“Welcome to the 86th floor.”

I grinned. “Thanks! But doesn’t this building have 102 floors? I’m pretty sure I read that in a fifty-pound coffee table book I checked out from the library.”

Her eyes brightened. “New York City: A Coffee Table Tour?”

“Yeah, that’s the one!” I pointed my index finger toward the sky.

Zoe rolled her eyes.

Marjorie continued. “I have that book at home. It’s a favorite. And you’re quite right, young man. There are 102 floors. What’s your name?”

“Arcade Livingston.” I held my hand out to shake hers. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Arcade? What a magical name! Follow me, you two. The building narrows here, so you have to change to an elevator in the center to make it all the way to the top.”

“So it’s just like the subway, huh? I love it! Lead the way.”

“Yeah, just like it.” Zoe laughed. “Except we’re above ground. And there are fewer people. And we’re traveling vertically, not horizontally. Other than that, and a handful of other differences, it’s just like the subway.” Zoe cut in front of me, jostling me into the wall of the narrow hallway.

“What I meant was, it’s like the subway because we have to change cars. When are you gonna start thinkin’ like me so we don’t keep having all these arguments?”

Zoe stopped and turned, crossing her arms. “Umm, never?!? And I prefer to call them debates.”

“Of course you do.”

Marjorie led us to a special elevator in the middle of the building. “Here you go, young people. Enjoy the rest of your ride. It’s a beautiful day. You’ll be able to see forever. And make sure you come back and check out the 86th floor open-air observation deck.”

“We’ll do that on the way down. Thank you, ma’am.” I stepped into the elevator car and Zoe followed. The doors closed.

Ding!

I reached for Triple T. It was cool to the touch, just like it had been ever since the middle of June when Zoe and I returned from our cousins Celeste and Derek’s house in Forest, Virginia. Cool was perfect. It had been the hottest summer ever recorded in New York City, and I needed some time to figure things out.

The display above the doors clicked away. 100, 101, 102 . . .

I opened my mouth and tried to yawn. “Are your ears plugged?”

“Huh?” Zoe pressed her finger in front of her ear and wiggled it.

Ding!

“WHOA! That was the quickest elevator ride of my life!” I stepped forward. The doors opened, and this time we were greeted by a smiling gentleman named Reynold.

“Welcome to the top of the Empire State Building! You’re in luck. You’re the only ones up here. That hardly ever happens.”

“Really?” I stepped out of the elevator to have a look around. “This is dope!”