“I think I liked it better back when you used to tell me off all the time.”
Jana rolled her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Jana was trying to give her friend the benefit of the doubt and let Kamila be a bit of a diva for her wedding. But seriously, now it was abadthing that Jana was being nice?
Jana and Kamila had grown up together, along with Rohan, Shelina, and Zayan, but when they were younger, Kamila and Jana had never been able to overcome their oil-and-water personalities to be anything other than rivals. It was no wonder—both their families had pitted them against each other since birth. Jana regularly heard that she needed to be friendlier and more outgoing like Kamila, and Kamila heard she needed to be more ambitious and respectable like Jana.
But when Jana ended up back in Toronto pregnant and friendless, she and Kamila realized their rivalry was fueled only by their families. They’d been friends since, and Jana really appreciated Kamila’s and Rohan’s support exactly when she needed it. But Kamila and Jana were still incredibly different people, and sometimes the muscle memory of resenting each other for their differences came to the surface again.
Kamila stroked Jana’s arm in a placating gesture. “It means nothing. You said before that you wouldn’t mind if Anil was here, but you didn’t look happy in the airport.”
“Did something happen recently between you?” Rohan asked with concerned eyes. “I noticed the way he was looking at you at the gate.” Rohan and Jana had always been friends, despite their age difference. As the two studious introverts in their group, they’d always had the most in common.
Had Anil been looking at her? Jana sighed. “I was tired. There is nothing between us. It’s a little awkward—but it’ll be fine once we get used to it.”
“Maybe Anil joining us can be good for you. Now you can give him half the ‘Imani duty’ on the trip. You can let loose a bit. Go wild.”
Jana rolled her eyes again. “My mother and most of my aunties and uncles are here.” Not to mention that Jana wasn’t exactly thewildtype. At least not according to Kamila’s definition ofwild.
“I’m not talking about spinning around stripper poles or anything,” Kamila said. “I mean, I don’t know. Stay up late with us when we’re talking. Get to know the others in the hashtag Bridal Brigade. Have an extra drink. Be a little less…”
“Me?” Jana said. She sounded bitter. She didn’t mean to.
Rohan frowned. “I happen to like you.”
“So do I,” Kamila said. “Look, we’re sorry we sprang an ex on you unexpectedly. But you said you’d be fine with him being here—and he was insistent that he wanted to surprise Imani. This trip is supposed to be fun for everyone.”
Kamila was right. There was no reason why Anil’s presence had to ruin her trip. Jana could be a mature adult—she could manage being around the man. But did Rohan and Kamila really think Jana would find thirty-plus people traveling togetherfun? She sank in her seat. “You guys know I’m not really wired to be social. I can’t understand why you’d want me in the bridal party, anyway.” There was mostly resignation, not anger, in the question.
Kamila put her hand over Jana’s, squeezing. “Nope. We’re not going to let you do this now, Jana. We asked you to be in the wedding party because we love you very much and can’t imagine getting married without you with us. Imani, too.”
Rohan shook his head. “And it won’t all be wild parties. There will be no stripper poles or anything of the sort.”
Kamila nodded emphatically. “We got that all out of our system in Amsterdam. Remind me later, Jana—we got you something in the red-light district. We had thebesttime there.”
Jana raised a brow at Kamila.
Rohan looked amused at his wife-to-be but didn’t ask exactly what the bridesmaids had been up to in Amsterdam. “Jana, no one will mind if you spend the whole trip at the pool with a book,” he said. “Seriously. Do what you need to do to be comfortable.”
Kamila grinned widely. “The pools at the hotels are gorge. Having Imani’s father here will ease your burden a bit—you’ll see. You can chill while he social butterflies with her.”
It seemed Kamila was reverting back to her old meddling ways. She probably planned all this because she thought it would begoodfor Jana.
“It’s okay thatpeoplearen’t your thing,” Kamila continued. “They never have been. But lately…I don’t know. You’ve been different. You’ve always been reserved and private, and lord only knows what’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours, but I don’t think you’rehappy. Maybe with this trip you can focus a little more on Jana. Because a happy mommy would be the best thing for Imani. I promise.”
Jana felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to object, to reassure Kamila that shewashappy, but the words didn’t come out. Imani was the best thing that had ever happened to Jana, and she was sometimes overwhelmed with how much she loved her little girl. That was enough. And if she got that job, she could have stabilityand be home for her daughter more, which was better than enough.
Jana needed to sidestep the happiness (ornothappiness) issue for now. This was Kamila and Rohan’s wedding, and Jana didn’t want to be the Eeyore at her friends’ celebration. “Honestly, guys, I’m fine. I’m looking forward to the trip.”
“It’s going to be amazing.” Kamila picked up the remote control for the in-flight entertainment and turned it on. “Hey, the bridal party should all sync up a wedding movie to get in the mood.” She scrolled through the Bollywood choices. “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le JayengeorBride and Prejudice?”
Before they could agree on a movie, Kamila’s sister, Shelina, who was now sitting in the row in front of them, poked her head between the seats. “Imani wants to sit with her mommy.”
Jana nodded. “Hopefully she’s finally tired,” Jana said. She looked at Rohan. “Do you all mind shifting around again?”
They did not mind, so another epic round of musical plane seats started up. After the move, Jana found herself sitting with Imani on one side of her at the window, and Anil on her other side. Because apparently Imani wanted to sit with both of her parents—and a window.
Jana pursed her lips. She could do this. This was a test of her ability to deal with Anil on this trip. She put on a pleasant smile and opened her e-reader. Imani was already engrossed in a show on the entertainment system.
“You still upset I’m here?” Anil asked quietly.
