Maya

The knocker on our apartment door thumps three times.

“He’s here!” Nikki doesn’t bother to pause our TV show as she grabs my purse and throws it into my arms.

“Who?”

“Richard!”

My heart picks up its pace, going from a steady rhythm to erratic. “Oh, I’m sorry. You know thishow?”

“He wanted to surprise you for your date.” Nikki steps into my bedroom.

Date?! I’m dressed in a pair of old paint-splattered Levi’s and a sweater of the Chicago Bulls from the nineties. My fashion choice is barely suited for the local grocery store, let alone adate.

“What do you mean by date?” I call out.

“The kind where Richard whisks you away to show you his surprise.” Nikki’s yell is muffled by the distance.

Well…wow, okay. I’m all for surprises now.

“Hurry up. You’re so slow.” Nikki steps out of my room with the largest suitcase I…