She’d always wanted her parents to trust her choices, to believe she knew what was best for herself. But now she realized she hadn’t offered them that same trust. Going behind their backs to sell Moksha wasn’t some bold, heroic move. It was her decidingforthem, as if she knew better. She’d told herself it was for their own good, that they’d thank her later. Because deep down, she hadn’t trusted them to know what was best for themselves.
I thought I was fixing everything, but I was actually pushing my idea of what their future should be, the same way they’ve always triedto shape my life.The truth hit hard, knocking the breath from her chest and leaving her hollow.
Ethan noticed the shift in her. He set the loofah down and wrapped his arms around her, but it only made her feel worse. She’d been lying to him too.
“I’m a horrible person, Ethan.” Priya buried her face in his chest, her words barely audible over the water pounding down on them.
“No, you’re not,” he murmured, rubbing her back. “You just went through something terrifying. And it’s shaken you up. It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.”
Priya clung to him, sobbing harder.
“Shhh.” Ethan stroked her hair, and it reminded Priya of how perfect her curls had been earlier. Now she was a wreck.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to play out,” she cried.
“Oh, yeah?” Ethan tilted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “How exactly was it supposed to play out?”
As he wiped her tears, Priya caught the smudge of mascara on his finger. Between her limp hair and smeared makeup, she knew she must look like a drowned raccoon. Meanwhile, each droplet of water on Ethan looked like it was strategically placed by a team of stylists.
Catching her defeated gaze, Ethan shut the water off. “Let’s get you out of here. You’re exhausted.”
“Wait,” Priya said, her heart pounding. “There’s something I need to tell you.” She couldn’t keep the lies hanging between them anymore, her secret attempts to get him to leave. He deserved the truth, even if it meant he might walk away from her.
“Pri.” Ethan’s eyes swept over her, slow and hungry, before locking on hers again. “If we stand here another second, I’ll have you pinned against this wall. And I won’t stop until I’ve had all of you.”
Priya’s lips opened with a silent “Oh.” A deep flush crept through her, making her hyperaware of everything—their bare bodies radiating heat, water sliding down their skin in glistening trails.
“Ethan…” she whispered.
He let out a slow breath and put some distance between them. “You’ve had one hell of a night. Let’s just get you in bed, okay?” He handed her a towel before stepping out of the stall.
They dried off, the steam curling between them, before he slung a towel around his hips and led her to the bedroom. Pulling the covers back, he waited until she slipped into bed. Her eyes fluttered shut, the weight of the day pressing on her. When she opened them again, Ethan had returned with a first aid kit. He knelt at the foot of the bed, cradling her ankle in his hands.
“Does that hurt?” he asked, glancing up at her.
“No.” She flinched slightly as he smoothed a cool layer of gel over her skin.
“You got off easy.” He inspected the burn again and wrapped it with gauze. “It’ll heal.”
The bed shifted under his weight as he slid in next to her. “Come here,” he said, opening his arm to her.
Priya let out a long sigh and moved into his warmth, resting her head against his chest. The steady beat of his heart soothed her, quieting her mind and making everything else melt away. She was glad she hadn’t said anything. Missing out on this moment would have been unbearable. Tomorrow, she’d tell him the truth. As she drifted off, another thought crept in. What if Ethan didn’t understand? What if everything between them ended up falling apart?
Seventeen
Priya awakened tothe soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, she lay still, piecing together where she was. As the events of the previous night rushed back, she became aware of Ethan’s arm resting over her waist, his slow, steady breath against the back of her neck. Her towel had come undone during the night, and she could feel the warmth of Ethan’s chest pressed against her back as he spooned her. She closed her eyes, savoring the fit of their bodies, their legs twisted together beneath the covers.
But then, curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to see what he looked like when he slept. Lifting his arm and setting it aside, she untangled their legs, inch by inch. Congratulating herself on her stealthy maneuver, Priya held her breath and rolled over, hoping the bed wouldn’t creak.
Only to find Ethan watching her with an amused look.
“Hey,” she croaked.
“Morning,” he said, his voice husky and low. “Sleep well?” Ethan in the morning was a sight to behold. The contrast of stubble against the soft curve of his mouth was mesmerizing.
“I did,” she replied. “You?”
“Not a wink.”
