ll come back grossly in love.”Highly unlikely.
“Anyone with your mommy and daddy issues won’t touch love with a ten-foot pole,” Azar shakes his head.
Fair point.
I can’t tell him about the debt I’m in. Knowing Azar, he’d tell the whole world about my problem. Instead, I say, “Just think of it as me going on a trip for fun.”
From the corner of my eye, Sunny looks at me odd. I ignore it.
“How long will you be gone for?” Azar asks.
“Eight weeks,” I beam. “I’ll come back with a handsome beauthat’ll put you and your looks to shame.”
“First of all, nobody saysbeauanymore. Secondly,” Azar rolls his eyes. “Impossible.”
“More like very possible,” Sunny fakes a cough.
Azar glares at Sunny and I’m glad for the quick shift in tension as they move to Sunny teasing Azar about Victoria Lauman—famous popstar and Azar’s supposedly worst nightmare. Though, the termdreamworks better for him.
Other than needing to find someone to be with, I get to go to one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in the whole world. Even if I don’t find someone and get paid half of what I need to pay off my library debt, it’ll still be worth going and meeting new people in Switzerland.
At least that’s what I’m hoping for.
A sharp sounding microphone screeches over the orchestra. They halt their performance and glance in its direction.
