He frowned. “More kissing?”
Yeah that, plus his tongue on her nipples, but that wasn’t the part messing with her emotions. Although the tongue thingwasnice.
“We fell asleep in each other’s arms,” Kamila said.
He turned to look at her. “We’re close friends, Kam. This doesn’t need to be complicated. I know you’re going through a lot right now, and if this is causing you stress, we can put it behind us.”
“Just like that? Put it behind us?”
“Is that what you need?”
Yes, she needed to put this behind her. But that wasn’t all she needed. Maybe she should take Asha’s advice and tell him. “Itiswhat I need. But…actually, I need more from you.” She paused. “When I’m worried about Dad, or when Dad is freaking out and not listening to me or his doctors, you’re the only one who can help us. I…I need to know you’ll still be here when we need you. Even when I act impulsively.”
“Of course I’ll be here, Kam.”
“Even when I’m self-absorbed?”
He cringed. “I regret saying that on Friday. I’m sorry. I was angry and frustrated. I don’t think either of us were in top form that night.”
Kamila frowned, remembering what she’d said to Jana at the party. She had regrets about bringing up the past in front of everyone. Especially considering later that night Jana took Dad to the hospital. “I know I wasn’t.”
His eyes were determined. “Iwillbe there for you, Kam. No matter what. I meant what I said before. You…you make my life interesting. You won’t be free of me that easily. We’re friends.”
“Even if…something changes in your personal life? Or mine?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. We’re family, too, right?”
She looked down at her hands. Yep.Friends.Family. “Thank you.”
“Consider the matter discussed and resolved. We are officially back to where we were before. If you’re okay, should we get to the catering plan now? Actually, wait…I have one question first.”
“What?”
“What exactly is your dog wearing?”
Kamila laughed. “A designer backpack and a stone-washed denim jacket. It’s her eighties look. Now, how about that menu?”
“Right.” He pulled out his phone. “We can look over it online.”
They spent the next hour ironing out food plans for the party. Working together, like they were supposed to. Things were objectively fine between them.
Fine, but maybe not normal. Maybe things felt normal to him, but not for her.
But all she could hope for was that with time, she’d go back to not noticing that no one had forearms better than Rohan’s. Or that his rare, full-face smile had enough brightness to easily light up a room.
Maybe in time, she’d forget the feeling of waking up surrounded by his warmth. She could hope, at least.
Chapter 20
Kamila had, of course, canceled Bollywood night that week. It just felt wrong to celebrate only a week after Dad’s medical incident. She ended up just watching cooking shows with him on Friday night after making Thai rice bowls together.
Getting into bed at a reasonable hour on a Friday night felt weird, though. Not talking to any of her friends all day felt weirder. She’d half expected Rohan to show up around dinnertime anyway, but she hadn’t heard from him since that night at the dog park. Maybe she should call him. They’d agreed that everything was back to normal between them, and it was normal for Kamila to see Rohan on Friday nights. She sat up in bed and opened a video call with him. Ten seconds later, his face was on her screen.
“Kam, what’s wrong?” He looked concerned.
She smiled playfully to put him at ease. If she acted completely normal, maybe this would feel normal. He was in bed, too. In his pajamas, and again, not the fancy plaid ones he wore when he slept over here. But there was a difference from the last time she saw his bed in a video call. “You tzhujed!” The pillows she had bought him were behind him, adding the much-needed splash of color to his bed. But it looked like there was more color there, too.
He lowered his chin and chuckled. “Is that why you called? To check on my bedroom decor?”
