She squeezed my shoulder, obviously catching on to my mood. “Ethiopia has gotten under your skin, Desta.” I almost laughed, because if she only knew how much. “That was Aster Aweke.” Tsehay explained and I nodded, recognizing the name of the popular pop singer. “She was singing Tizita—it’s like our version of the blues.” She smiled sadly at that, and I remembered how soulful her voice was. I wondered where that depth came from. “Tizita means something like a memory with a tinge of regret.”

I shook my head and laughed a humorlessly. “Figures.”

“I sing this one sometimes when we play at Black Orchid.”

I smiled at her casual mention of her alter ego and changed the subject, desperate to get off my moping. “That’s right, we haven’t had a chance to talk about your star power.”

She gave me a smirk, but her face did not look amused. She sat by me and then quietly asked, “Where’s Elias?”

Okay, so she was on to me.

I schooled my face in a neutral expression and answered, “Not sure. He said he was going to skip dinner.”

She kept her eyes on me for another moment without speaking. I panicked. Because if Tsehay suspected something, that meant other people might too. She took pity on me and whispered, “I know.”

Before I had any time to react, her voice dropped even lower, and she looked up to the table where our group was chatting a few yards away. “I was the one who introduced Eli to his ex.” She grimaced. “Which was a big mistake. He hasn’t said anything about you guys, but I know him. We’ve been friends since university.”

I was too shocked to have any clever replies, so I took another gulp of my beer and sat there in silence. She chuckled at whatever expression I was making. “He seems happy, and maybe this thing with you will give him the push he needs to finally be a little selfish, and take his chance.”

I shook my head, unsure of what she was implying. “You mean going to the States.”

“Yes, he’s been agonizing about that for over a year. The issues with his father and then the disappointment with Byron have held him back. But he needs to go. Eventually the hiding and the secrecy are going to get to him, and that would be a shame.”

The weariness in her voice made me think she was speaking from experience. I wasn’t even sure what to say, but she was waiting for an answer, so I made myself say something.

With my eyes trained in the direction of the group, I spoke honestly. “I’m not sure I’m worth Elias potentially ruining his relationship with his parents.” I glanced at Tsehay, scowling as if she did not see eye to eye with me on that at all.