Side chapter: Valentine's Day, part 5

Isabel and I reached the café, and for a moment, I just stood there, staring at the little folded note sitting on the table outside. It was placed neatly, right where I would see it, like Carmen had known exactly how I'd approach the café.

Which, knowing her, she did.

Isabel, ever impatient, leaned over my shoulder. "Well? Aren't you gonna open it?"

I rolled my eyes. "I was about to."

I reached out and picked up the note, feeling my heart do an excited little jump. Carmen's handwriting was elegant but had that slight slant it got when she wrote quickly.

You're getting closer, mi amor.

I swallowed. God, she's too good at this.

This café was the scene of a great tragedy—your war against tea. A battle you lost spectacularly.

I groaned, already regretting the memory.