She flips me her featherless bird, then runs a hand over her dark hair. “How long I can balance in arabesque on pointe. Almost passed sixty seconds.” Her voice is even, unaffected. She never lets me bait her. “What’s wrong? You didn’t get the package?”

“Your piss wasn’t clean, narco ballerina.”

Mei frowns, confused. “The only pills I’ve popped in the last thirty days were vitamins and fish oil.” A pause. Then she bites her lip like she’s just realized something. “Oh, wait. Fuck, I forgot about those gummies I had at Sophia’s party last week.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re useless.”

She scoffs. “Then stop using me, bitch.”

We both laugh at that. She knows I won’t. And part of me thinks a part of her likes being used—a dark, damaged part of her. Mei can be weird like that. Extreme.

“Come on, you think I can be sober and broke at the same time? I’d go mental.” I scan the shelves on both sides of the aisle as quickly as I can and hold in another sneeze.

“Welcome to the club.” I hear the click of a lighter from Mei’s end, then a sharp inhale as she lights up. “My dad only pays my rent and utilities now that I’m with NYCB. He says since I’m employed now, I should learn to manage my money like everyone else.”

I scoff. “Everyone else?”

“Do you know how hard it is to live off a dancer’s salary in this city?” She takes a drag of her cigarette, then I hear the flush of a toilet. “I haven’t been to Fifth in over two weeks. I’m seriously starting to get the shakes.”

I shrug. “Barneys is your therapy. He’s depriving you of proper medical treatment. This is child abuse.”

She laughs and sips her flat white, which, knowing her, has four shots of espresso inside, then immediately spits it out.

“What the fuck?” She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and pours the entire cup down the sink. She looks like she wants to murder someone. “This bitch tried to poison me.”

I finally find the Benadryl and grab a box, then head to the register. “Whole milk again?”

“I told her two times. Oat milk. Is that so fucking hard? Honestly?”

“You know how these people are. They can’t do basic shit like take people’s orders without messing them up, but they’re always complaining about things not being fair.” I take a breath. “But seriously. I only have ninety days to get clean now.”

“Damn, that’s right around the corner. Are you sure you can’t milk him for more time?”

“I’m done playing his games,” I snap, then remember where I am and lower my voice. “I want my money.”