And his eyes, sparkling in the low light. Concerned. Raindrops clinging to his long lashes.
He was so, so beautiful.
She quickly looked down at Potato, who was looking up at them with his goofy puppy grin. “Thanks,” she said. “I guess…I wasn’t really thinking when I ran after him. Now you’re all wet.”
“It’s just water. Look, Kam, can we talk? Dinner tonight? Maybe…” He gazed down at her wet clothes. “After we go home and change?”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “Why?”
“You know why. About what your dad asked me today…I accepted his proposal, of course. I’m only sorry I didn’t think of this solution yesterday. If you want Emerald, it’s yours. I think it will be amazing. But I don’t understand why you didn’t ask me yourself.”
Of course he was okay with her taking Emerald. He was so good. She looked away.
She couldn’t do this. She’d thought—hoped—she could eventually move on. Bejust friendswith the best person she knew. But Kamila was all about learning about herself lately, and she’d discovered that she wasn’t the type to secretly pine for someone. She needed to either tell him or avoid him. Neither option was good for their friendship. She could feel tears well up in her eyes again. At least the rain would mask them.
“I can’t tonight,” she said, hearing the hurt in her voice. “Anyway, don’t you have plans with Maricel?”
“What?” A gust of wind blew more rain in his face. He looked around. “Here—come.” Still holding Potato’s leash, he grabbed Kamila’s hand and rushed toward the gazebo a few feet away. Kamila had no choice but to go with him. The gazebo wasn’t in great condition, and the old roof was letting lots of rain hit the concrete floor. Rohan guided her to a dryish corner. She leaned back against the wide railing.
“What was that about?” he said, confusion evident in his voice.
“What?”
“That look you gave me over there. Asking about Maricel. What was that about?”
“It was about nothing, Rohan. Just a question. I know you guys came to the prom together. It’s your life. If you have a thing with someone, then whatever. It’s just…to rub it in my face like that after you yelled at me about setting her up with Dane—” She couldn’t bear it. She covered her face with her hands.
“Don’t hide from me,” Rohan said, taking her hands off her face as a big drop of water fell onto her cheek. He wiped the water running down her skin with the back of his hand. “I did bring Maricel here today. But that was because she spent the night at Kevin’s, and he knew I was coming here, so he asked if I would drive her. He’d be here, too, but he’s working at Boba Noodle today, because his aunt’s daughter had a baby.”
Kamila froze. Kevin? Boba tea guy? OMG, Maricel was dating boba tea guy! How utterly perfect!
“Why would he call you to drive her? You barely know him,” Kamila said.
“I’m mentoring him for his law school application. We’ve become friends. I encouraged him to ask Maricel out when she kept coming to the shop for his tea. She’s a sweet girl—I think they’re well suited.”
Kamila smiled a little. “You match-made?”
Rohan pushed his hair off his face and let out an exasperated breath. “Yes.”
“Then you only came here today because Maricel needed a ride?”
“No! Of course not!”
“Then why are you here?”
He shook his head. “We need to talk…not only about the business, though.” He rustled in his bag and pulled out a plastic bag. He handed it to Kamila. “This is for you.”
Confused, she took the bag, shifting a bit so whatever was in it wouldn’t get rained on as she pulled it out. It was a picture frame. And the picture in it made Kamila bark an inelegant laugh when she saw it.
It was a photo of a small, run-down food cart on a rickshaw, probably taken somewhere in India. The sign on the cart saidSIZZLING MOMOS—BEST IN TOWN. On either side of the cart, wearing bright T-shirts that saidSIZZLING MOMOS, were Rohan and Kamila, clearly photoshopped. Rohan’s hair was graying, but Kamila’s hair was in big, voluminous curls. Sitting on the bicycle seat of the rickshaw was Darcy.
“Oh my god. Who did this?” Kamila asked. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This was the most amazing piece of art she’d ever seen.
“Last night I learned that you can hire someone online to manipulate a photograph at any hour of the day.”
Kamila shook her head, still in awe of the picture. This, with its surrealism and bright colors, would look amazing in her house. She was going to get it printed on canvas. But she didn’t understand why Rohan had commissioned it. “Why did you do this?”
He ran his hand through his wet hair. “I needed a way to show you how sorry I am. I know I apologized about everything with Emerald. Kam, I don’t want to lose this friendship.” He shrugged and pointed at the picture. “You said we were going to retire and run a momo cart together one day. I’m hoping I haven’t destroyed our retirement plan. We’re still friends, right?”
