Prologue
ANNA
Tonight, I’m committing the ultimate betrayal.
Stepping out on Valentine’s Day.
Ugh, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
To be fair, it’s not for romance—God, no—but for music.It’s a weakness very few know about, but of course I had to open my stupid mouth once around Lily and now she knows.And as soon as Lily knows something, she never lets it die.Especially if it means she can find some way to connect with you over it.It’s disgustingly sweet and impossible to say no to.
Ever since she found her soulmate, or whatever, in her childhood BFF London, she’s made it her mission to spread the cheer to everyone else like some sort of lust-for-life fairy godmother.Insert eye roll.
“Anna, you need to get out of the house.Come with London and me—just for an hour or two.I promise, it will be fun,” Lily had said, wielding her damn empathetic eyes like weapons of mass guilt.
Fun for her,maybe.
For me?Missing an evening of coding brilliance, spicy chips, and snarky banter with Alexa feels like sacrilege.
And yet… here I am, God help me.
When I step inside the café, I’m immediately hit with the heady aroma of overpriced coffee and misplaced dreams.
The place isannoyinglycharming, like it was designed by someone with a Pinterest addiction and a trust fund.Strings of fairy lights crisscross the ceiling, their warm glow pooling over mismatched chairs and tables that look like they’ve been rescued from various garage sales.The walls are covered in vintage posters of bands no one listens to anymore, and there’s a chalkboard menu that’s trying a little too hard to be quirky.
The clientele?Oh, it’s a hipster’s paradise.
I count at least three ironic beanies and four acoustic guitars before I even make it past the doorway.Someone in the corner is wearing a corduroy jacket that probably has its own Instagram account.
I sigh and adjust my glasses, stepping aside to let Lily sweep in like she owns the place.She’s practically glowing with enthusiasm, while I’m already calculating the number of polite nods I’ll need to fake before I can make a quick and silent escape.
“Isn’t itcute?”Lily gushes, spinning around like we’ve stumbled into a romcom set.
“Adorable,” I deadpan, shifting my belt bag to tuck it under my left arm.
She shoots me a look but doesn’t argue.She knows better.Instead, she grabs my arm and steers me toward the counter.I let her do the ordering because I’m too busy plotting my exit strategy.A dirty chai latte ends up in my hand before I can protest, and Lily’s already scanning the room.
“There’s London.Come on,” she points to the front like she’s just found buried treasure.I guess for her, that could be true.
“Have fun,” I mutter, veering in the opposite direction.
I can hear Lily’s sigh before she flits off to the front like a caffeinated hummingbird, leaving me alone with my drink, my phone, and my scorn.
The back corner calls to me like a sanctuary, far from the stage and the too-loud laughter of people who probably journal their dreams in bullet points.I slump into a chair and take a sip of my drink, reveling in the spices and caffeine.
Gotta admit, the chai’s not bad, I’ll give it that, but the rest of the evening already feels like a waste of time.
I tap open a game on my phone, but my ears betray me, catching snippets of the first act.
It’s a duo—of course it’s a duo—one strumming a guitar while the other sways like they’re channeling the spirit of Woodstock.Their harmonies are…ambitious, let’s call it that.
A soft snort escapes me as the lyrics hit a cringe-worthy crescendo.Another romantic confession masquerading as art.Groundbreaking.Gag.
I take another sip of my chai, resisting the urge to check the time.It’s going to be a long night but at least I can do it in peace.
The duo finishes their set to polite applause, and the hum of conversation resumes.I exhale in relief, my nervous system dropping into a low hum.
One down, who knows how many to go?Maybe I’ll slip out after the next act.Lily will be too absorbed in her lovebird bubble to notice my absence.