Page 34 of Make Room for Love

“Sorry,” Mira said. “I thought you might have come to the door, so I came out and saw that the roof hatch was open. And I texted you but you didn’t reply.” Isabel had been too deep in her thoughts to notice. “I wanted to see what was going on. Are you okay?”

Mira had cared enough to check up on her. Isabel was rattled, and more grateful than she could say. “Yeah. Sorry to make you worried. Can you get down by yourself?”

Mira looked down and recoiled. “I think so. I’m a little afraid of heights.”

“I don’t want you to fall. Come up and I’ll help you down.”

Mira nodded grimly. She climbed until she was gripping the spindly top rung. Isabel held out her hand. “Hold on to me.”

Mira took her hand cautiously, and the contact sent heat all the way down Isabel’s body. Mira’s grip was tentative at first, but she put more weight on it once she sensed Isabel’s sturdiness.Isabel braced herself, and together they got Mira through the hatch.

The warmth of Mira’s hand lingered after she let go. Mira was still the only person Isabel had touched in months, apart from when she’d hugged her parents hello and goodbye.

Mira was breathing hard, clouding up the chilly air. She gingerly turned around. “This is a gorgeous view.” Considering that she’d lived in a high-rise, her appreciation sounded surprisingly genuine. “Oh, the moon’s out.”

Isabel turned too. The moon was a crescent low in the sky, bright through misty clouds. She had missed it earlier.

“Did you come up here because I was giving someone a tour?” Mira asked. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. I just wanted some fresh air.” Isabel inhaled deeply, letting the chill settle in her lungs.

“How was Thanksgiving?”

Isabel opened her mouth, but nothing came out for several seconds. Mira said, “I can leave you alone. Though I think I need some help getting back down.”

“Stay if you want. It’s up to you.” Mira was dragging her into the land of the living, and Isabel didn’t want to admit how desperately she needed it.

Mira looked hesitant. Isabel lowered herself to sit on the edge of the hatch again, going slowly to avoid irritating her bad knee in this weather. After a moment, Mira sat next to her. There wasn’t much room. Mira settled in, and then their arms were resting against each other.

Isabel’s heart sped up. All her senses were overwhelmed by Mira—the pressure of Mira’s arm through their thick coats, the scent of her shampoo, the heat of her body. Isabel had been starving for the most basic physical touch, and every fleeting contact made her want more. Not just sex. Even being ableto hold Mira, to feel her warmth skin-to-skin on these winter nights, would be everything in the world.

Isabel sucked in a breath of icy air. She had to calm down. Such stupid, unbearable yearning. “How was your Thanksgiving?” she asked, not wanting Mira to feel unwelcome.

“Same as always. My mom was in town very briefly. She had a layover before she went off to report on migrant workers in Spain. It was nice to see her for the forty-five minutes she was at dinner.” Mira shifted her long, graceful legs, making herself more comfortable, and Isabel was jolted by every small movement of Mira’s arm against hers. “My bubbe always makes Tofurky for me and my vegetarian cousin, even though we always tell her she doesn’t have to and we can eat sides. So we have to eat it to be polite. And I had to take the leftovers home this time because my cousin did it last year. I had Tofurky sandwiches for lunch and dinner and there’s still more.”

Isabel laughed. The weight on her chest eased slightly. “You should let me try it. I haven’t eaten yet.”

“It’s all yours. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

They sat in silence, looking at the city lights. Isabel said, “Aren’t you cold in those tights?”

“I’ve gotten used to it.” Mira pursed her lips. “Well, maybe a little.”

Isabel unwound the thick wool scarf from her neck, zipped up her coat to compensate, and draped the scarf over Mira’s legs. Mira smiled. “Okay, you got me. That is better. Thank you.” She edged closer, pressing her leg close, and draped the other end over Isabel’s lap. “You must also be cold. Your jeans can’t be that much warmer.”

That was true. But Isabel was burning everywhere they touched. Her heart thudded so loudly that she worried Mira might hear it.

Mira said, “I’m guessing you didn’t have a good time with your family. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s my fault.” At that, Mira frowned. Isabel continued, “I got into an argument with my little sister Grace a few months ago. It’s why I’ve been so…” She didn’t have the words to describe what the last several months had been like for her. She shook her head.

“I’m sorry,” Mira said. “I know how much you love your family. This must be terribly difficult for you.”

Isabel looked away. She didn’t deserve Mira’s tenderness. Mira didn’t know the first thing about her and her family. “Grace deserves a better older sister than me,” she said, with so much venom that she surprised herself. “But I’m all she has now, and it’s not fair to her, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Mira was silent. Then she wriggled under the scarf, took out her phone, and said, “I’m going to cancel on the other people who were going to visit the apartment tonight. And then you can tell me more.”

“No, don’t,” Isabel said, but Mira was already texting.

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