“So what’s your vice? Don’t make me look at your YouTube history…”
She shook her head. “Nothing too exciting. There are a few fashion stylists I follow… just to keep up with trends and such.”
“What do you watch that has nothing to do with your work? Just to satisfy the deep, primitive part of your brain? Like, my sister lovesThe Bachelorfor some reason.”
“I likeThe Bachelor, too. But mostly… nail-art compilations.”
He chuckled. “Nail-art compilations?”
“Yeah. People painting art on their nails to soothing music.”
He chuckled. “Do you watch it because you’re not allowed colors on your nails for work?” It seemed like a silly rule. He wondered if her black, white, and gray clothing color scheme was also something the store dictated.
She shrugged. “I don’t mind the nude polish. I just find the videos relaxing. You watch cooking videos, right?” she asked.
He nodded. “If you weren’t here, I’d be watching your cousin’s newest. She posted one today.”
“Why can’t you watch it with me here?”
He shrugged. “I’m sure you don’t want to watch me fanboy your family.”
“Shayne and I have been helping Reena with her videos for years now. Started back when she entered this contest, the—”
“Home-Cooking Showdown. Yeah, I saw it. She and her husband were only engaged then, right?”
Marley snorted. “Sort of. Put it on.”
While they watched the video of Reena making paneer rolls, Nikhil got as much dirt on Reena as he could from Marley. Which didn’t turn out to be that much dirt at all. In fact, Nikhil wondered if she’d signed an NDA with her cousin, too.After that clip was done, they watched some nail-art compilations, which were weirdly both compelling and relaxing. Nikhil was completely chill by the time he was done eating, and Marley looked almost as comfortable as him. Until her phone buzzed. She glanced at it.
“My mother,” she said.
“Do you want me to leave to give you some privacy?” McQueen was currently sitting on Nikhil’s lap, kneading his sweater. Nikhil wondered if the cat learned to knead like that from Reena.
Marley shook her head. “Nah. It’s fine.” She accepted the call. Nikhil tried not to listen. Marley didn’t say much, anyway. Just that she was fine, had plenty to eat, and was recovering well. And she thanked her mom for something.
Marley disconnected the call. And then winced in pain. A lot of pain. The cat jumped from Nikhil to sit near his owner.
“You okay?” Nikhil asked.
“I think it’s time for my painkiller,” she said.
“I’ll get it.” When Nikhil handed her the two small pills, he saw that she had tears in her eyes again. A lot. She attempted a smile. “Thank you.”
“It’s no problem. That’s why I’m here.”
She quickly swallowed the pills, then cringed as she shifted to find a comfortable position. “I don’t think I fully grasped what a mess I’d be… Thanks for putting up with all this.” She blinked away another tear.
He said nothing and sat down on the sofa close to her. The cat jumped back onto Nikhil’s lap and started to burrow into the large pocket of his hoodie.
“You can stop him, but he likes to hang out in pockets,” Marley said.
Nikhil laughed, shifting so McQueen could climb inside his pocket. He’d never had a cat before, and this one was kinda funny.
“Are you close with your parents?” Marley asked after a while.
“I suppose. You met Dad. He’s a typical desi parent. He was so stressed because he made daal makhani and I wasn’t coming to eat it.”
“I love daal makhani. It’s unusual that he’s the cook in your family. Does your mother cook?”
