“But, Jana.” Anil smirked. “You haven’t had your turn yet.”
“Let her go,” Rohan said, voice clipped.
Jana shot a dagger-eye look at Anil.
“Jana,” Nicole said, standing. “Can I help? If you’re not feeling well.”
Jana shook her head and headed to the glass sliding door. “No, I’ll be fine. Rohan, I left my bag in your condo when I was there earlier.”
Jana had been in Rohan’s condo? Why?
Rohan sprang to his feet. “Yeah, I’ll take you down to get it. Be right back.”
Kamila’s hand tightened on her wineglass. He specifically said he didn’t want Kamila to come early to help set up, and he invited Jana instead?
Add this to him knowing about Rashida’s dinner party and not defending Kamila when Jana was rude earlier, and it was clear. Therewassomething going on between him and Jana.
Fudge. This was bad.
Asha gave Kamila a concerned look.
“So, whose turn is it now?” Tim asked.
Kamila stood. “Play without me. I’m not feeling it anymore. I’m getting more wine.”
She went inside, left her wineglass on the bar, and went straight to the bathroom.
She looked at herself in the mirror. What was wrong with her tonight? Why did she care if Jana had been in Rohan’s condo? Jana and Rohan were free and consenting adults allowed to do what they wanted with their lives. This wasn’t a repeat of the Bronx Bennet situation. Kamila rubbed her temples. If a thing was starting between Jana and Rohan, it certainly hadn’t stopped Rohan from being there for Dad. He was even planning to come for breakfast at the house tomorrow—despite not spending the night this time.
But still. Jana didn’t like Kamila. Rohan spending so much time, innocent or not, with the person who always made Kamila feel smaller and less capable would change the wayhesaw her. Because really, how could someone be close to both Jana and Kamila?
And whatfancyperson would want aKamila Hussainin his life when he could have aJana Suleiman?
She squeezed her fists.No. It had been so long since Kamila felt like this. She hated that her feelings of inadequacy had resurfaced since Jana came back. Kamila pulled out her phone and sent an email to her therapist, asking if she could schedule an appointment for a tune-up on her self-esteem sometime after the Dogapalooza. She could not allow Jana Suleiman to derail all her hard work.
When she came out of the bathroom, Asha was waiting for her at the bar.
“You okay, Kamila?”
“Yeah, fine. Sudden headache. Probably the red wine. I’m switching to white.”
Asha nodded toward the others, still sitting on the patio, presumably still playing Never Have I Ever. “What do you think that was about? There seems to be something Anil knows about Jana that the rest of us don’t know.”
“Anil told me he’s close friends with Jana’s old boss in Tajikistan, and that his marriage just ended.”
“Oh wow. Because of Jana?”
Kamila shrugged. “I don’t know. Asha, why was Jana in Rohan’s apartment before the party? This was what I was worried about—I don’t want some home-wrecker going after my friend.”
“Seriously, Kamila? I’m thinking we shouldn’t call her a home-wrecker without knowing what exactly happened.”
“What about Bronx Bennet?”
Asha snorted. “Sorry, I still can’t get over that name. I’m not going to hold something she did as a teenager against her now.Home-wreckeris such a sexist term anyway—it takes two to end a marriage. I’m sure no one is calling this dude anything nearly as nasty for not keeping his dick in his pants. If that is what happened, which I’m not speculating, becausewe don’t know.”
Kamila sighed. She knew Asha was right. Kamila didn’t like Jana, but she liked sexist double standards even less. She opened the bottle of white wine and poured herself some. Poured herself a lot, actually.
“Kamila,” Asha said, “maybe it’s time to ask Rohan what’s going on between him and Jana. Tell him you’re obsessing over him possibly neglecting you and your dad. If he knew how much you depended on him, then he would assure you he’ll always be there for you. Because hewill. Also…I’m not sure if I should say this part.”
