Page 9 of The Sweet Spot

“I love your dad.” I lean back against the counter. “How’d you know I was here, anyway? You didn’t text.”

“Lucky guess,” she says. “I mean, where else would you be?”

“True, true.”

“When do you get off?”

“Never, if she doesn’t get her lazy behind on the other side of this counter,” snips Rodrigo, appearing from nowhere like an evil wraith.

Rolling my eyes, I follow him to the back door. “Four o’clock. You wanna come meet me?”

“Text me. I’ll be running errands for the parents, but I’ll come back. Maybe we can ride the Sky Glider.”

Heart light, I return to my post. I’d been doing a pretty decent job of convincing myself I was okay, but having Saira back makes a huge difference.

Rodrigo leans on the counter beside me, eyeing me. “Asha quit.”

“That sucks, but I’m not surprised,” I admit. “Sorry.”

“I was going to fire her, anyway. Ronnie said he saw her out with friends one of the days she called in sick,” he says, massaging his temples. I swear,Rodrigo is twenty-something going on fifty-something. “I’d offer your friend the job, but you two would never get any work done.”

* * *

Saira groans, peeking through her fingers. “God, I hate this thing!”

“Don’t look down, then,” I say with a laugh. “It was your idea!”

We’re on the Sky Glider, a ride reminiscent of a ski lift that brings people from one end of the boardwalk to the other. It’s slow and scenic, but not the best option for people like Saira, who are afraid of heights.

Me? I love the Sky Glider. Always have. Gramma Kate and I used to buy huge clouds of cotton candy and then eat them while riding. The best was during sunset, when the water looked gold and lights began to twinkle around the park like neon stars.

I glance down at my dangling feet, remembering her voice in my ear.“We’re flying, aren’t we, little bird?”

“Is it almost done?” Saira whispers, squirming beside me.

“Yup.” I link my arm through hers. “Just a few more seconds, and…” Our feet drift down to the platform, where an attendant quickly lifts the restraint and helps us off. “Why’d you even go on?” I laugh, tugging a lock of Saira’s hair.

“Because you love that thing,” she says. “And I bet you haven’t been on since you started working this summer.”

“You would be correct.” Kissing her cheek, I tug her back down the boardwalk. “Let’s go on the Giant Dipper. I know you love that one.”

Everyone loves the Giant Dipper. It’s one of the oldest, and most iconic, roller coasters in the country. The temperature’s started dropping, so I pull my hoodie from my backpack and slide it on over my head. My shorts do nothing for warmth, but as long as my chest and arms are covered, I’m okay.

Saira and I ride twice in a row, then schlep on over to Fisherman’s Galley for some of their legendary fish n’ chips.

“So, remember that Kith&Kin thing I was thinking about doing? Where they run your DNA sample?” I dip a french fry into the dish of tartar sauce that came with my meal.

Saira nods, her mouth full.

“The results came back the other day,” I say. “And…I think it found my father.”

Her eyes widen, and she hurriedly swallows. “Are you serious? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“I just did!”

“Well, who is he? What did he say?”

I grimace, shrugging. “I—I don’t know. I haven’t read his message yet.”

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