He sat next to her on the sofa. “What about Nadia? Am I supposed to have married you after her?”
Unspoken rule number two broken. They didnottalk about Nadia.Ever.
Jana felt a sourness in the pit of her stomach. She stared at him frowning long enough that she knew he’d say something to break the tension.
He sighed. “It’s unlikely anyone will mention her. Rohan is the only one here who knows her, and he hasn’t seen or spoken to her since college.”
“Okay,” Jana said.
“Do you think the aunty will ask why we split up?” Anil asked.
Jana cringed. “No. Why would she ask that? That’s an incredibly intrusive question.”
“I know. But shedoesstudy divorce.” He paused. “I’m curious what you would say, anyway. At the wedding, you said we never would have lasted. Why do you think we would have split?”
She stared at him for several moments before speaking. “You don’t seriously think wewouldhave lasted, do you?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea. I hadn’t really thought about it until you said that.”
Jana blinked. “We barely knew each other. And we’re much too different.”
He tilted his head. “I disagree. We’re both ambitious and passionate about doing our part to reduce the inequalities and injustices of the world. I think we’re quite similar.”
“Professionally we may be similar, but personally we are not.”
“We’re both committed to our daughter. We have the same parenting style.”
“You love people. I…don’t.”
He shrugged. “So you’re an introvert and I’m an extrovert. Lots of couples are like that. Look at Kamila and Rohan.”
“You’re…nice. You have lots of friends.”
“So are you. Look at all your friends here.”
“They’re Kamila’s friends, not mine.”
“They’re yours, too—you danced with them at the wedding. You were up talking about karaoke for hours last night.”
Jana frowned. “Why are you arguing with me about this?”
He shook his head. “I’m not arguing. I’mchallengingyou.”
“But why?” If he was trying to make her angry, it was working. Working very well.
He shrugged. “Because it’s the only way we ever talk. And I’m trying to understand you. You’ve been a bit of a mystery on this trip. For years you’ve been running away from me, and now you’re holding my hand on the safari and asking me to pretend we’re friendlier than we are. Then you look at me like I killed your puppy when I gave you that book.”
“I said thank you for the book. It was thoughtful.” She paused. Maybe her face hadn’t said that. “I don’t understand why you care, anyway. Or why you keep bringing up the past.”
Anil exhaled, frustrated. “Because…”He ran his hand over his face. “Because, Jana, you and I both know that thisfriendship, whether it’s real or fake, will never work if we don’t move on from the past. You’ll never be able topretendto like me—to decide to be friends and then just be friends. You need to feel it. That’s the way you’re wired. And I can’t be civil…be cooperative, knowing you hate me.”
Jana’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t hate you. Stop talking like you know everything about me. And I’m so sorry I can’t bephonylike you.”
He shook his head, anger in his eyes. His voice was still controlled, though. “I am a lot of things, Jana Suleiman. And you seem to excel at finding every fault I have. I’m phony. I’m a liar. I’m a cheater. I’m arrogant. What else? I also don’t always put my dishes in the sink, and I leave my taxes to the last minute. Go get your precious parenting app—we can make a list.”
Jana stared at that stupid handsome face. He said he wanted to challenge her, and now she wanted to fight right back. To finally let out all the hurt, anger, and frustration she’d kept in for years. Jana was tired of being cool and dignified…She wanted to be hot and angry. She wanted to scream at him. For having it all soeasy. For still winning, after everything. For keeping his reputation, for everyone liking him, and for never having a wrinkle in his perfectly tailored linen shirt. He’d brushed off all his mistakes with that idiotic charming smile still on his face. All the years of resentment building in Jana were bursting to get out. She gritted her teeth. “Do you really want to know what I’d add to that list?”
“Yes!”
